http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-16549624 Quelle horreur! Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney has been skewered in a new political attack ad - for speaking French. The ad, released by rival Newt Gingrich, seeks to draw unflattering parallels between Mr Romney and another Massachusetts politician, John Kerry. Entitled The French Connection, it features a clip of Mr Romney talking in French when he ran the Winter Olympics. The Republicans are vying to challenge President Obama in November's election. Correspondents say the highlighting of Mr Romney's alleged French-language skills is an attempt to portray him as an elitist, European-style liberal wimp. 'Je m'appelle Mitt' Accompanied by a French accordion soundtrack, the ad says Mr Romney is a "Massachusetts moderate who ran away from Ronald Reagan", the revered Republican president. After decrying the former Massachusetts governor for backing government-mandated healthcare, taxpayer-funded abortions and raising taxes, the ad delivers the coup de grace. "Massachusetts moderate Mitt Romney - he'll say anything to win. Anything," warns the narrator. "And just like John Kerry he speaks French, too." It is followed by a clip of Democratic Senator Kerry saying, "Laissez les bon temps rouler", juxtaposed with another of Mr Romney saying, "Bonjour, je m'appelle Mitt Romney." The footage comes from a promotional video Mr Romney recorded when he was chief executive of the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City, in the US state of Utah. Millionaire businessman Mr Romney also spent more than two years living in Paris and Bordeaux in the 1960s working as a Mormon missionary. Some commentators have highlighted a possible irony in that Mr Gingrich, a former House Speaker, has a doctorate in European history. His 1971 dissertation, Belgian Education Policy in the Congo 1945-1960, contains a number of sources in French in its bibliography. Other recent attacks ads by Republican rivals have pilloried Mr Romney, who built a fortune in private equity, as a job-destroying corporate raider. It is not the first time that Sen Kerry's links to France - he speaks the language and has relatives in the country - have become an issue in US politics. When he was the Democratic nominee to challenge George W Bush for the White House in 2004, Republicans said he "looks French". Amid patriotic outrage over the French government's opposition to the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, cafeterias in the House of Representatives issued a culinary rebuke by changing the name of french fries on menus to "freedom fries". The Republicans are preparing for a potentially crucial primary election in the state of South Carolina on 21 January. Mr Romney was declared the winner of Iowa's caucuses earlier this month and scored a resounding victory in New Hampshire's primary this week. The contenders will compete in a series of state-by-state primaries and caucuses before the winning candidate is anointed at the Republican Party convention in August. Analysts say Mr Romney could have the nomination effectively sewn up well before then if his momentum is not checked in South Carolina.
To be fair though the Republicans were always going to get poor candidates because no one wants to run against a sitting president.
All countries have a blinded by patriotism section It's amusing to watch Franco-American enmity when both countries have a history of rebelling against the established order, preferring an independent policy at the expense of allies and collaborating with Germans As for the Obamessiah, his popularity rating is low enough for concern. If Bin Laden's death wasn't enough to secure a high rating then what will be enough?
Obama has been a big let down thats for sure, I never thought I would say this but there is actually for the first time a republican candidate who I would vote before the democrats and that is Ron Paul. His links to the tea party are slightly concerning but he seems to have his head screwed on. Also its funny to note how quick they are to forget, in their fervour to rename French fries "freedom fries" , which people they have to thank for having such a helping hand their fight for independence
heres a thought for a thread Mr Ickx, countries that were helped in time of need but then became mortal enemies to the helpers I am thinking russia and the cold war possibly, the french and yanks, yanks and native americans etc
America - Iran pre revolution America - Iraq during Iran/Iraq war America - Afghanistan during Russian/Afghan war that'll start us off nicely Edit: I hope you don't actually think im actually called Jacky Ickx
I don't understand the argument about Americans never going abroad Surely the better the quality of life in your country the less likely you are to leave it, especially for countries where you don't speak the language
no I know who JI was just used to knowing you by that name, keep forgetting your new one funnily enough i 'know' you from your sig rather than name
nothing to do with quality of life is my understanding more things like standard of living too poor to travel laziness arrogance etc
As long as it's not Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum or Jon Huntsman i'm happy. Romney is a succesful businessman, surely that's what's needed in this economic downturn.
Mitt Romney will get the Republican nomination, as he is clearly the least weird candidate in what amounts to a rogues gallery of head-banging creationist nut-jobs. Even then, GOP strategists will be waking up in cold sweats after nightmares in which their boy very publicly forgets what Germany is, refers to Islamistan, and accidentaly sets fire to Israel, before barking at the moon and attempting to eat his own @rse, all during a live televised debate. Obama, you really can't f**k this one up. That 2nd term is yours on a plate...
