CBS Spotlights Democratic Attack on Romney as 'Too French'
On Wednesday's Early Show, CBS somehow thought a Democratic super PAC's cynical ad aimed at discouraging Republican primary voters from voting for Mitt Romney was newsworthy. Correspondent Chip Reid outlined that Romney's French-speaking ability might be "political poison," and cited how French fries were renamed "freedom fries" in 2003 and how John Kerry was accused of looking French in 2004 [audio clips available here; video below the jump].
Fill-in anchor Rebecca Jarvis stated in the introduction to Reid's report that "something from Mitt Romney's past is coming back to haunt him...Apparently, he speaks French." Co-anchor Jeff Glor added that "apparently, speaking French is not a plus when you're running for president."
The correspondent explained that "we've been hearing a lot about super PACs recently. They can raise unlimited amounts of money and spend it any way they see fit. And now, one Democratic super PAC has decided to spend some of its money attacking Mitt Romney for speaking French." After playing a clip from the ad, which highlighted a video clip where the former Massachusetts governor spoke French in his role as head of the Olympic host committee in 2002, Reid continued that the ad "was paid for by a Democratic political action committee, in hopes that Republican primary voters will see him as too French."
The CBS journalist then detailed why speaking the Romance language is apparently "political poison":
REID: It's not the first time association with France has been political poison. In 2003, the French fries in House of Representatives cafeterias were renamed 'freedom fries,' to protest French opposition to the Iraq war. And during the 2004 presidential campaign, some Republicans accused John Kerry of looking French to portray him as elite, effete, and out of touch.
Near the end of the segment, Reid cracked a joke which referenced Romney's infamous attempted wager with competitor Rick Perry: "Jeff and Rebecca, I'll bet you $10,000 Mitt Romney will continue to speak French because one-quarter of the population in the all-important primary state of New Hampshire is of French or French Canadian ancestry." Moments later, Glor responded to the 2004 accusation raised against Senator Kerry: "How do you accuse someone of looking French?" Jarvis replied, "It's crazy- crazy talk."
The full transcript of Chip Reid's report from Wednesday's Early Show, which ran 44 minutes into the 7 am Eastern hour:
REBECCA JARVIS: Something from Mitt Romney's past is coming back to haunt him this morning. Apparently, he speaks French- fluently, because he lived in France in the 1960s.
JEFF GLOR: You don't want to show off again now, do you?
JARVIS: No, no, I don't. But actually, if this is wrong, then I don't want to be right.
GLOR: There you- wow! There you go. Apparently, speaking French is not a plus when you're running for president.
National correspondent Chip Reid is in Washington with more on that. Bonjour, sir.
CHIP REID: Jeff and Rebecca, I'm going to do this in English if that is okay with you-
GLOR: (laughs) Yes, please-
REID: You know, we've been hearing a lot about super PACs recently. They can raise unlimited amounts of money and spend it any way they see fit. And now, one Democratic super PAC has decided to spend some of its money attacking Mitt Romney for speaking French.
[CBS News Graphic: "Political Poison: How 'Looking French' Can Kill A Campaign"]
REID (voice-over): To many, Paris is the city of love. But on this side of the Atlantic, the romance has faded., at least when it comes to American politics, where speaking French is taboo.
MITT ROMNEY, (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE (in French, from American LP political ad): Bonjour, I'm Mitt Romney-
REID: This ad showing Mitt Romney speaking French ten years ago was paid for by a Democratic political action committee, in hopes that Republican primary voters will see him as too French. It's not the first time association with France has been political poison. In 2003, the French fries in House of Representatives cafeterias were renamed 'freedom fries,' to protest French opposition to the Iraq war. And during the 2004 presidential campaign, some Republicans accused John Kerry of looking French to portray him as elite, effete, and out of touch. (clip of John Kerry speaking French)
REID (on-camera): The French say all that bashing is unfair, arguing that there might not even be a United States of America if it hadn't been for help from the French during the Revolutionary War. This park is named for the Marquis de Lafayette, a French general who played a crucial role in the war, and it sits on some of the best real estate in Washington, right across from the White House.
REID (voice-over): Romney, for his part, isn't hiding his fluent French. This week in New Hampshire, he spoke with a French Canadian barber.
ROMNEY: Speak French?
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: Yes, I do, very well. Do you?
ROMNEY: Yeah- not as well as you do.
REID: Romney learned the language when he was in France as a Mormon missionary. (clip of Mitt Romney speaking French) Olivier Knox, a French reporter who covers American politics, says he doesn't think the France bashing works, but he also doesn't expect it to stop.
OLIVIER KNOX, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE: There's really very little downside politically or socially to attacking France, whether you're a late night comic or the producer of an attack video for a primary campaign. There's simply isn't the kind of pushback from a French lobby, or even much from French officials, if you do that.
REID (live): Now, if you're wondering why Mitt Romney was speaking French on TV a decade ago, he was the lead of the U.S. organizing committee for the Olympics, and he did a lot of foreign TV interviews. And Jeff and Rebecca, I'll bet you $10,000 Mitt Romney will continue to speak French because one-quarter of the population in the all-important primary state of New Hampshire is of French or French Canadian ancestry.
GLOR: How did about that?
JARVIS: There you go!
GLOR: Strategery (Glor and Jarvis laugh) Thank you, Chip- good stuff-
REID: You bet.
GLOR: Appreciate it.
JARVIS: Merci, Chip.
REID: Merci-
GLOR: How do you accuse someone of looking French?
JARVIS: It's crazy- (Glor laughs) crazy talk.
- Matthew Balan's blog
- Login to post comments
Comments
speaking french?
Submitted by kinijane on Wed, 12/14/2011 - 6:37pm.
I wonder how low the media can get, trashing someone because they speak a second language....give me a break.
Seriously? who can take this
Submitted by Liberallies on Wed, 12/14/2011 - 6:43pm.
Seriously? who can take this media wackos seriously!
I better never run for a political office since I speak Spanish and understand and read Italian and French.
These idiots on the Left and the Liberal media that many of us Conservatives were upset at the French for not backing us up in Iraq and using every single political trick to undermine the war in Iraq. And why did the French do this? Because the French government, the French military, the French financial system was deep, deep in bed and up to their neck with the Saddam Hussein and his regime. France did not oppose the war on Iraq for some moral reason, but for billions, if not trillions of money coming from Saddam Hussein to France.
It had nothing to do with their culture, language, etc. Although the French are knowing for demonstrating in the streets if a bird decided to fly the wrong way.
Speaking French ~ A Disability Only if You're an (R)
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 12/14/2011 - 7:34pm.
The left thought it was charmant that John F'ing spoke French....and of course, the country was ecstatic that Jackie Kennedy was parlezed francais.
And just because I can, I would ask the media.....wasn't it a huge asset that GWB spoke Spanish? No?
I betcha Obama speaks whatever it is they speak in Indonesia. But we just don't know, do we? Anything about him at all. Grades, languages, writings....smoking mirrors, as we say.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)
Blonde, Bush spoke Spanish?
Submitted by Liberallies on Wed, 12/14/2011 - 7:44pm.
Blonde,
Bush spoke Spanish? Really? This ignorant fool spoke Spanish? but we were told he was not learned. That he did not read books, that he was a racist and did not care for other cultures. (sarcasm off).
The media is a pathetic and sad joke. It is so sad that so many people believe everything they read and hear in the media.
And Obama knows Austrian when
Submitted by stratman on Wed, 12/14/2011 - 9:32pm.
And Obama knows Austrian when he hears it.
So he speaks French, good for him. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
Submitted by drsamherman on Wed, 12/14/2011 - 9:18pm.
Being multilingual is a gift, particularly if the languages are pertinent to your ability to expand those you serve on a professional basis. I am fluent in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German (Argentinian style!). I treat patients from all over the world, and the language differences help a hell of a lot in psychiatry when specific terms, nuances and styles are necessary for understanding the responses patients give to a structured clinical interview. My wife is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese (very common among Uruguayans due to the proximity of Brazil). She is learning French (not difficult for a Spanish language speaker) and Italian. All four of our children are fluent in English and Spanish, and two are fluent in other languages, namely Japanese and Arabic.
That the idiot Democrats would make education in another language somehow a detriment is the most hypocritical action yet. Aren't they always saying they are the more intelligent types? Apparently that does not apply when they are not capable of learning another language.
You know the old joke, Sam?
Submitted by Blonde on Wed, 12/14/2011 - 9:28pm.
What do you call someone who speaks three languages?
Tri-lingual.
What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Bi-lingual.
What do you call someone who speaks one language?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
American.
Handy Reference Guide to Obama's Gaffes and Goofs ~ Currently Numbering 200 (and Counting)