Obama's Life in "Prison"

Published in people's daily
(China) on 6 May 2009
by You Zhi (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Crystal Jin. Edited by Bridgette Blight.
As an article in Malaysian China Press reports, it’s been about 100 days since U.S. President Barack Obama came to power. We only see Obama’s elegant and happy side, but for him it’s like being in prison since he moved into the White House. After the London Summit in April, when chatting with French citizens, Obama said that he was locked in the hotel and closely watched by security guards. This complaint shows his true feelings about being the president.

Here is the excerpt of that article:
It’s been about 100 days since Obama was selected as President, and we only see Obama’s elegant and happy aspect, but nobody ever imagined Obama’s feeling. In fact, for him it’s like “being in prison” for 100 days since he moved into the White House.
  
On Jan. 20, Obama officially moved into the White House and lost his freedom. Smoking is not allowed in the White House. Obama, a heavy smoker, is not allowed to smoke in his residence and his office, which the one of the costs of being president.
  
When Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was the First Lady, she made the White House "no smoking" rule. Obama beat Clinton in the primaries, but he is now restrained by the rules of the defeated.
  
Obama grew up in solitude, and he’s used to freedom. But now a group of bodyguards are outside his bedroom door when he’s sleeping, and security staff ask if Mr. President is all right when he stays in the bathroom a little too long.
  
Everything is planned out from his private life to his official business; Bodyguards ask him to ride in a special car instead of a 30-second walk to avoid danger. About 100 bodyguards, doctors, nurses and attendants follow him like his shadows no matter when and no matter where; as a result, absolutely no freedom.

America’s 28th president, Woodrow Wilson, said that it’s miserable living in the White house. Harry Truman, the 33rd president, figured out that the White House is a prison. Obama has made it through the first 100 days, but he has nearly 4 or 8 more years in "prison".


奥巴马为何会有做总统"犹如坐牢"的感慨
马来西亚《中国报》日前刊出署名文章说,掌政一百日,大家只看到奥巴马风采的一面,其实,入住白宫当总统,对他来说,是“坐了一百天的监牢”。4月开过伦敦金融峰会后,他跟法国市民聊天时,叹息说被锁在旅馆内,受保安人员严密监视,巴黎那么优雅风情的咖啡想叹一杯都不可能。这是奥巴马的埋怨,也是他觉得做总统犹如坐牢的真心说话。

  文章摘录如下:

  掌政一百日,大家只看到奥巴马风采的一面,其实,这段日子,谁也没有从奥巴马的感受上去为奥巴马设想。入住白宫当总统,对他来说,是“坐了一百天的监牢”。

  1月20日,他正式搬入白宫,当日,就失去他不能失的一份自由。白宫范围内,是完全禁烟的,奥巴马是“一级烟友”,不准他在居住及执行总统职务的白宫吸烟,他付出了当总统就得牺牲的自由。

  白宫禁烟,是现在替奥巴马奔走外交的国务卿希拉里当日还是第一夫人的时候定下的规矩。奥巴马在权位的争夺上胜过了希拉里,没想到住进白宫,却受败将希拉里的条例管束。

  奥巴马在孤独中成长,过惯了我行我素的单独又自由的日子。当了总统,睡觉都感觉到睡房外成群保镖不眠不休的在监视。上厕所,时间花长一点,安全人员就会开声问候说总统大人您没事吧!

  想跟老婆亲热一点的私生活也失去了,所有的公务到私生活,全都事前有人作好了计划。一段30秒步行的距离,护卫会说太危险了,总统请乘用专车。不论去那里,保镖、医生、护士、随从一共100人在前后左右像影子般紧跟着,一点自由也没有。

  4月初,开过伦敦金融峰会,他跟法国市民聊天时,叹息说被锁在旅馆内,受保安人员严密监视,巴黎那么优雅风情的咖啡想喝一杯都不可能。

  这是奥巴马的埋怨,也是他觉得做总统犹如坐牢的真心说话。

  美国第28个总统威尔逊说白宫的日子最难过。第33个总统杜鲁门直指白宫是一座白色牢房,奥巴马才在白色“监狱”过了100天,至少还有将近4年甚至整8年的白宫岁月要挨过去。(游枝)
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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