The Master said, "If a gentleman is kind to his relatives, the common people will be inspired toward goodness; if he does not neglect his old acquaintances, the people will honor their obligations to others." Analects VIII.2

interpretation: relationships between people are of utmost importance in Confucianism. (I will put another quote from the Analects in a future post that makes this point even more strongly.) In previous Wisdom that Confucius Taught posts I've already stressed the importance of correct behavior on the part of rulers. Here we have a specific example of a particular type of correct behavior. Thus we have situations like this:
June 6, 2008: A draft law in Liaoning province makes it an obligation for adult children to contact or visit their parents regularly.
and this:
In several Chinese cities, officials have to prove they are model sons and daughters to have any chance of promotion. The city government of Jinchang, northwest China's Gansu Province, interviews the family, friends and neighbors of officials up for promotion to test their respect for parents. The same requirement is applicable in Hejin city in Shanxi Province and Daming county in Hebei Province.
Elsewhere, in regions where Confucianism has less influence, several relatives of Obama have done less well. On the other hand, a Confucian would have no doubt that the president should intervene to help his aunt and prevent her from being deported from the US.