WHEN did Obama say he wished he were President of China?

Edited (as initially, I couldn't find where Obama had actually said "It would be easier to be President of China):

I think I found it.

A Chinese official said that Obama had told them it would be easier to be President of China.

http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110311121529AAvByxn

Well, now, did Obama say this or did he say something that a Chinese translator translated. And again, what was the context? Was he pointing out that it might be easier, but the US way is better? Again, we don't know.

Really people are going off the deep end. Did I say 5 pages of search results on this? There are 22 pages of search results on this, with everyone going ballistic thinking Obama said he "wished" he were President of China, rather than it would be "easier" to be President of China, and all without knowing the complete context.

Rush Limbaugh, and all the right-wing blogs (and who knows, maybe even some of the left wing blogs) are saying that Obama said that he "wished" he were Presidnet of China, because of this quote:

“Mr. Obama has told people that it would be so much easier to be the president of China. As one official put it, ‘No one is scrutinizing Hu Jintao’s words in Tahrir Square.’”

And of course people seem to be ignoring the fact that it wasn't Obama who said it, it was this "official."

I've tried to find any past news report in which Obama said it would be easier to be President of China, because you know, it sounds like his words were taken out of context.

In the first place, it would be easier to be President of China, because the Chinese can't talk back to their politicians - at least not without getting killed.

But what was the context of Obama's comments? Was he saying something like, "It would be easier to be President of China, but I prefer the US's way of doing things?"

We don't know, because we don't know where this original story came from! I've searched on the phrase, and their are 5 pages of responses from March 11, but nothing earlier than that.

Until I can find that out, I'll withold criticism on Obama on this issue.


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