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Listen TJ, your ad has created some buzz, but it’s created more confusion that anything else. From the comments here, over at Slate, on Rue89 and elsewhere, people think the ad is misguided and a petty throwback to the hey day of French Bashing (2003-2007).

I still believe you’re not being straightforward with us. You claim to support liberal and progressive causes yet from what I have seen, especially your contributions to Fox News panels, your supposed support for democrat and liberal candidates does not seem true nor honest. Are you in fact a front for another Republican candidate? How legitimate is your PAC. These are serious questions you should address.

If your motives are genuine and you are indeed a liberal and progressive, then your campaign is misguided and you have revived the flames of French Bashing for all the wrong reasons.

Merci Bastien !

Wonderful critical information. I’m going to write about this quickly.

Gratutious French-bashing is indeed a staple of the American Right, though it should be noted that a few (a rare type amongst the Repubs!) have bucked the party line. While I am no fan of his, I think Newt Gingrich should at least be credited with denouncing French-bashing in one of his more recent books. I will try to find it and post it here where I do.

Whenever I study a subject I have no clue what i could find. I’m so pleased to have found this thorough writing since it completely covers the doubts I have under consideration and even the unmentioned questions that i would have checked for later on.

I think you may have this wrong, Miguelon. The way I see it is that there is a lot of irony in this ad and I think that’s the way most Americans (who don’t speak French) will see it. In the American political context, it is clearly a way to get back at the Republicans for buying into anything, including French-bashing (Romney being a flip-flopper, but since he speaks French, you can make him say anything you want). It’s a way for making fun of their ignorance and ridicule them.
I understand your frustration and your getting upset, but I think you tend to overrate French-bashing. Yes, it was pretty bad in the months/years following the tensions over Iraq in 2003, but generally speaking, I don’t think it is so harmful. It is hard to be the butt of jokes but c’est la vie.  Is it so different from the way the French use the Belgians, or the Germans use the poles ?
I personally do not find the general population to be anti-French. If anything, they’re pretty ignorant about France, and have mostly clichés, and those are mostly positive, except of course for some hard-core right wingers.
One last point – anti-Americanism may be more prevalent in France and anti-French sentiment in the US  mostly because the U.S. is more present in the news and the culture in France, and many French people feel like they have to fight its “evil” influence. And unfortunately, it is rarely humorous.
I do appreciate your blog and websites for all the info and sources, by the way. I don’t always agree with your views, but that’s what makes life more interesting.

Anti-Americanism being worse than French-Bashing? I disagree. Case in point: during the Women’s football world cup, when France lost against the United States, tweets about how France had surrendered once again were numerous. When the United States lost against Japan, I didn’t see any mention of Pearl Harbour. Did you?

You know, being accused of being genetic cowards for what one man did 71 years ago is like having a insulting nickname in high school. You may have become the world’s top surgeon, or earned a medal for bravery, when you go to your high school reunion, you will still be called by that nickname. And that hurts. Big time. France has become the Rodney Dangerfield of countries. No matter what we do, we don’t get any respect. Worse, when we do something, it’s always bad, while when the US do it, it’s always right. Compare Suez in 1956 with Irak in 2003.

@Jerome : I see you pulled the Tu Quoque defence. Unfortunately, while I do agree it might not be as widely virulent as some may think, French Bashing is now part of American Pop Culture. How else would you explain the 1900+ tweets we picked up in two months with keywords like “surrender french” “hate french” etc

And now for something completely different. Well not really.

Mon Dieu! Romney, Gingrich have hidden French ties [AFP]

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If their was any doubt that was a liberal take a look at the New ad from American LP

http://americanlp.org/2012/01/06/democratic-super-pac-unleashes-tv-ads-comparing-romney-to-a-%E2%80%9Cken-doll%E2%80%9D-and-%E2%80%9Cstretch-armstrong%E2%80%9D/

I dont see how this is french bashing.
It’s kind of like those funny as hell Hitler videos with the scene from the movie is subtitled with stuff that has nothing to do with what he’s actually saying

Get over it Miquelon

une 2eme couche:
http://bigbrowser.blog.lemonde.fr/2012/01/13/primaires-us-le-pire-defaut-de-romney-il-parle-francais/#xtor=RSS-32280322

la video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=tyFaWhygzjQ#!

Thomzda, I don’t think you understand. It’s not what’s in the subtitles that’s important. It’s the fact that Mitt Romney _speaks_ french. And those who speak french are considered elitist snobs and cowards by many Americans. Guilt by association. BTW, nowadays, Mitt Romney is pulling a John Kerry (who downplayed his family links with France during the 2004 campaign), and don’t speak french at all, even with french journalists. Proof the smear campaign is working.

Et maintenant au tour de Newt Gingrich de jouer le francophobe primaire.

Ca ne manque pas de sel venant de Newt Gingrich qui parle français aussi et a passé en France plusieurs années. Evidement il n’est pas mormon mais il a eu pas mal d’épouses.

Je viens de finir une interview avec BBC Washington au sujet du French Bashing dans les primaires républicaines. À bientôt pour la suite.

Just finished an interview with the BBC Washington Bureau about French Bashing in the current Republican Primaries. Stay tuned !

Ceci merite son propre lien….

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/01/20/nato-4-coalition-troops-killed-by-afghan-soldier/?intcmp=related#content

Le jour la France souffre des pertes en Afghanistan, 4 soldats morts et pleusieurs blesses………voici que disont nos “amis”.  Les commentaires sont incroyables.  La preuve, que la haine anti-Francais approches des niveau que nous avons jamias vu avant.  C’est absolument bouleversant, rien d’autre moyen de y expliquer.

Réponse à poilu: Ca n’a rien de “bouleversant”. Ces “commentaires” sont prévisibles et souvent stupides et mal informés. Il y en a un qui dit que les Français n’ont pas aidé les Américains quand ils luttaient contre le terrorisme islamique sur leur sol dans les années 90. De quoi parle-t-il donc ? La France a été frappée sur son sol par le terrorisme islamiste bien avant les Etats-Unis, et dans les années 90 il n’y a guère eu que l’attentat contre le WTC. La France leur a transmis  des informations sur Mohammed Atta dont ils n’ont tenu aucun compte en 2001.

@ Jean-Paul: La probleme c’est que la haine anti-Francais viens d’etre  eleve sur un niveau que nous avons pas vus a ce point.  C’est plus assez de blaguer sur notre pays et notre culture, mais maintenant ils crachent sur nos morts, moins de 24 heures apres l’evenment.  On nous a deja crachez sur nos morts des autre guerres, mais dans une guerre que luttons precisament ce moment, a l’aide aux Americains…….comme j’ai dis, c’est une autre chose.   En plus, je pense que les cliques anti-Francais sont devenus plus en plus  nombreux. 

Dans mon avis, soie que vous etres pour ou contre la guerre en A-stan…je peut vous dire franchment que j’ai apris quelque chose pendent ces trois derniers jours……….nous savon qui sont nos ennemis en A-stan, mais que nous somme moins certains qui sont nos amis.

Well – thank you USMC.

http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/monde/20120122.OBS9476/afghanistan-les-4-soldats-francais-tues-a-cause-d-une-video.html

Here is what some Americans are cheering about:

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m6SnPqBuVo8/Txxc8Dn0SxI/AAAAAAAACuM/4UjaMO_fv08/s1600/2011ECPA347G042_024.jpg

@poilu – navrant, plutôt navrant.

Un article de France-Amérique : Pascal Bruckner : “Il y a autant de visions de la France que d’Américains”

Pascal Bruckner est quelqu’un de parfaitement stupide. Son point de vue lénifiant équivaut à nier l’existence (indiscutable) de préjugés partagés et de représentations collectives. Ca le gène parce qu’il appartient à l’espèce plutôt rare et menacée des néo-conservateurs français. Il a pris de relais de J-F Revel dans ce genre de discours.

La réaction négative des Américains s’explique en partie par la réaction maladroite de Sarkozy à la mort des 4 soldats français (qui n’ont pas été tués au combat). Il a donné l’impression de vouloir partir le plus vite possible, ce qui bien sûr correspond au stéréotype des “surrender monkeys”.

I have seen Randy’s act many times. He does not hate the French, or Canada. He is an avid environmentalist, and consistantly mentions that Canada is the leading environmental country. He also said he loves performing in Canada. But probably not to audience members like you—- “rage”? Randy is the kindest man…Sure he is edgy and passionate, but he is definitely NOT angry.

Les “réactions” à l’annonce de la mort des français son bien entendu révoltantes… Mais pas du tout surprenantes : les français ne sont pas vraiment des êtres humains à leur yeux…

Jean-Paul, tout d’abord je ne suis pas un fan de Sarko & co et de la “politique” mise en place par cette clique (ump) de pieds nickelés, depuis 5 longues années, ensuite ces déclarations puent l’opportunisme électoraliste d’un gouvernement discrédité dans presque toutes les franges de la société, y compris les plus conservatrices et réactionnaires.
Mais, Nicolas Sarkozy n’est pas vraiment le problème : il ne fait pour une fois que refléter l’opinion de plus en plus de gens : à savoir l’échec désastreux de cette guerre, et l’absurdité de celle-ci et de sa poursuite. De plus plus de conservateurs anglo-américains d’ailleurs partagent ce point de vue : personne ne prend plus au sérieux un discours triomphaliste, même les plus mal informés (et ils sont nombreux).
Donc, il ne s’agit pas ici, de véritablement critiquer une déclaration pas très sincère en soi, mais bonne occasion de se farcir ces “untermensch” (employé à dessein) de Frogs, qui, vous avez raison sur ce point, confirment ce stéréotype, mais qui confirme aussi la supériorité anglo-saxone.

Et de souligner par là qu’il n’y a pas de limite, ni de descence chez certains.

J’ai toujours été totalement hostile à la participation de la France (et d’ailleurs aussi à mon avis de l’OTAN) à ce conflit en Afghanistan, qui ne concerne en rien l’Europe, à la différence de la Libye par exemple, qui est à notre porte. Mais j’estime que Sarkozy a été très maladroit et a donné l’impression (y compris à l’état-major français qui était mécontent et géné de ses propos) de vouloir partir uniquement à la suite d’un revers. Donc là je comprends la réaction des Américains.

The Mail is an absolute discrace of a paper in the UK, I wouldn’t take any notice of what their myopic readership might say.
Didn’t understand the fuss about this, it’s not as if Obama was saying that the French were their greatest ally or anything it’s just that for once France does not have a president who will stab them in the back. This is a complete storm in a tea cup.
I didn’t agree with the UK’s backing of the war in Iraq, but convicted criminal Chirac should not have tried to organise opposition against it.
How would the French feel if the US got involved in some of their little colonial wars and coups? Just like De Gaulle’s shameful attitude to the anglo-saxons who sheltered him during the war and then liberated his country, this is not a behaviour of an ally.

Ken Williams – I wouldn’t get your information about history from holywood films, if I were you, particularly Mel Gibson ones. Try reading some books

Onion Jonny – “the once proud and powerful nation” is doing all right thanks although I would like us to loosen our ties with both the US and EU.  The UK, just like France, is having to get used to the fact that it is no longer such a powerful nation. The sooner this happens the better.

Honnêtement, il suffirait de voir comment on traite les américains dans les Guignols pour qu’ils nous déclarent la guerre, s’il y a du french bashing, c’Est surtout notre faute alors c’est à nous qu’il faut s’en prendre.

Honnêtement, j’ai souvent l’impression que les Guignols sont écrits par des Américains. Les sketchs sur l’armée française ont l’air de sortir tout droit du cerveau d’un NeoCon.

[…] Brief sample of the academic work going on at miquelon.org – more Conan versus Leno . They get upset with comedians making jokes.  According to them, Jay Leno made over 40 anti-French jokes between 2003 and 2006. Wow!  That averages to about 1 joke a month that is ‘anti-French’ on a show that runs probably 200 episodes a year.  Maybe math isn’t a strong subject in Canada, but that doesn’t seem like very much, compared to other topics. When the OJ Trial was going on, Jay Leno made hundreds of inappropriate jokes about the murder trial. I found it offensive and so my action was to not watch. […]

[…] Brief sample of the academic work going on at miquelon.org – more Conan versus Leno . They get upset with comedians making jokes.  According to them, Jay Leno made over 40 anti-French jokes between 2003 and 2006. Wow!  That averages to about 1 joke a month that is ‘anti-French’ on a show that runs probably 200 episodes a year.  Maybe math isn’t a strong subject in Canada, but that doesn’t seem like very much, compared to other topics. When the OJ Trial was going on, Jay Leno made hundreds of inappropriate jokes about the murder trial. I found it offensive and so my action was to not watch. […]

“Honnêtement, j’ai souvent l’impression que les Guignols sont écrits par des Américains.”

Je me suis fait la même réflexion.

C’est une convergence entre l’anti-militarisme français (surtout pour une guerre très impopulaire) et la francophobie américaine. Les Français n’ont pas beaucoup d’estime pour leur armée en fait, compte tenue des nombreuses défaites qu’elle a essuyées au XXe siècle.

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Perhaps we need a new update here.  Last weeks attacks in France which killed 3 French soldiers and 4 civilians, including 3 children, have made big news in the US.  It may not surprise many that the sympathies were shortcoming.  There appears to have been a lot of schadenfreude judging from the comment sections of various news blogs, forums, and twitter.  People may reply that these are merely a small minority of morons with nothing better to do than sit in front of a computer all day long and spew insults and hatred.  But it is worth mentioning that this hatred has grown to become a cultural norm for many Americans.  While their numbers may be small (we can never really know for sure, it’s the internet!), we must acknowledge that it nevertheless represents a cross-section of the population as a whole.  

Not forgetting the reaction many gave when French soldiers were killed in A-stan……I really begin to wonder – whose side is America on?  Are the French-bashers so filled with hatred for the French they would rather side with a  Jihadist  than with France?  It is a question worth asking.

^^
really, you’re gonna fight internet commenters now…Good luck with that

I must confess that this French election has me very nervous. An election, where the voter seems to only care about limited aspects of domestic issues, may well bode poorly for the World, Europe and, especially, France itself.

It looks like Sarkozy is going to win the first round and lose the second.

While I am not a supporter of Sarkozy, the election of Hollande does not inspire me one bit. Unfortunately, there are no centrists candidates besides Bayrou and he’s sinking in the polls.

I would not be surprised however if the French electorate elected a President from the left and gave the right a majority in the legislature…

This scenario sounds very implausible. It never happened in the past and never will. The presidential election is the key election and was always ratified by the following legislative elections. The only question mark is the partner of the PS: the Greens or the would be Front de Gauche  ? I think the Greens have for the long term a more serious future than Melanchon. Even if he has success in the presidential election his “party” is unlikely to do the same for the national assembly.  This is the opposit for the Greens.
I can’t wait for Sarkozy to go. What a relief when he leaves the Elysée !

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http://www.france24.com/fr/20120424-romney-americain-trop-paris-france-mitt-presidentielle-republicain-francophilie-obama?ns_campaign=editorial&ns_source=RSS_public&ns_mchannel=RSS&ns_fee=0&ns_linkname=20120424_romney_americain_trop_paris_france_mitt

En fait, Romney a parlé de “Paris” ce qui pour les Américains n’est pas la même chose que “la France” et a une valeur beaucoup plus positive. C’est “romantic” pour eux, c’est un truc pour voyage de noce et pour midinettes.

Dear BigM,
whether you like it or not (or have the honesty to recognize it), France IS the first ally of the United States. Fact.
You can’t turn the clocks back and – sadly for you – English bitterness won’t change a thing about it.
” If not for France, there probably would’nt be a United States.    It’s ironic that this made the English angry.  “