Obama, Still in Love With France, Would Do Well To Avoid Following Suit on Reality-Show Workers Rights...

Nick Gillespie | June 9, 2009

The New York Times yesterday, quoting Lord Obama during his recent, busy trip to France:

"I would love nothing more than to have a leisurely week in Paris, stroll down the Seine, take my wife out to a nice meal, have a picnic in Luxembourg Gardens."...

"I assure you that I look forward to coming back and spending much time here."

Here's something French he should leave behind:

French stars of tropical island reality show win right to overtime and holidays

... In a ground-breaking ruling, the supreme court in France awarded three contestants on the French version of the programme Temptation Island compensation of about €11,000 (£9,500) each. The judges ruled that the trio were entitled to full employment contracts—including overtime, holidays and even damages for wrongful dismissal upon elimination from the show.

More here.

I look forward to Obama's salary czar going through timecards on Jon & Kate Plus 8 or Gene Simmons' Family Jewels once those shows get some stimulus or TARP money for new air conditioners or sidewalk curb cuts.

In the meantime, here's a three minute explanation of why Obama should just say non to Gallic ways of governing:

Comments

|6.9.09 @ 11:03AM|#

When Jon Voight stands with us, who then can stand against us?

The man was in Anaconda for FSM's sake.

Abdul|6.9.09 @ 11:05AM|#

In france, aren't the statistical odds of landing a job just about the same as winning the big prize on a reality show?

creech|6.9.09 @ 11:10AM|#

Let's hope he means it in seven+ years when he can retire and take Michelle where ever the hell he wants on the millions he will earn on book deals. I'd rather he be strolling the Seine than peddling another thirty years worth of "hype and chains" as an elder spokesman for economic fascism.

KT|6.9.09 @ 11:14AM|#

I don't get it... Obama visits France. Something stupid happens recently in France. What exactly is the connection here? Did he comment on this ruling? Did he say he thought it was a great idea?

Help me out here.

KT|6.9.09 @ 11:14AM|#

I mean why don't you just call him a faggot because he likes dijon mustard while you're at it.

|6.9.09 @ 11:26AM|#

I heard Obama likes dijon mustard. Faggot.

flugger|6.9.09 @ 11:29AM|#

That quote about relaxing in France is taken out of context. He was really saying that he'd love to stroll down the Seine, but he's busy, so he can't.

|6.9.09 @ 11:41AM|#

FrBunny,

That's Milo Minderbinder to you, buddy.

|6.9.09 @ 11:44AM|#

I don't get it..

Let me make it simple for you...

anything Obama does around these parts is BAAAD and worthy of ridicule and mockery and derision. It's not enough to merely go after him for his policies and his positions.

You see by showing that he holds things like culture in high regard, he deserves the mocking title "Lord" Obama.

I mean if he would just go to Europe, mis-pronounce everything, be ignorant of history, and act like a self-important ass, then everything would be ok. But acting like a statesman is grounds for ridicule.

I mean the guy doesn't even make you want to have a beer with him.

|6.9.09 @ 11:49AM|#

ChicagoTom,

He's not very impressive so far, so I'm not sure what you're complaining about. If he gets insulted for minor things or even unfairly from time to time, well, it would bother me more if he were a good president. But it looks like he isn't.

Bush wasn't always wrong, either, but I thought he deserved general ridicule, too.

B. Obama|6.9.09 @ 11:49AM|#

I just created or saved 600,000 jobs! Just this minute! All by myself! Really!

Ooops...there's another 600,000 I just saved!

Fascitis Necrotizante|6.9.09 @ 11:49AM|#

I mean if he would just go to Europe... and act like a self-important ass, then everything would be ok.

I hope he hasn't done this!

|6.9.09 @ 12:04PM|#

I mean if he would just go to Europe, mis-pronounce everything, be ignorant of history, and act like a self-important ass, then everything would be ok.

As far as I know, his pronunciation is good, but he is certainly a self-important ass who is ignorant of history.

So, there's two out of three for you.

|6.9.09 @ 12:18PM|#

As far as I know, his pronunciation is good...

That's because of the phonetic pronunciation guide built into his teleprompter.

Abner MacGillicuddy|6.9.09 @ 12:37PM|#

The "how do you say that in austrian" and bowing to the king of SA were so statesmanlike.

You can say these are no big deal but think on how big a deal they would have been coming from Bush.

Hillary's gaffes round out the evidence that this administration has absolutely no standing to play the superior one.

|6.9.09 @ 12:48PM|#

He's not very impressive so far, so I'm not sure what you're complaining about. If he gets insulted for minor things or even unfairly from time to time, well, it would bother me more if he were a good president

I could care less if he is a good president or impressive or not. None of that has any bearing on the quality of coverage. I don't want any publication attacking anyone unfairly. And I think the attitude of "well it would bother me if he were a better president" is, in my opinion, an indictment of your beliefs than a defense of this tripe.

The reason I started reading Reason is because they had better perspectives and better/smarter coverage. But since Obama has been elected their coverage reminds me of resentful high school kids that are pissed about the fact that the popular kid is so popular.

There are lots of legitimate reasons to attack him. And Reason does a good job on those usuually. I just wish the staff here would stick to those, and leave these kind of stupid attacks to the NRO.

|6.9.09 @ 12:51PM|#

Your reference to Oba as 'Lord Obama' is racist and disgusting.

He is obviously at least a Prince and, considering his reception in Europe, an Emperor.

|6.9.09 @ 12:52PM|#

but he is certainly a self-important ass who is ignorant of history.

Are you talking about Bush?

Cuz when I see Obama address the world outside of the US he shows humility and solidaroty and tries his best to not come off as the arrogant American lecturing the rest of the world on how to behave.

In fact, Fox News has been attacking him for not being a big enough dick to the rest of the world -- which pretty much proves my point.

But feel free to just be a blind partisan and unfairly attack him -- just like this stupid blog post. It just keeps proving my point over and over and over.

|6.9.09 @ 12:52PM|#

This post is a stretch, and disappointing coming from Nick Gillespie.

|6.9.09 @ 12:57PM|#

KT -- I agree completely with your confusion.

Chicago Tom -- I haven't noticed the Reason staff in general attacking Obama for mindless reasons. I have, however, noticed that of Nick Gillespie. I used to like his material before Obama was elected. I don't think that I'm biased (I didn't vote for Obama), but I'm not that impressed with Mr. Gillespie's work for the past few months.

|6.9.09 @ 1:03PM|#

An indictment of my beliefs? I don't think that follows. The guy is incompetent, and I'm not going to worry much about how fair one particular minor attack is. If he's actually accused of something he didn't do--like being a secret lover of bin Laden's--then yes, the inaccuracy is a big deal. And "statesman"? Come on.

The last thing on Earth anyone can say is that the media by and large is treating this president unfairly.

|6.9.09 @ 1:16PM|#

Cuz when I see Obama address the world outside of the US he shows humility and solidaroty and tries his best to not come off as the arrogant American lecturing the rest of the world on how to behave.

He shows a marked lack of solidarity with our allies. Humility is not a character trait I associate with him. What you seem to regard as solidarity and humility are actually reflections of the insular and elitist Euro-leftist disdain for America that he seems to have adopted.

His ignorance of history is well illustrated by his potted recitation in Egypt on the Plight of the Palestinians. He neglected to mention that they had been offered Israeli citizenship, left voluntarily before the first failed invasion of Israel, that their erstwhile sponsors have bent every effort to keep them cooped up in "refugee" camps, and that the Israelis have offered to accept a two-state solution on numerous occasions.

|6.9.09 @ 1:30PM|#

"but he is certainly a self-important ass who is ignorant of history.

Are you talking about Bush?"

So when, exactly, was the USA the Middle East's colonial overloard?

|6.9.09 @ 1:37PM|#

So when, exactly, was the USA the Middle East's colonial overlord?

We took on the role of Middle East arbiter when the UK and France exited, stage right. Mostly because of the Cold War and fear of the U.S.S.R.'s influence in the region.

Now, with only a relatively small amount of our oil coming from there, and with all of the other troubles of the world on our shoulders, I think we should pass the baton back, or even just drop it. But we can't seem to rid ourselves of these meddlesome leaders, who keep thinking that they can solve the problems of the Middle East.