First Lady Criticized Over Trip To China

First Lady Michelle Obama is in China today on her third trip abroad sans President Obama. The White House is calling the trip a “people to people exchange,” in which Mrs. Obama will visit some of China’s landmarks, spend time with China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan, and visit China’s schools promoting education and the importance of exchange programs between the two countries.

But the visit comes with strong criticism of the first lady for not bringing any members of the press or granting interviews, and not addressing some of the big issues, such as human rights and international trade abuses.

Mrs. Obama is the 13th first lady to travel to China. Both Hillary Clinton and Laura Bush addressed human right issues while they were there.

Here & Now's Robin Young speaks with with Anita McBride, who was an assistant to president George W. Bush and chief of staff to First Lady Laura Bush about expectations for Mrs. Obama’s trip.