China Is Sold on Schwarzenegger

LA Times ^ | 11/19/05 | Robert Salladay

[NormsRevenge]

HONG KONG — Even in China, where local Communist Party officials asked for his autograph, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger could not escape being master of a traveling celebrity opera in which politics frequently gave way to simply being famous.

Schwarzenegger ended his six-day trade mission to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong King on Saturday without any substantial business agreements for California firms.

A Riverside County pump company could soon have an announcement on expanding its China business. And there may be news from Aeros, a Tarzana blimp maker already established here. That company wants to sell more dirigibles to the authoritarian Chinese government for police surveillance, among other uses.

But the governor's trade mission to China mostly drew crowds of jostling paparazzi, government officials and business executives there to see the Terminator.

--snip--

Combating the bootlegging of movies, medicine and other American products meant standing in front of a 20-foot-high photograph of himself in leather pants and a black T-shirt. ...

--snip--

The night before, on the second anniversary of his inauguration, an elaborate reception at the Shanghai Art Museum featured a slick video of Schwarzenegger "selling California." It started with a clip from NBC's "Tonight Show With Jay Leno" on which he announced his decision to run for governor.

Outside, paparazzi and Chinese television reporters lined up along a red carpet for the premier of "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," the first showing in China before it inevitably winds up as a pirated DVD. Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, were the only people to walk the carpet.

The governor is well aware that his celebrity status can become the dominant paradigm in any situation. He's counting on it. He sees his notoriety as his most potent asset in bringing people together, closing deals and energizing politics.

[tallhappy]

What a lost soul he is.

[NormsRevenge]

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (L) and actor Jackie Chan are shown in this photograph taken from a 30-second public service announcement urging Chinese consumers to reject pirated films, DVDs and other products that was unveiled in Hong Kong November 18, 2005. The public service announcement with Schwarzenegger and Chan, directed by 'Terminator 3' director Jonathan Mostow, shows the two action stars on motorcycles, dodging speeding cars and crashes, as they discuss the costs and dangers of pirated products, from drugs and tools to clothing, luxury goods to DVDs. NO SALES NO ARCHIVES REUTERS/California Commission for Jobs and Economic Growth/Handout

[dr_who_2]

Bound to be fun to watch. Can't wait until it comes out via bittorrent.

[TeenagedConservative]

LOL!

[UncleDick]

I bought Terminator 3 from a street vendor in Shanghai for $1 last year. Don't tell Arnold.