No Amour for France Can France Make Us Love French Fries Again? (Woody Allen Alert!)

Good Morning America ^ | May 30, 2003 | Claire Shipman and Joy Kalfopulos

[fightinJAG]

No Amour for France Can France Make Us Love French Fries Again?

May 30— In an effort to win back hearts in the United States, France has commissioned a little schtick from one of America's best-known comedians: Woody Allen.

"I don't want to freedom kiss my wife," says Allen says in a new ad spot. "I want to French kiss her."

The new charm campaign from the French Government Tourist Office aims to tug at our heartstrings and employs a très français sensibility. But is this lighthearted approach, set to a soundtrack of romantic French music, enough to rekindle the romance for Americans?

France's staunch opposition to a war in Iraq soured many Americans on the longtime ally from across the Atlantic. But now, there is concern that French-bashing has gone way too far.

Jean-David Levitte, France's ambassador to the United Staes, has suddenly found himself the point man for the French image makeover. He has been crisscrossing the nation trying to undo the damage, with stops in cities such as Atlanta and Houston to try to boost his homeland's image.

But it's not just regular folks he has to try to charm. He has encountered some anti-French backlash in the top levels of American government.

"When I saw, for instance, the restaurants of the House printing 'freedom fries' instead of french fries, and the menu of Air Force One printing 'freedom toast' instead of 'French toast,' I said, Hey, stop,' " Levitte said.

French Tourism Drops Drastically

The backlash is serious business. By some accounts the drop in American tourism has cost France $500 million. Levitte says the issue is bigger than boycotts of champagne.

Levitte is up against some uncivilized behavior, including angry Americans dumping out the best French wine, à la Boston Tea Party, to make a point. A French dry cleaner's was vandalized.

Meanwhile, Americans seem to have been taking perverse pleasure in the humor of it all.

"If the French are mad at us, we must be doing something right," David Letterman joked on Late Night with David Letterman.

But Levitte isn't laughing.

"It's my job to remind that these funny little jokes are not so funny, because they are taken seriously on the other side of the Atlantic," he says. "We may differ on very serious issues — war and peace, pre-emptive war, international law, but is it a good reason to have this campaign of French-bashing?"

A Smear Campaign?

It's not just an economic issue — it's a social one, he says.

"It goes beyond calls for French products," Levitte said. "When you insult the French people, simply because they are French, then it's a kind of racist campaign."

He insists doors in Washington are still open to him — but the public rhetoric stings.

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice has said that the French should be punished for their lack of support over Iraq, and Secretary of State Colin Powell has suggested there will be consequences.

Levitte says he doesn't know how to take such statements.

"My message is that we have better things to do than punish each other because we're not in agreement on an important issue," he said.

Levitte is so frustrated he actually wrote a letter to Congress and the Bush administration accusing the government of condoning a smear campaign against the French.

"I would say it is encouraged by some people in the government, especially in the Pentagon, the civilians in the Pentagon," he said.

Then there's the jokes of late-night comics like Letterman and Jay Leno.

"It's not funny because if fuels resentment," Levitte said. "You know, people in France see that and say, 'How can a great democracy like America be so petty, so absurd?' We may differ on war and peace, but please, french fries are french fries."

Claire Shipman and Joy Kalfopulos produced this story for Good Morning America.

[NCLaw441]

>"I don't want to freedom kiss my wife. I want to French kiss her." - Woody Allen

Not to follow this too closely, it being repulsive and all, but who actually thinks of what it is CALLED when one kisses one's spouse (or daughter in Allen's case)? "Come here, woman, I want to French/freedom kiss you?" I don't think I have ever mentioned the specific act before engaging in it. Maybe Woody's different there.... (shocking!)

[Tokhtamish]

Notice the mention of Atlanta and Houston. Seems like they realize that there is the America of bicoastal Euro-wannabees and the America where people go to church every Sunday. The French flattered themselves that Bush was an aberration because he was nothing like the Euro-wannabees they were more familiar with but they realize now that there is a whole other America they knew nothing about.

This makes me think of the Saudis. In the spring of 2002 there was an economic conference in NYC. The Saudis had been advised, presumably by people who were actually paid money for advice like this, to send a large delegation to New York and embark on a "charm offensive" to counter all the negative press they have received. As if throwing around money and giving big tips is going to make people forget the smoking megatomb at the tip of our city.

[George W. Bush]

"When I saw, for instance, the restaurants of the House printing 'freedom fries' instead of french fries, and the menu of Air Force One printing 'freedom toast' instead of 'French toast,' I said, Hey, stop,' " Levitte said.

As posted before here at FR, French fries were invented in Belgium. No one has found out yet if they were invented by the Flemish (Walloons) or the French minority (40%) in Belgium.

And French toast was invented by the owner of an inn in Albany, NY. He was an immigrant with poor English skills. He meant to write "French's toast" on the menu because he had taken the last name of French. No one seems to know if he was a French immigrant or came from Beligium, Luxembourg, etc. and simply took the name French when he came to America.

I'm all for boycotting France but we should leave the French toast and French fries out of it. Let's hit a real French target, not try to punish products because they contain the word French and have no economic power to hurt France.

[1john2 3and4]

your posting of the map is the reason FR is soooo great. thank you.

i say let them all whine. give them a national forum with the unfunny adulterer/pervert...let AMERICA see how pathetically degenerated they are.

[Grampa Dave]

Who will the French try next?

Scott Ritter?

Or another left wing Follywood amoral rat like Allen?

[Grampa Dave]

Hey Woody~ You and your slimey French Frogs can French Kiss our American A$$es while we boycott Frog products, services and companies. Also, we will not vacation in France.

French Products to Buycott!

Make it a lifestyle to avoid French products.

Let them fear the American Street---our combined wallets.

"France has burned too many bridges!"

Lets keep burning those bridges that the slimey and worthless frogs.

$crew the $limey Frogs with a Boycott and no vacations in Slimey Frog Land!


French Products to Buycott

We can resist their wines which usually come in behind the good Napa Valley Wines and Australian wines in blind tasting without French Judges like in the Winter Olympics.

We can do without French Products and services for the rest of this decade. Here is a list of French companies and their products to avoid for the rest of this decade. Please keep this list and send it to your relatives, friends and fellow conservatives via e and snail mail!

*New additions to the list.

Air France

Air Liquide

Airbus

Alcatel - Based in Paris France, Provider of communications equipment, including ADSL equipment, terrestrial and submarine optical networks, public switching, fixed wireless access and intelligent networks.


Allegra (Allergy Medication) - Produced by Aventis Pharmaceuticals based in Strasbourg, France

Aqualung (Including: Spirotechnique, Technisub, US Divers, and SeaQuest)

AXA Advisors

*Bacou-Dalloz-Makes Industrial protective devices

Bank of the West - Owned by BNP Paribas

Beneteau (boats)

BF Goodrich - Owned by Michelin

BIC (Razors, Pens & Lighters) - Started in 1945 by Marcel Bich. Originally based just outside of Paris. Began trading on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1972. 40.5% Publicly traded. Bich family still owns 33.5%.

Biotherm (Cosmetics)

Black Bush

Bollinger (Champagne)

*Browning Firearms**

Car & Driver Magazine

Cartier

Chanel

Chivas Regal (Scotch)

Christian Dior

Club Med (Vacations) - Owned in part by Paris based CDC (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations)

Culligan (owned by Vivendi)

Dannon (Yogurt & Dairy Foods)

*Danone -Lea and Perrin, Evian and other food/water

*Decatholon Super Sport Stores or MVP Sport Stores*

* Dassault Systemes-(CATIA design software)*

DKNY - LVMH acquired 100% of Gabrielle Studio Inc., the privately owned licenser of Donna Karan trademarks back in 2001.

*DMC THREADS

Dom Perignon

Durand Crystal

Elle Magazine

*Emile Henry French Cookware

*Enertec makes high speed recorders used in Recon aircraft p>Essilor Optical Products

Evian

Fina Oil - Billions invested in Iraqi Oil fields -FINA GAS STATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE NOT FRENCH-OWNED AND ARE NOT PART OF TOTAL-ELF-FINA ... FINA GAS STATIONS ARE OWNED BY ALON ISRAEL OIL COMPANY ..

First Hawaiian Bank

George Magazine

Givenchy

*Grey Goose Vodka

*GroupeSEB owns Krups, Moulinex, Roweta and Tefal Cookware

*Groupe Shneider, owner of Modicon and Square D

*Guerlain Fragrances

*Hachette Filipacchi owner publisher of many magazines sold in the USA. See the list below:***

Hennessy

Houghton Mifflin (books) International Herald Tribune - 181 ave Charles-de-Gaulle - F-92521 Neuilly - FRSource:World Business Council for Sustainable Development '00 [Domain Registration], [Corporate Profile]

Jacobs Creek - Owned by Pernod Ricard since 1989

Jameson (whiskey Owned by Pernod Ricard )

Jerry Springer (talk show)

Krups

****Lagardere****

Lancome

*Lea & Perrins a product of Danon

Le Creuset (Cookware)

L'Oreal (Health & Beauty Products)

Louis Vuitton

Marie Claire

Martel Cognac

Maybelline

Méphisto (Footwear & Apparel)

Michelin (Tires & Auto Parts) - Their phone number is: (33) 1 45 66 15 53 in France

Mikasa Crystal and Glass (purchased by ARC int'l in 2001)

Moet (Champagne)

Motel 6 - 33, Avenue du Maine- 75755 Paris Cedex 15 France

Motown Records

MP3.com

Mumms (Champagne)

Nissan (Cars) - Majority owned by Renault

Nivea

Normany Butter

Parents Magazine

*Perrier

Peugeot (Automobiles) - Pronounced "Pooh Joe", must be French

Pierre Cardin

Playstation Magazine

ProScan - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France

Publicis Group (Including: Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising)

RCA (televisions & electronics) - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France

Red Magazine

Red Roof Inns - Owned by the Accor group based in France

Renault (Automobiles) major owner of Nissan

Road & Track Magazine

Roquefort Cheese - All Roquefort cheese is made in France

Rowenta (Toasters, Irons, Coffee makers, etc)

Royal Canadian

Salomon (Skis)

Seagram's Gin

Sierra Software and Computer Games

*Sodexho Alliance* French Food Caterer for the US Marines

Sofitel (Hotels) - Owned by the Accor group based in France

Sparkletts (Water) - Owned by Danone, based in France

Spencer Gifts

Sundance Channel

Taylor Made (Golf)

Technicolor

T-Fal (Kitchenware)

The Glenlivet (Scotch) *Top Tobacco - Dist. by Republic Tobacco L.P., Glenview IL, made in France

UbiSoft (Computer Games)

Uniroyal

Uniroyal Tires - Owned by Michelin

Universal Studios (Music, Movies & Theme Parks) -

Universal Studios is owned by Vivendi-Universal, headquartered in Paris France

USFilter

Veritas Group

Veuve Clicquot Champagne

Vittel

Vivendi - Vivendi Headquarters, Paris France

Wild Turkey (bourbon)

*Winchester Firearms (US Repeating Arms)**

Woman's Day Magazine

Yoplait - France-based Sodiaal owns a 50% stake of Yoplait

Yves Saint Laurent

*Yves Rocher Cosmetics

*ZigZag (tobacco papers and roller products)*

Zodiac Inflatable Boats

*New additions to the list thanks to Freepers. If you have an addition, Freepmail me with the URL showing French ownership.

** Sad news but these two companies are owned by the Belgian Company Herstal, (French Light)

***List of 18 magazines sold in USA by Hachette Filipacchi with an estimated 50 million readers: American Photo, Boating, Car Stereo Review's Mobile Entertainment, Cycle World, ELLE Decor, ELLEgirl, Flying, Home, Metropolitan Home, Popular Photography, Premiere, Sound & Vision, Travel Holiday, Woman's Day Woman's Day Special Interest Publications.

****Lagardere owns the Virgin Megastore group in France, which it bought from Richard Branson three years ago. Its Hachette media division publishes a battery of magazines including Elle , see *** Hachette Filipacchi above. Lagardere also has a stake in the Airbus manufacturing operation. The company is capitalised at over €5bn.

[The_Pickle]

Great Campaign to appeal to American Values Frenchy's!!!
Hire a Child Molester to tell me how petty and uncouth I am for calling french fries (they were created in Belgium BTW, not France) freedom fries. That will bring in the American Dollars!!

[Grampa Dave]

I kept thinking that this was an Onion article or some sick attempt at humor.

Only the French would hire a pervert and anti American left winger like Allen to mend fences.

The remarks re French Fries was another Frog attempt to insult Americans. The whole ad is an insult to Americans.

This will cost them money and make even more Americans boycott their products.

[babaloo999]

Here's a recent thread I remembered.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/908635/posts

[DPB101]

Either the French made a huge marketing error or they have written off main stream America and are trying to encourage more travel to France from NYC, Hollywood and San Francisco. Woody Allen does have fans. This could be demographically targeted to higher income groups on the far left.

[Dr._Joseph_Warren]

I'm just glad Mr. French isn't around to see this.

If he were, I suppose he would have to take on a southern accent and rename himself Mr. American!

[CaliforniaOkie]

Sisley cosmetics, sold at Neiman Marcus.

[jws3sticks]

[mikenola]

'How can a great democracy like America be so petty, so absurd?' We may differ on war and peace, but please, french fries are french fries."

Yeah, yeah, it was just a gentleman's disagreement over drinks , right? No biggie.

I guess I should be a little more lighthearted about this, but....

Friends, France is an enemy of America.

WHY did FM Villepin travel around Africa extorting various nations to vote against us at the UN?

WHY did they funnel French passports to Baath party officials for passage into Syria?

WHY did coalition forces find French SA missiles with manufacture labels of 2002 in Baghdad?

WHY was the French government passing intelligence to Saddam almost up to the moment our tanks rolled into Baghdad?

Tell you what, Bush should fire Powell and put Wolfowitz in over at State. Wolfie is a true Jacksonion that knows our country's honor has been insulted by France.

Right now, the US has great leverage geopolitically. We should twist every arm we have to to get France removed from NATO. Remove them from the Security Council and give Japan their seat.

France can repair relations by admitting to their treachery, apologizing, and pay restitution for their role in propping up Saddam.

[aShepard]

Add Varilux progressive eyeglass lenses to your list. Made by Essilor of France.

Yesterday I bought a Kodak product, even thou it may not be as good. Screw the French!

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks! The problem is that the French have bought some really good companies.

[Grampa Dave]

French Products to Buycott!

Make it a lifestyle to avoid French products.

Let them fear the American Street---our combined wallets.

"France has burned too many bridges!"

Lets keep burning those bridges that the slimey and worthless frogs.

$crew the $limey Frogs with a Boycott and no vacations in Slimey Frog Land!


French Products to Buycott

We can resist their wines which usually come in behind the good Napa Valley Wines and Australian wines in blind tasting without French Judges like in the Winter Olympics.

We can do without French Products and services for the rest of this decade. Here is a list of French companies and their products to avoid for the rest of this decade. Please keep this list and send it to your relatives, friends and fellow conservatives via e and snail mail!

*New additions to the list.

Air France

Air Liquide

Airbus

Alcatel - Based in Paris France, Provider of communications equipment, including ADSL equipment, terrestrial and submarine optical networks, public switching, fixed wireless access and intelligent networks.


Allegra (Allergy Medication) - Produced by Aventis Pharmaceuticals based in Strasbourg, France

Aqualung (Including: Spirotechnique, Technisub, US Divers, and SeaQuest)

AXA Advisors

*Bacou-Dalloz-Makes Industrial protective devices

Bank of the West - Owned by BNP Paribas

Beneteau (boats)

BF Goodrich - Owned by Michelin

BIC (Razors, Pens & Lighters) - Started in 1945 by Marcel Bich. Originally based just outside of Paris. Began trading on the Paris Stock Exchange in 1972. 40.5% Publicly traded. Bich family still owns 33.5%.

Biotherm (Cosmetics)

Black Bush

Bollinger (Champagne)

*Browning Firearms**

Car & Driver Magazine

Cartier

Chanel

Chivas Regal (Scotch)

Christian Dior

Club Med (Vacations) - Owned in part by Paris based CDC (Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations)

Culligan (owned by Vivendi)

Dannon (Yogurt & Dairy Foods)

*Danone -Lea and Perrin, Evian and other food/water

*Decatholon Super Sport Stores or MVP Sport Stores*

* Dassault Systemes-(CATIA design software)*

DKNY - LVMH acquired 100% of Gabrielle Studio Inc., the privately owned licenser of Donna Karan trademarks back in 2001.

*DMC THREADS

Dom Perignon

Durand Crystal

Elle Magazine

*Emile Henry French Cookware

*Enertec makes high speed recorders used in Recon aircraft p>Essilor Optical Products

*Essilon- Varilux Progressive Lenses for eye glasses

Evian

Fina Oil - Billions invested in Iraqi Oil fields -FINA GAS STATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES ARE NOT FRENCH-OWNED AND ARE NOT PART OF TOTAL-ELF-FINA ... FINA GAS STATIONS ARE OWNED BY ALON ISRAEL OIL COMPANY ..

First Hawaiian Bank

George Magazine

Givenchy

*Grey Goose Vodka

*GroupeSEB owns Krups, Moulinex, Roweta and Tefal Cookware

*Groupe Shneider, owner of Modicon and Square D

*Guerlain Fragrances

*Hachette Filipacchi owner publisher of many magazines sold in the USA. See the list below:***

Hennessy

Houghton Mifflin (books) International Herald Tribune - 181 ave Charles-de-Gaulle - F-92521 Neuilly - FRSource:World Business Council for Sustainable Development '00 [Domain Registration], [Corporate Profile]

Jacobs Creek - Owned by Pernod Ricard since 1989

Jameson (whiskey Owned by Pernod Ricard )

Jerry Springer (talk show)

Krups

****Lagardere****

Lancome

*Lea & Perrins a product of Danon

Le Creuset (Cookware)

L'Oreal (Health & Beauty Products)

Louis Vuitton

Marie Claire

Martel Cognac

Maybelline

Méphisto (Footwear & Apparel)

Michelin (Tires & Auto Parts) - Their phone number is: (33) 1 45 66 15 53 in France

Mikasa Crystal and Glass (purchased by ARC int'l in 2001)

Moet (Champagne)

Motel 6 - 33, Avenue du Maine- 75755 Paris Cedex 15 France

Motown Records

MP3.com

Mumms (Champagne)

Nissan (Cars) - Majority owned by Renault

Nivea

Normany Butter

Parents Magazine

*Perrier

Peugeot (Automobiles) - Pronounced "Pooh Joe", must be French

Pierre Cardin

Playstation Magazine

ProScan - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France

Publicis Group (Including: Saatchi & Saatchi Advertising)

RCA (televisions & electronics) - Owned by Thomson Electronics, France

Red Magazine

Red Roof Inns - Owned by the Accor group based in France

Renault (Automobiles) major owner of Nissan

Road & Track Magazine

Roquefort Cheese - All Roquefort cheese is made in France

Rowenta (Toasters, Irons, Coffee makers, etc)

Royal Canadian

Salomon (Skis)

Seagram's Gin

Sierra Software and Computer Games

*Sodexho Alliance* French Food Caterer for the US Marines

Sofitel (Hotels) - Owned by the Accor group based in France

Sparkletts (Water) - Owned by Danone, based in France

Spencer Gifts

Sundance Channel

Taylor Made (Golf)

Technicolor

T-Fal (Kitchenware)

The Glenlivet (Scotch) *Top Tobacco - Dist. by Republic Tobacco L.P., Glenview IL, made in France

UbiSoft (Computer Games)

Uniroyal

Uniroyal Tires - Owned by Michelin

Universal Studios (Music, Movies & Theme Parks) -

Universal Studios is owned by Vivendi-Universal, headquartered in Paris France

USFilter

Veritas Group

Veuve Clicquot Champagne

Vittel

Vivendi - Vivendi Headquarters, Paris France

Wild Turkey (bourbon)

*Winchester Firearms (US Repeating Arms)**

Woman's Day Magazine

Yoplait - France-based Sodiaal owns a 50% stake of Yoplait

Yves Saint Laurent

*Yves Rocher Cosmetics

*ZigZag (tobacco papers and roller products)*

Zodiac Inflatable Boats

*New additions to the list thanks to Freepers. If you have an addition, Freepmail me with the URL showing French ownership.

** Sad news but these two companies are owned by the Belgian Company Herstal, (French Light)

***List of 18 magazines sold in USA by Hachette Filipacchi with an estimated 50 million readers: American Photo, Boating, Car Stereo Review's Mobile Entertainment, Cycle World, ELLE Decor, ELLEgirl, Flying, Home, Metropolitan Home, Popular Photography, Premiere, Sound & Vision, Travel Holiday, Woman's Day Woman's Day Special Interest Publications.

****Lagardere owns the Virgin Megastore group in France, which it bought from Richard Branson three years ago. Its Hachette media division publishes a battery of magazines including Elle , see *** Hachette Filipacchi above. Lagardere also has a stake in the Airbus manufacturing operation. The company is capitalised at over €5bn.

[McGavin999]

"It goes beyond calls for French products," Levitte said. "When you insult the French people, simply because they are French, then it's a kind of racist campaign."

Of course, when the french bash the Americans (as they've been doing for decades) it's NOT racism. ROTFLMCO

[desertcry]

Mr. levitte can't differentiate between an honest difference of openion between friends and the malicious acts the french did against the USA on the Iraq issue. Now they are doing the same thing again with arafat, while President Bush is trying hard to establish peace in the Middle East. With friends like the french, who needs terrorists.

[Pyro7480]

Thrasher's! Now THOSE are good fries! I went to Ocean City, MD and the Delaware shore for the beach (I'm a Wilmington, DE native), and those fries are SOOO good. They're worth the $4 or so for them.