Comments on: Sarko The American

Lesley Stahl Interviews France's New Leader

[gbourgogne]

Someone here wrote something clever about the French ; I am French, so I may be authorised to quote this clever American man ... here is the best extract of it, you can easily find the whole post as I quotdhe rference... and thank you, Sir !
As an American living in Paris for the past 7 years I find the image of France in America quite interesting.
The American Press likes to portray France as an old broken down Socialist country, where no one works, or if they go to work they immediately go on strike, then go on vacation. Yes, some of that is true.
But they must be an amazing people because they also figured out :
- how to make my subway train come every 60 to 90 seconds during rush hour (I have timed it),
- how to build a comprehensive high speed TGV train network and run it for 26 years without a fatal accident,
- how to provide, according to the World Health Organization, the best health care system in the world,
- how to become completely independent of middle east oil for generating electricity because France is 85% nuclear and 10% renewable and as a result has the cleanest air in the industrialized world.
Not bad for people who never go to work.
Posted by kennmatt at 09:38 AM : Oct 29, 2007

[mikefine2]

As an American living in France, I am embarrassed by and disappointed in what was once a quality program. Leslie Stahl has a unique opportunity to interview a president of one of the leading nations in the world and she delves into his married life.

Good for Sarkozy! Get up and do not tolerate this stupidity. She had opportunity to ask about the Iran situation or how he intends to improve and solidify US-Franco relations. She could have even tackled the struggles of the socialistic budgets and US health care. But no, she wants to hear dirt.

60 Minutes used to be the height of journalistic integrity and was focused on educating its viewers. Even worse, the program perpetuates the perception that the French are intolerant and rude....Perhaps they are...in the face of stupidity.

My apologies to the French. As an American living in your wonderful country, I am sorry that our media continues to portray you as intolerant people. My experience has been the contrary.

[lorena44]

Madam,

Don''t you think a journalist should clearly check his or her assertions before stating as truth and facts ?Your comments are full of gross mistakes about France which lead to caricature my country. And your work is an insult to journalism and journalists who do try to deliver information, from which we can make clear and learned opinions. Your introduction sounds more like propaganda to me than like information which could lead your fellow citizens to know and understand more of my country.
And I deeply think our President should not have lost his temper because YOU DO NOT DESERVE SUCH AN INTENTION, and your question was totally uninteresting and disrespectful our french respect for private life.
Your comments were explicit : you wanted to prove that the French showed they blindly become pro-American on any matter because they voted for M. Sarkozy. You thus precisely behave the way which makes us distrutful of American people. But I want to thank you for one thing : we regularly question our journalists in France and I must say the comparison between your method and theirs gives an advantage to French journalists.

By the way, we are not forbidden to work more than 35 hours a week ! It would take to much time to correct your mistakes but this example is good to question the credit to give to your report.

Sans rancune.

[swamitom1]

My dear american friends,

I just heard, on French radio a journalist pointing every mistake in Ms.Stahl report on France. She really is a joke!
I''m saddened that no one here protested against that rather than against her question on the separation. This kind of bad jounalism is much more revolting, for it''s reports like these which causes our countries to dislike one another, spreading false ideas and lies.
Don''t believe a word of what Ms.Stahl says about French policy, French law or the French President.

As you may have guessed, I oppose Pres. Sarkozy''s politics, but this is besides the point. The point is about the facts, and she got them all wrong! And this is bad journalism, far worse than gossip.

[pierre-e]

Chere Madame,

I was so angry when I read about your interview Ms Stahl, you have no idea. Maybe because, I am French ...and as you experienced, French people lose their temper quickly and easily...especially when faced with mediocrity.
But, you know, I felt a lot better when I read all the comments on this page. Everything I felt, had been said already.
I am so glad, your fellow citizens do react strongly when gutter journalism, useless "information" is thrown at them like bread was to the Romans during the games!


P.S: By the way, I read about your shameful interview in a small town, south of China, Sichuan province, in a chinese newspaper! You see what a stupid question can lead to! Mind the ripple effects! Stick to your job or change it!

[pierre-e]

Chere Madame,

I was so angry when I read about your interview Ms Stahl, you have no idea. Maybe because, I am French ...and as you experienced, French people lose their temper quickly and easily...especially when faced with mediocrity.
But, you know, I felt a lot better when I read all the comments on this page. Everything I felt, had been said already.
I am so glad, your fellow citizens do react strongly when gutter journalism, useless "information" is thrown at them like bread was to the Romans during the games!


P.S: By the way, I read about your shameful interview in a small town, south of China, Sichuan province, in a chinese newspaper! You see what a stupid question can lead to! Mind the ripple effects! Stick to your job or change it!

[johaster]

The facts refute Sarkozy''s assessment of equal opportunity in the US. Social mobility in the US is rather low compared to many European countries because of failing education for the children of the poor. Some time ago, the Economist newspaper devoted an enlightening study on it. Like human rights, equal opportunity is a part of American national mythology but not reality.

[tony_bianco]

Bravo Sarko! The question on his marriage is inappropriate, especially after his declining to answer the first question. The reporter should have moved on. In France, there is a healthy division between the private and public life of politicians, as it should be. Contrary to what some people may think, the "public" has absolutely NO RIGHT to know what "Monsieur" Sarkozy thinks about "Madame" Sarkozy or their marriage. What the President of France thinks about such matter is completely irrelevant. The growing fascination with the private life of public figures is perplexing to me. Maybe the private lives of those concerned is so utterly boring that they need to peek in other people''s bedroom? Get a life, I would say.

[cmp271]

Hi & LOL , I''''m laughing for real as I type this, you''''re either 82 or need spectacles, he may be many things but he''''s not the worlds "hottest eligible bachelor"




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Posted by ziparmux


I had to respond to this and hope you get it. No I am not 82, I go to college. I think he is good looking. Too bad you must not be, otherwise you would not have made this comment. I may wear glasses, I can see!!! I also think Prince Harry is cute and wish he''d dump the bimbo he is with. The white babe from Africa.

Now where is the line for a date with Sarkozy? I am sure it is circling the world and will be here soon!!! I''d tame him fast enough, no more rudeness. Amazing what a good paddle and whip will do for a man!

The other response, is about the scum. These people were allowed to have French citizenship and it is too bad. Many are lazy and do not want to work. They may be 2nd generation, they are still lazy. they perpetuate the scum of every ghetto in all our countries.

[grazinggoat]

Lesley Stahl, who obscures her own Jewish background, does the same regarding Mr. Sarkozy and his wife.
Mr. Sarkozy''''s mother''''s family was Greek-Jewish; his wife''''s family was also Jewish.

sand27144
Posted by sand27144 at 08:50 PM : Oct 29, 2007

-If he were Jewish, deos he need to lick America''s boots? Many Jews hate what is going on in the world. They don''t like this right wing nuts are provoking regardless of their religion belonging. But it looks more and more obvious that some right-wing guestappo-type pseudo-zionists have taken over the decision-making positions in France (Sarkozy-Kouchner) and USA and some other Western European countries, to drive those countries into a wild invasion of the Middle-East, in order to implant the greater Israel in Mesopotamia and around the Meditrranean Sea. Under fighting Terrorism pretention, they think every thing is granted to them... even American Blood... a lot of it!

[botzaris]

Grace under pressure - not the style of Sarkozy.
Rather important that his lack of self control be shown on television. See that President fingering the nuclear button???

[whitekevin1]

I certainly did not mean to post this so many times. My apologies. I was experiencing problems with my browser and continued to push enter because I had no verification message.

[whitekevin1]

Sarkozy had every right to walk out on Lesley Stahl. The question was inappropriate to ask of a head of state clearly undergoing a crisis in his personal life. At least show a little tact and approach it in a more respectful and subtle fashion. Her behavior before the formal interview, and your choice to display it was in very bad taste as well. Telling a busy head of state making time for her tabloid style questioning to "breath and calm down".... before the interview. Who the heck are you?? I expect more class, grace, and style from a 60 minutes seasoned reporter.

[whitekevin1]

Sarkozy had every right to walk out on Lesley Stahl. The question was inappropriate to ask of a head of state clearly undergoing a crisis in his personal life. At least show a little tact and approach it in a more respectful and subtle fashion. Her behavior before the formal interview, and your choice to display it was in very bad taste as well. Telling a busy head of state making time for her tabloid style questioning to "breath and calm down".... before the interview. Who the heck are you?? I expect more class, grace, and style from a 60 minutes seasoned reporter.

[whitekevin1]

Sarkozy had every right to walk out on Lesley Stahl. The question was inappropriate to ask of a head of state clearly undergoing a crisis in his personal life. At least show a little tact and approach it in a more respectful and subtle fashion. Her behavior before the formal interview, and your choice to display it was in very bad taste as well. Telling a busy head of state making time for her tabloid style questioning to "breath and calm down".... before the interview. Who the heck are you?? I expect more class, grace, and style from a 60 minutes seasoned reporter.

[whitekevin1]

Sarkozy had every right to walk out on Lesley Stahl. The question was inappropriate to ask of a head of state clearly undergoing a crisis in his personal life. At least show a little tact and approach it in a more respectful and subtle fashion. Her behavior before the formal interview, and your choice to display it was in very bad taste as well. Telling a busy head of state making time for her tabloid style questioning to "breath and calm down".... before the interview. Who the heck are you?? I expect more class, grace, and style from a 60 minutes seasoned reporter.

[whitekevin1]

Sarkozy had every right to walk out on Lesley Stahl. The question was inappropriate to ask of a head of state clearly undergoing a crisis in his personal life. At least show a little tact and approach it in a more respectful and subtle fashion. Her behavior before the formal interview, and your choice to display it was in very bad taste as well. Telling a busy head of state making time for her tabloid style questioning to "breath and calm down".... before the interview. Who the heck are you?? I expect more class, grace, and style from a 60 minutes seasoned reporter.

[whitekevin1]

Sarkozy had every right to walk out on Lesley Stahl. The question was inappropriate to ask of a head of state clearly undergoing a crisis in his personal life. At least show a little tact and approach it in a more respectful and subtle fashion. Her behavior before the formal interview, and your choice to display it was in very bad taste as well. Telling a busy head of state making time for her tabloid style questioning to "breath and calm down".... before the interview. Who the heck are you?? I expect more class, grace, and style from a 60 minutes seasoned reporter.

[whitekevin1]

Sarkozy had every right to walk out on Lesley Stahl. The question was inappropriate to ask of a head of state clearly undergoing a crisis in his personal life. At least show a little tact and approach it in a more respectful and subtle fashion. Her behavior before the formal interview, and your choice to display it was in very bad taste as well. Telling a busy head of state making time for her tabloid style questioning to "breath and calm down".... before the interview. Who the heck are you?? I expect more class, grace, and style from a 60 minutes seasoned reporter.

[whitekevin1]

Sarkozy had every right to walk out on Lesley Stahl. The question was inappropriate to ask of a head of state clearly undergoing a crisis in his personal life. At least show a little tact and approach it in a more respectful and subtle fashion. Her behavior before the formal interview, and your choice to display it was in very bad taste as well. Telling a busy head of state making time for her tabloid style questioning to "breath and calm down".... before the interview. Who the heck are you?? I expect more class, grace, and style from a 60 minutes seasoned reporter.