Boycott Grinds on Against French Food, Wine, Travel (Frogs hurting)

USA TODAY ^ | May 1, 2003

[HighWheeler]

SEAFOOD.COM NEWS [USA TODAY] - May 1, 2003 - The war is over. So the French boycott should be toast, right?

Wrong. France continues to take it on the chin -- and in the gut. Nearly one in five Americans who regularly buy French products say they have stopped because of France's outspoken opposition to the war in Iraq, according to a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup survey.

American venom toward the French just won't let up. It's hit everything from travel to wine sales to the unloading of French stocks by American investors.

The French Government Tourist Office -- which figures France will lose about $500 million in American tourist business this year for a variety of reasons -- is taking the situation so seriously that it is about to begin a multicity campaign promoting travel bargains to France.

''We're going to talk directly to the American people,'' says Robin Massee, a tourism spokeswoman.

Their research shows they need to. More than 41% of Americans with French travel plans have modified them in some way, according to a consumer survey on the tourist office's Web site. Requests for French travel information were down 34% in March, Massee says.

''There's still a lot of anger out there,'' says Roger Simmermaker, whose Web site (www.howtobuyamerican.com) touts the ''biggest French Boycott List anywhere'' of French companies. ''This isn't going to go away anytime soon.'' Signs of damage:

* Travel. The French tourist office is about to launch a Club France card with the lure of 10% discounts on everything from plane tickets to hotel bills.

* Trade shows. This summer's Paris Air Show, an aviation convention attracting the world's biggest aerospace companies, expects far fewer U.S. visitors.

* Investments. Montana divested all $15 million worth of French company shares its state investment board managed. ''There's a concern about the price of French stocks if Americans refuse to buy French products,'' executive director Carroll South says.

* Restaurants. Andre Rochat, owner of three French restaurants in Las Vegas, will go to court to pursue charges against a caller who threatened him. The restaurateur's business is off 25%. ''I'm an American citizen,'' Rochat says. ''What about my rights?''

* Consumer products. While limited in scope and effect, American boycotts of French companies have hit everyone from Dannon to L'Oréal.

* Wine. Sales of French wine -- the symbol of French culture -- are way off. Bill Deutsch, whose company, W.J. Deutsch and Sons, is a big U.S. importer of French wine, says his sales are off 10%. ''I've never witnessed anything like this,'' he says.

Supermarket chain Harris Teeter has stopped advertising French wines in its weekly circulars. ''Why put something out there that may provoke a negative reaction?'' poses spokeswoman Tara Stewart.

© Copyright 2003 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Co. Inc.

[1rudeboy]

Well then, I hope you enjoy your brief stay.

[Salvation]

**''We're going to talk directly to the American people,'' says Robin Massee, a tourism spokeswoman.**

LOL! She need to talk to Jacques Chiraq!

[Salvation]

Some good California and Oregon wines too!

[Mr_Peter]

I agree. I heartily recommend "Dallas Conte"...product of Chile. I'm pretty sure the vines came from France. Both the Merlot and Cab are fabulous. $8.99 here in Boston for the 2000 year. Can't get the 1999 anymore. Should go for 20 bucks. Don't care for their Chardonney, but it could be me. Everyone I serve it to likes it.

Check it out.

[Salvation]

I don't appreciate your language.

[itwasntme]

I agree with you about Aussie wines and they are incredible. I am living in Australia at the moment and the variety is amazing. If only the public knew how much they backed us and how little they get in return...(no free trade agreement yet) Then more people would be visiting Australia and drinking their wine. I have a good feeling that things are about to turn around.

[Kiss Me Hardy]

I agree about the basic Rosemounts, which are a regular tipple at our house. But I picked up the Reserve a week or so ago and was blown away by the value for money. We've been buying Spanish and Italian wines, too, but I'm not so familiar with the different vatrieties of grapes. It's always fun learning, though.

No more Chateau Neuf d'Pape in our house. Ever!

[Mr_Peter]

Hey Sam, Check out the Dallas Conte. I know you are from the Boston area. You can get it at that damned expensive grocery store over on Charles Street, right across from the Common. Cheers.

[Bellflower]

I hope all this boycotting spills over to the Dixie Chicks. You would really think it would.

[Mr_Peter]

And, it killed me to not order Grey Goose Vodka last weekend. Had to go back to Stoli. After 2, it doesn't matter anyway.-)

[Kiss Me Hardy]

And the great thing about the Aussies is that the local media slandered the prime minister ever step of the way. They hated him for supporting the U.S. and he had the courage to do it anyway, even when the polls were against him.

And you know what makes Australia's support even more noble: The Clinton Administration absolutely screwed the aussies' lamb exports to the U.S. with tariffs and seriously hurt their economy.

Yet they didn't let any of that obscure their moral sense and signed on for Iraq just because it was the right thing to do.

Aussie. Aussie. Aussie. Oi! Oi! Oi!

[VOA]

Why would Americans travel to France these days? It's obvious we're not wanted.
I wouldn't feel safe.

Visit France?
A country that is already 10% Muslim (even if one in ten of them is a radical...
I'm staying the h-ll away).

And a country that was reportedly passing out as many visas to Iraqis before the
bombing started. Heck, I'd be afraid to visit a country now loaded with escaped Baathist
Party Members (aka Saddamites).
Yeah, I'd visit France if I wanted to hang a bulls-eye over my heart.
Of course, I suspect getting a knife in the back would be more the modus operandi
for these sadistic b@$tards.

No thanks, I'll see the USA in a Chevrolet.
Or visit our friends in the U.K., Australia, Poland or other Coalition friendlies.

[Mr_Peter]

"I don't appreciate your language."

I'm not Salvation, but I don't see his post. Apparently the censors got it off. Can't make a comment about what would get your panties in a bunch, but bassed on you optional tag line it probably wouldn't take much. Have a nice nighty.....

[Mr_Peter]

As you can tell from my spelling, I'm deep into my second Vodka.....Cheers.

[Frohickey]

I'd go and take an expensive French vacation, if for the duration of the trip, the French would only speak German, and I pay in deutchmarks.

[HighWheeler]

From Newsmax:

"Note: ...People have written in that Grey Goose vodka is French, but FrogWeenies.com writes, "After a thorough check of the brand, we are confident Grey Goose is an American brand, owned by an American company." People have sent NewsMax more reports of French companies, but we will not add them unless we can confirm them."

[fish hawk]

I agree with you that Aussie wines are great. I discovered the Aussie wine several years ago and it gets better each year. French wines are to dry for me and now I wont drink it anyway. Between the west coast wineries and Australia, if France disappeard who would notice.

[11th_VA]

I felt a bit guilty the other day when I bought some Kaiser Rolls - I wonder how they ever kept that name ...

[Maven]

* Restaurants. Andre Rochat, owner of three French restaurants in Las Vegas, will go to court to pursue charges against a caller who threatened him. The restaurateur's business is off 25%. ''I'm an American citizen,'' Rochat says. ''What about my rights?''

You have no right to customers, although you do have a right not to be threatened.

Maven

[Erasmus]

I agree with you about Aussie wines and they are incredible. I am living in Australia at the moment and the variety is amazing. If only the public knew how much they backed us and how little they get in return..

Hmmm... How about a

Coalition Of the Willing Free And Regulated Trade Zone?