China Censors President Obama? Commies!

Many Americans have praised President Obama's 18-minute Inaugural Address as bold and candid. But the Chinese Communist Party are hater. Apparently, they thought the new American president's words were a little too direct. Maybe because they were.

China Central Television, or CCTV, the main state-run network, broadcast the address live until the point in which Prez amentioned "communism" in a line about the defeat of ideologies considered dangerous to Americans. After the translator said "communism" in Chinese, the audio faded out even as Prez's lips continued to move. I guess someone was just waiting for dude to say something out of line.

CCTV then showed an anchor asking an analyst about the economic challenges that President Obama faces. The analyst was clearly surprised by the sudden question. Really smooth guys.

The "offensive" line in the president's speech was, "Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions." Granted, communism is still active in China, but Prez was referring to the Soviet Union.

Later, Obama went on to say: "To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history, but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist."

Chinese translations of the address published Wednesday by state-run news organizations here and on prominent Web portals omitted that line and the word "communism" in the earlier line. The government, however, allowed the full English text of the address to be published. Well aren't they so kind to allow the bilingual Chinese to see the actual speech. The biligual Chinese, I would assume, are okay or pretend to be okay with the CCP. Still, I think their actions have revealed their own guilty measures.

Hatin *sses.

This is not the first time that the Chinese have censored an American official's remarks. In 2004, FORMER Vice President Dick Cheney visited Beijing and was told that he could speak, live and uncensored, to the Chinese people. However, the broadcast received no advance promotion or even a listing in the news media and was not repeated.

So, I'll give them props for that one.

>KABOOM<