On April Fools Day Global Times Says America Should Acknowledge Mao, While Baidu Bans Forums on Mao

At just before midnight on April Fools Day, the state-sponsored Global Times published an article entitled "Mao Furor Shows Truth of US Free Speech." （美国对毛泽东禁言，“言论自由”挂了） An excerpt:

The National Center for Education Statistics under the US Department of Education found itself in some trouble recently. On March 22, it pulled a quote from former Chinese leader Mao Zedong, which read, "Our attitude toward ourselves should be 'to be insatiable in learning' and toward others 'to be tireless in teaching'." Some US senators demanded that the department explain why they cited the words of a communist. The quote was reportedly replaced by one from Abraham Lincoln. 

The US, which prides itself in freedom of speech, can't even tolerate a quote from Mao. It shows how narrow-minded the American political system is in the face of the diversity of global culture.  

It would not be a problem if words from an American president or even Douglas MacArthur, an anti-communist general, were published in Chinese media nowadays.
. . . .
Mao was a pioneer of the new global geopolitics. Americans will acknowledge this man sooner or later when they overcome their narrow-mindedness.

美国教育部下属机构国家教育统计中心网站近来“闯了祸”。该网站3月22日在“每日语录”一栏中引用毛泽东“对自己，‘学而不厌’；对人家，‘诲而不倦’”的名言，国家教育统计中心因此遭到猛烈抨击。有美国参议员出面表示，教育部必须解释为何引用“共产主义者”的话。该中心网站被迫删除毛泽东的这句话，换成了林肯的一个警句。美教育部代理新闻秘书还专门公开表示这次引用“很糟糕”，像是在道歉。
美国如此“言论自由”的国家，容不下毛泽东的一句语录，显示了美国政治制度在世界多元文化面前的小气。看来不断有人揭露美国的“言论自由”是冒牌货，有他们的道理。
任何一位美国总统及名人的话，哪怕是与中国军队曾经交战的麦克阿瑟的话如今登上中国媒体，大概都不会有障碍。
. . . .
毛泽东是一位世界性新地缘政治的开创者，也是中华民族走向复兴的关键性启动者。美国人终将跳出他们目前的狭隘视角，重识这位东方政治巨人。

As far as acknowledging Mao goes, these screenshot were taken on April 1, 2013, and show that Baidu bans users from setting up PostBar (贴吧) forums on "Mao Zedong," (毛泽东), "Great Leap Forward," (大跃进) and "Great Cultural Revolution." (文化大革命)  Users are told "Apologies, in accordance with relevant laws, regulations, and policies, this bar cannot be opened at this time." (抱歉，根据相关法律法规和政策，本吧暂不开放。).

As for discussions of Communism and the "words of an American president," these screenshots show Baidu also bans PostBars on "Communist" and "Obama."