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Freedom of speech is 'universal' right, Michelle Obama tells China
The Telegraph ^ | 22 Mar 2014 | Tom Phillips

Posted on 03/22/2014 10:28:09 PM PDT by nickcarraway

Amid a growing crackdown on Chinese dissidents, the US First Lady tells an audience in Beijing that the "questioning and criticism" of political leaders is crucial

Freedom of information, expression and belief should be considered "universal rights", Michelle Obama, the US first lady, told students in China on Saturday.

Speaking at Peking University on the second full day of a weeklong, bridge-building family tour of the country, Mrs Obama said: "It is so important for information and ideas to flow freely over the internet and through the media."

"When it comes to expressing yourself freely, and worshipping as you choose, and having open access to information - we believe those are universal rights that are the birthright of every person on this planet," Mrs Obama told an audience of around 200 students.

"My husband and I are on the receiving end of plenty of questioning and criticism from our media and our fellow citizens, and it's not always easy.

"But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world."

(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: china; freedomofspeech; michelle; obama; obamalies
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1 posted on 03/22/2014 10:28:10 PM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Unless you’re a conservative.


2 posted on 03/22/2014 10:30:52 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: nickcarraway

She’s making political statements during a trip that we were told was a-political. I say the cost be deducted from zero’s pay.


3 posted on 03/22/2014 10:31:18 PM PDT by SpaceBar
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To: nickcarraway

Leftists always lie


4 posted on 03/22/2014 10:34:14 PM PDT by GeronL (Vote for Conservatives not for Republicans!)
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To: nickcarraway

She ought to give this speech to her husband.


5 posted on 03/22/2014 10:37:19 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin
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To: nickcarraway

How diplomatic of her. Spend two days in a country and then start preaching at them.


6 posted on 03/22/2014 10:37:27 PM PDT by eclecticEel ("The petty man forsakes what lies within his power and longs for what lies with Heaven." - Xunzi)
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To: eclecticEel

Yes, because this administration sets such a great example. /s


7 posted on 03/22/2014 10:38:43 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: nickcarraway

Well, except in the good ol’ US, where Schmucky Schumer and other grandees determine who is a “real” journalist.


8 posted on 03/22/2014 10:39:30 PM PDT by backwoods-engineer (Blog: www.BackwoodsEngineer.com)
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To: nickcarraway

[”My husband and I are on the receiving end of plenty of questioning and criticism from our media and our fellow citizens, and it’s not always easy.”]

?.. Media and fellow ...?

that’s just within the 35% that approve of your fat commie asses sharing our oxygen.


9 posted on 03/22/2014 10:47:07 PM PDT by glock rocks (If you like your health plan, you're a racist !)
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To: nickcarraway

“When it comes to expressing yourself freely, and worshipping as you choose, and having open access to information - we believe those are universal rights that are the birthright of every person on this planet,”

I thought this trip was not *political*.

Scuseme while I barf...the clownbamas would never lie to us, right?


10 posted on 03/22/2014 10:51:42 PM PDT by Daffynition ("If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." ~ Henry Ford)
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To: Daffynition
and worshipping as you choose,

That is of course, unless you believe that homosexuality is a sin.

11 posted on 03/22/2014 10:53:30 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: nickcarraway
"When it comes to expressing yourself freely, and worshipping as you choose, and having open access to information

"Especially, the NSA, they are striving to access information on every text, email, and phone call of American Citizens, oh, and China's too", Mrs Obama added with a devilish grin.

12 posted on 03/22/2014 11:06:51 PM PDT by sockmonkey (Of Course I didn't read the article. After all, this is FreeRepublic..)
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To: nickcarraway

“universal right”...I believe the correct phrase should be ‘God-given right’. But I guess she just couldn’t bring herself to say that, just like her husband.


13 posted on 03/22/2014 11:26:38 PM PDT by mkmensinger
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To: dfwgator

Or as long as you agree with her husband.


14 posted on 03/22/2014 11:58:31 PM PDT by Flagpole Erectus (Just because I'm paranoid doesn't prove they aren't out to get me. Forget PMs. I gots tinfoil.)
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To: eclecticEel
Spend two days in a country and then start preaching at them.

Yeah. The pot calling the kettle....

15 posted on 03/23/2014 12:06:25 AM PDT by Smokin' Joe (How often God must weep at humans' folly. Stand fast. God knows what He is doing.)
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To: nickcarraway
Not one of FLOTUS' 70 aides told the Chinese about the significance of the symbolism of a noose to a *person of color*?


16 posted on 03/23/2014 12:14:13 AM PDT by Daffynition ("If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." ~ Henry Ford)
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To: nickcarraway

~My husband and I are on the receiving end of plenty of questioning and criticism from our media and our fellow citizens, and it’s not always easy.~

It seems like liberal lie is an STD.


17 posted on 03/23/2014 12:14:43 AM PDT by wetphoenix
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To: eclecticEel

None more righteous than the newly converted

She be likin this Capitalistic Communism thing


18 posted on 03/23/2014 12:14:56 AM PDT by advertising guy
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Comment #19 Removed by Moderator

To: nickcarraway
"When it comes to expressing yourself freely, and worshipping as you choose, and having open access to information - we believe those are universal rights that are the birthright of every person on this planet," Mrs Obama told an audience of around 200 students.

Unless you're Christian, right Mooch? Or white? Or conservative? Or male? Or a vet?

In other words, it depends on what the meaning of "you" is.

20 posted on 03/23/2014 1:17:58 AM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
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