Oh Nothing, Biden cites quote made famous by Mao Zedong during fundraiser

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Joe Biden cited a quote made famous by Chinese communist dictator Mao Zedong during a digital fundraising speech with former Obama senior adviser Valerie Jarrett. "We’ve got to get real economic relief into women’s hands now,” Biden said on Monday evening to the 14 wealthy donors who attended the digital fundraising session. According to the pool reporter who watched the event, Biden then cited the Chinese proverb, "Women hold up half the sky." The phrase comes from a proclamation by Mao in the mid-20th century that helped grant certain rights to women in China. The phrase became commonplace in China at the time, often appearing on pieces of propaganda in factories or other industrial areas. Biden's remarks came as he championed women entering the labor force, citing the high percentage of college valedictorians who are women. “Unless you take advantage of half or more of your brain power, you are never going to be in the position where you’re going to be able to compete internationally,” he said. “Women. Women. Women.” The fundraiser was co-hosted by Jarrett and John and Marcia Goldman, two wealthy financiers.

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