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Holiday in the United States
French President Screams At American Photographers
By Jim Whelan, The Joan Randall Agency
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
I can't quite figure this story out, because thereare so many conflicting reports of what actuallyhappened. The photographers had permission tobe there, or they didn't have permission, or Sarkozywent ballistic, or he didn't.
This much is true, the story as reported on Americantelebizzion did not make Sarkozy look presidential.It didn't make him look like a guy we could all like.And Americans really want to like the French, believeit or not, we are much more on the same page thandifferent.
Now Americans were not on the same page withJackie C, but the French are not on the same pagewith George W, but since George is on the way outand Jackie C no longer sits in the chair, everythingwas moving toward hunky dory until this incident, whichwill probably be forgotten after this important columnis read.
Here's a memo to the photographers:
We don't need pictures of the French President onvacation at Lake Winnepasaukie, or anywhere elsehe is on vacation. I took a boatride there once, and it'sa beautiful place as I remember it. I also took a dipthere, and it was a touch cold for my tastes, soI won't be buying a cabin there anytime soon. I did buya Beer Whiz T shirt though, and have kept it over mywife's objections for at least a dozen years.
Maybe Sarkozy bought one too. I'm sure he saw thehumorous message just like I did. But the bigger pointis: We don't need to know what the French Presidentdoes on vacation. It doesn't help or hinder us in anyway, so that would make it not newsworthy in my book.
Now shoving a camera in the French Presidents facewhile he is trying to relax and pissing him off isn't reallynewsworhy either, unless you are deliberately trying tomake him look bad, which may or may not be the casehere.
The President of France came to America to vacation.That is an incredibly positive thing. Give him some room.Say hello and move on. Give him a big smile. But don'tget on a boat and go to the middle of the lake to snappictures. That's just plain dumb.
And where was our Secret Service? Shouldn't they havebeen keeping a little closer tab on our new friend?
Huh?
From the big saddle,Jim Whelan
