China’s Netizens React to Clint and Mitt: Please Pay Us Back

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The U.S. presidential election is less than ten weeks away. Anyone with a stake in the result is watching, and that means most of the people in the world, including a vast number of people in China. But while American voters are supposedly looking at the candidates’ policies, ideals and promises in order to make an informed decision come Election Day, what are the people in China thinking as images of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney flash on their screens?

To some, Clint Eastwood represents Western values

For one, a statement made by actor Clint Eastwood made the rounds online in China. Netizen @假装在纽约 posted on Sina Weibo, China’s Twitter, a quote from Eastwood’s now-famous speech to an empty chair: “We own this country. Politicians are employees of ours. When somebody doesn’t do the job, we gotta let’em go.” {{1}}[[1]] 正在看共和党全国大会，罗姆尼马上要发表接受总统提名的演说。刚刚伊斯特伍德演讲，有句话让人心有戚戚焉。他说：“我们拥有这个国家，政客只是我们的雇员，干得不好就让他滚蛋。[[1]] As of today, the statement has been retweeted almost 5,000 times, with more than 800 comments.

Almost all of the comments expressed solidarity with the statement. Many agreed with @王冉, who said “This is common sense for a modern society.” {{2}}[[2]] 这是现代社会的基本常识。 [[2]] @程绍珊 chimed in and said, “This here is the real contract relationship between citizens and the government.” {{3}}[[3]]这才是真正的公民与政府的契约关系[[3]]

Of course, netizens did not miss an opportunity to take a swipe at their own state of affairs. Many retweeted @任志强’s sentiment: “When is it time for China?” {{4}}[[4]]中国啥时行?[[4]] @nicholas78 said, “We made a mistake hiring these people [i.e., China's politicians], and now it’s hard to let them go, because they have been cashing in our paychecks while working on their own business.” {{5}}[[5]]错就错在我们不该雇他们，现在想让他们滚蛋, 难了, 因为他们一直领着薪水, 做着自己的生意。[[5]] And then there were people like @大鹏展翅1101, who was direct in his criticism: “What he said is the reason people look down on China. We do not own this country, but like slaves we worry about border disputes like Scarborough Shoal and the Diaoyutai Islands for our masters.” {{6}}[[6]]说出了中国人让人瞧不起的原因。我们不拥有这个国家，但这样一群奴隶，却天天替主子关心着黄岩岛、钓鱼岛的安危。[[6]]

Mixed Review of Romney’s Speech

Even though a good number of netizens in China reacted positively to the sentiment expressed by Clint Eastwood’s statement, Chinese netizens were less unanimous in their reaction towards Mitt Romney’s speech at the Republican National Convention. Some, like ＠脱毛大师, would “definitely cast a vote for Romney.” {{7}}[[7]]我投罗姆尼一票，绝对地！[[7]] @天生我裁被和谐 praised Romney’s speech, saying that “Romney was so right in a freer world being a safer world. Even I’m pumped up after the speech!” {{8}}[[8]]世界更自由, 才会更和平。说的太对了。这演讲听的我都热血沸腾。[[8]]

But Romney is not without his detractors. @巫师Wizard commented that, “After seeing the speeches from both sides, I think Obama is more skilled. Obama is always peddling hope, but Romney has been selling fear. Obama promises a bucolic agrarian future, but Romney describes a powerful, violent America. I think Obama’s got this.” {{9}}[[9]]看了两方的演讲，明显感觉奥黑技高一筹！奥总开篇在销售希望，Romney 开篇在销售仇恨！ 奥总在描绘一副美好的田园生活，Rommey在描述一个强大的未来美国！开盘口，奥黑赢~[[9]] @打字鸡 also criticized Romney for being “so vague…the Republicans have been against everything and now they are criticizing other people for polarizing the country? And wasn’t the economic crisis and the war in Iraq the result of these very people’s ‘American core values?’” {{10}}[[10]]So vague…共和党自己拼命唱反调还批判人家分裂祖国。再说了, 经济危机和伊战不就是这帮老头用所谓的美国核心价值观搞出来的么？[[10]]

"Does the America we want borrow a trillion dollars from China?" If not, please pay up, thanks in advance.

Cynicism; Or, English Lessons

At the end of the day, how does a population who does not elect their own leaders react to elections from another country? What do they truly think of a man or woman walking onto a platform and asking for the citizens’ permission to take office?

Perhaps cynicism is one answer. As @陈泳_广州 said, “Whatever they say at these kinds of events, it’s all empty farting. Who doesn’t know how to draw a pie in the sky? Purely a result of rhetoric and the cooperation of toddlers off stage; he didn’t even write the speech himself. Sure, politicians need to be charismatic, but what’s the use of empty promises? I’m looking for someone who knows how to analyze a complex situation, how to lead a team to execute efficiently, how to resolve conflicts with charm and integrity—not another clueless cowboy.” {{11}}[[11]]这种场合说的都是屁话. 画大饼谁不会? 纯粹是演说技巧和台下托儿的合演, 连演说辞都不是本人所作. 政治人物需要有公众魅力, 但空洞许诺有个鸟用? 能否对时局做出准确分析, 带领团队高效执行, 是否有魅力和诚意化解分歧搞定敌人, 而不是又来一傻愣牛仔.[[11]] @姜昊 also agreed, saying, “It’s not interesting, just a bunch of people shouting slogans. He says Obama didn’t deliver on his promises, how can you guarantee that you’ll deliver on yours?” {{12}}[[12]]喊口号 没意思 现在他喷奥巴马没有兑现当时的诺言 那你怎么保证你的口号得到实现?[[12]]

Or perhaps netizens are just treating this as another imported television drama. As Max Fisher from The Atlantic reports, some in China are now learning English from Clint Eastwood’s speech, the same way they learn English from CNN, BBC, or Desperate Housewives.

Regardless of what people in China think, they are undoubtedly watching the campaign and listening to the candidates. That means, for anyone running for office, the audience is much bigger than you may think. And they are opinionated. Like @改个昵称重新做人求批文: “Mr. Romney! If you do get elected, please don’t forget to pay us back! … and the interest too, don’t miss your payment!” {{13}}[[13]]肉母尼先森，如果你真的当选了！记得还钱哦！因为那样的美利坚哪能问天朝借钱呢！利息要算好了哦~不要少给哦~ [[13]] 

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