No French at the DNC

[Flagg]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2004/07/26/wus426.xml&sSheet=/news/2004/07/26/ixnewstop.html

Notebook
By Alec Russell
(Filed: 26/07/2004

The Telegraph

London

Asian drummers, exotic dancers, Mediterranean canapes: the $1.6 million pre-convention party for delegates seemed more like a United Nations summit than an American political get-together.

"We wanted to show that Boston was no longer just a place of rich white families who have lived here for centuries," said organisers.

Given that John Forbes Kerry's bloodstock dates back to John Winthrop, the first governor of Massachusetts, that made sense.

But the Republican "counter-attack dogs" would surely have noticed a word in huge letters on the back wall: "Bienvenue".

French is the ultimate no-no for this convention. The Republicans have pummelled Kerry's French connections to exploit heartland anti-Gallic sentiment over Iraq.

Kerry's team has imposed an unofficial ban on interviews in French. The chances of "bienvenue" appearing at the main convention centre are as remote as a guest appearance by the ultimate Democratic bogeyman, vice-president Dick Cheney.

[jackstraw45]

1. Theresa spoke in French from the podium...

Guess that ruins that article.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

3. Why let facts get in the way of the spin?

[Malikshah]

2. Uh, Teresa spoke French last night, welcoming folks

As well as Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and English...

No doubt the robots at Faux will harp on that.

[jpgray]

4. The Telegraph is really a hapless paper

For anyone paying attention, Teresa spoke French last night. Isn't this the rag that posted baldfaced lies about the alleged 'intern' scandal that never existed in the first place? This is Conrad Black, yes? Or formerly Conrad Black?

[Flagg]

5. "Kerry's team has imposed an unofficial ban on interviews in French"

So it's come to this...

[jpgray]

8. Based on the Telegraph? You need a better source, honestly

The Telegraph has a history of disastrously inept and outright false reporting behind it. I would make sure I had corroboration on any point I chose to entertain before I would believe it.

[Cat Atomic]

6. I don't understand why the "heartland" hates France to begin with.

I mean, they were sort of... RIGHT... right? About Iraq, I mean.

[JHB]

7. SHHHH!

They opposed the Chim-Chim-in-Chief, that's all that matters!

[calico1]

9. Oh, geez this is ridiculous

Did they check people before letting them in to make sure they don't have any French ancestors? You know, that is kind of possible if you are American! I suppose French toast was also out of the question for anyone having breakfast around the Convention center! :silly:

[JHB]

10. Let the rethugs complain about THIS Frenchman...

Etienne Marie Bechet Sieur de Rochefontaine, Revolutionary War Continental Army Officer

Buried in the graveyard of St. Paul's Chapel, which served as Washington's church in the period when New York was the national capital. It's also directly across the street from Ground Zero. And he's not the only French RW vet buried in that hallowed ground.

Some children need a history lesson, big time.



http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=2869&pt=Etienne%20de%20Rochefontaine