Michelle Obama is off to China

[NewYorkExpress]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/03/first-lady-michelle-obama-travel-china-march-19-26-2014

I'm not sure China really needs the First Lady's help on education matters...

Also, don't Malia and Sasha have school? Why are they going to China as well?

[badgate]

Maybe it's their spring break this week. Maybe it's none of our business.

[publicunofficial]

good thread 10/10 best poster

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Dude, they're probably on spring break, and is there no self-restraint in your body whatsoever?

[angus]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/03/first-lady-michelle-obama-travel-china-march-19-26-2014

I'm not sure China really needs the First Lady's help on education matters...

Also, don't Malia and Sasha have school? Why are they going to China as well?

More importantly, why did the state department writers call the Chinese President's wife Madame Peng?  Isn't that a little bourgeois and insulting to them?  She must be Citizen Peng or Comrade Peng I should think.

[badgate]

Empress Peng.

[nuclearneo577]

Here come the Republican talking points about how much of a waste of taxpayer dollars the trip is, and how we should be using the money to fund corporations and/or the MiC.

[Indy Texas]

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/03/03/first-lady-michelle-obama-travel-china-march-19-26-2014

I'm not sure China really needs the First Lady's help on education matters...

Also, don't Malia and Sasha have school? Why are they going to China as well?

More importantly, why did the state department writers call the Chinese President's wife Madame Peng?  Isn't that a little bourgeois and insulting to them?  She must be Citizen Peng or Comrade Peng I should think.

In diplomatic protocol, the wives of public officials and dignitaries are referred to as "Madame _________." Sort of like how if the official is a woman herself, they are sometimes referred to as "Madame President" or "Madame Secretary." Just a holdover from the days when French was the de facto language of diplomacy between all countries.

Jiang Qing was generally referred to as Madame Mao. Soong Mei-ling was better known as Madame Chiang [Kai-Shek].