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‘Red Songs’ fuels Chinese politician’s ambitions

By Associated Press
SHARE ‘Red Songs’ fuels Chinese politician’s ambitions
Retirees sing revolutionary "red" songs at a morning gathering in Shaping Park in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Thursday March 3, 2011. The "Sing Red Songs" campaign is the brainchild of Bo Xilai, a Communist Party boss with a rare flamboyant t

Retirees sing revolutionary “red” songs at a morning gathering in Shaping Park in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality Thursday March 3, 2011. The “Sing Red Songs” campaign is the brainchild of Bo Xilai, a Communist Party boss with a rare flamboyant touch. In a country known for staid politicians, he is a publicity hound with an administrative flair that has captured the national imagination and, he hopes, will propel him into the top echelons of party leadership next year. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT

The Associated Press
1 of 2
Retirees sing revolutionary "red" songs at a morning gathering in Shaping Park in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Thursday March 3, 2011. The "Sing Red Songs" campaign is the brainchild of Bo Xilai, a Communist Party boss with a rare flamboyant

Retirees sing revolutionary “red” songs at a morning gathering in Shaping Park in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality Thursday March 3, 2011. The “Sing Red Songs” campaign is the brainchild of Bo Xilai, a Communist Party boss with a rare flamboyant touch. In a country known for staid politicians, he is a publicity hound with an administrative flair that has captured the national imagination, and, he hopes, will propel him into the top echelons of party leadership next year. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT

The Associated Press
2 of 2
Retirees sing revolutionary "red" songs at a morning gathering in Shaping Park in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Thursday March 3, 2011. The "Sing Red Songs" campaign is the brainchild of Bo Xilai, a Communist Party boss with a rare flamboyant t
Retirees sing revolutionary "red" songs at a morning gathering in Shaping Park in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality Thursday March 3, 2011. The "Sing Red Songs" campaign is the brainchild of Bo Xilai, a Communist Party boss with a rare flamboyant

CHONGQING, China — One of China's most flamboyant politicians is raising his political profile with a campaign to encourage the singing of Mao-era communist songs.

The "Sing Red Songs" campaign is one of several eye-catching policies that are winning praise for the 61-year-old Communist Party boss of Chongqing city and could propel him into the top echelons of the party leadership next year.

Bo Xilai has also won acclaim for cracking down on organized crime and empowering the working class. His rise may harken an era of more personality-oriented politics with a greater emphasis on policies favoring ordinary Chinese.

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