June 6, 2007
Barack Obama speaks at Moon River
Well, ok, it's his disembodied voice on a conference call, but we still think having the U.S. senator and Democratic presidential hopeful drop the PRC a line is pretty cool.
Even though actual voting won't be happening for a while, election season is in full gear, and the campaign group "Americans in China for Obama" are kicking things off in Shanghai with a cocktail party tomorrow night:
Senator Obama Conference Call and Reception: June 7th cocktail party, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm, with Senator Obama calling in to Beijing and Shanghai participants at 8:00 pm. Suggested donation is US$250. Moon River Diner Jing'an, The New Factories, 66 Yuyao Rd Building, near
Xikang Lu (余姚路66号，近西康路).
We highlighted the word "suggested" in front of "donation" because $250USD isn't exactly chump change to Shanghaiist. Thankfully, the event's organizers aren't turning away those of us looking for inspiration at a much lower price. We were told that if we show up at the event with our U.S. passport and credit card ready to give a smaller donation (~$20), we should be able to get in as well. Entrance is guaranteed for those who donate online (minimum $50) at this link. All attendees will have to bring their U.S. passports with them to the event.
Shanghaiist is planning on attending; the $20 donation will be well worth the chance to have the next U.S. president in our pocket.
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Barack Obama went to the same grade school, Punahou, as Sun Zhongshan. Exciting stuff!
Is he doing this over the world in various places?
It's a great idea, but might bring in about 5 more votes, leaving him just a few several million short of Hilary.
ok "trev"
It's very cool that he is doing this. Unfortunately I can't make it. Somebody please voice concern over the current ridiculous tax laws for expats and ask him to push for a massive rewrite. Now. As a Senator.
Gosh. i'd settle just for a president who is able to put two sentences together after the long national nightmare of the last 7 years.
Anyways, I went last night, and I was fairly inspired. It's good to listen to someone who gets it. I mean, as a realist, I know he's not going to get a quarter of his ideas implemented should he ever make it to the Presidency, but I like him. I really really like him.
Obama's Shanghai rally is a fund raising political rally. Obama's campaign fund raising dinner sets off all sorts of alarm bells.
Chinese are forbidden to interfere in other countries' political processes. For example a Chinese national participating in a public protest rally in Washington risks deportation and a permanent ban from further entry into the US. A US activist protesting at TAM against China's policy risks the same treatment. 6-6-07 is already a done thing. China should protest strongly and demand an apology. Any monies in excess of the banquet expenses should be refunded to the donors. Any excess is political partisan funds to interfere in US politics and therefore outright illegal.
Or preferably his staff should do this voluntarily before it becomes an issue and an embarrasment to Obama.
Uh papapeng - everyone there was a US citizen. Perhaps you missed the part above that said "must need US passport to attend"
Moron.
That's interesting about Obama. I saw a blogger who had attended the event in Beijing (it was a joint conference call I guess. He sounded less than overwhelmed with Obama's response, but it's an interested read:
http://www.chinaexpat.com/blog/josh/2007/06/08/obama-china.html