Washington furious at Belgian minister's vote comment [not satire]

[Kellanved]

BRUSSELS – Washington has reacted furiously to Belgian Defence Minster Andre Flahaut's comment that he would vote Democrat if he were an American, the Belgian press reported on Friday.

US foreign minister Colin Powell complained to his Belgian opposite number Louis Michel about the remarks, which Flahaut made during an interview with the satirical newspaper ‘Humo’.

Acting “at the White House’s request”, Powell told Michel that Flahaut’s remarks represented “unacceptable interference” in US domestic politics.
...
http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=48&story_id=4200

Technically this is LBN, but I think this is so absurd that it belongs in the Lounge.

[aquart]

1. I hope he would vote Democratic, myself.

[Kellanved]

14. good point

I'm still searching for the interview in French - I guess it's a translation mistake.

[ret5hd]

2. hahahahahaha...oh, powell, you kill me...

what about venezuela, argentina, brazil, paraguay, cuba, chile, guatemala, ecuador, mexico, etc,etc, etc...

and that's just in THIS hemisphere.

[earthman dave]

3. Unacceptable interference?

I think I just blew my irony chip. Venezuela, anyone? That must be "acceptable interference".

[Kamika]

4. err the whole world would vote democratic

My south korean relatives told me they think the whole world should be able to vote in our elections since our president tries to run the world anyway

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

8. DINGDINGDINGDING we have a winnah!

That thought has been on my mind for some time now. Maybe that's why I hang out at DU so much. Hell, I know almost as much about US politics as Brazilian!

[Kellanved]

11. exactly

The amount of US politics in European magazines is getting strange.

The Democratic candidates introduced; Bush reelection probability; what Democratic candidate would you vote for? ...

Anyway, very few Europeans would vote for the GOP; even among christian conservatives Bush's reputation isn't excactly stellar.


Well, gotta love the Belgians:
http://www.bimbam.be/flash/portabells.swf

[northzax]

13. indeed, US politics has become the sport of choice

for the intelligensa in mostof the word, it seems. You read papers in Spain, Australia, South Africa, and other places, and the US gets more coverage than even the local national politics.

[BurtWorm]

5. Oh yeah, this story is all over the papers and TV today.

Our domestic politics is being completely interfered with by a Belgian politician's remark to a humor magazine. Americans are lining up to register as Democrats because of it. :eyes:

[Wonco_the_Sane]

6. $10 says he waffle's

sorry. :)

[Fenris]

7. UNACCEPTABLE INTERFERENCE IN U.S. DOMESTIC POLICY?

UNACCEPTABLE INTERFERENCE?!?!?!?!?

The fucking balls these morans have. They are so sure of themselves they can't see the bitter fucking irony RIGHT IN FRONT OF THEM.

Fuck you Powell, you spineless Chamberlain.

[northzax]

9. well of course

he's going to swing the huge Belgian-American vote, which is concentrated in the key swing state of Delaware.

[Bertha Venation]

10. Oh, fer chrissakes...

Welcome to our diplomatic community. Whatever you do, do not express a political opinion!

I'm surprised to see the stately white home of the people twice a day as I drive down Constitution Avenue. It is so full of ASSHOLES, I halfway expect it to LOOK like one.

[felonious thunk]

12. Anti-American! Traitor!

Who does Andre Flahaut think he is!?! Is he a traitor?!? Doesn't he know that Bush IS America!?

[northofdenali]

15. Yeah, you'd think the dude was FRENCH or something!

ROFL - *'s misadministration is really running scared!

[Kellanved]

16. Lol

But you do know that some nations, like Belgium and Austria (yes, Austria with Arnold's other party reigning), had a far stronger no-war policy than France and Germany? The closed their harbors/airspace etc. .