Posted on 08/06/2007 6:02:58 AM PDT by nuconvert
French President Sarkozy Lashes Out at Photographers While on Vacation in U.S.
August 06, 2007
CONCORD, N.H. — French President Nicolas Sarkozy lost his temper with two American news photographers covering his vacation Sunday, jumping onto their boat and scolding them loudly in French.
The confrontation came Sunday afternoon as Sarkozy and companions were headed for open water in a boat on Lake Winnipesaukee when he spotted Associated Press photographer Jim Cole and freelancer Vince DeWitt aboard Cole's boat, which was outside a buoy barrier monitored by the New Hampshire Marine Patrol.
Before Sarkozy spotted him, Cole had driven his boat up to the patrol boat, identified himself and received permission to be there.
"He was happy and smiling and he waved at the security people as he was coming out," Cole said of the president. "And then he noticed us taking pictures and his happy demeanor diminished immediately."
The men said they watched through their lenses as Sarkozy pointed toward them and his boat began moving in their direction. Coming alongside Cole's boat, Sarkozy, clad only in swim trunks, jumped aboard and began shouting at them.
"The president was very agitated, speaking French at a loud volume very rapidly," DeWitt said.
Both men said they repeatedly stated they did not speak French. Cole said that he asked whether any of the other passengers on Sarkozy's boat spoke English, but that no one answered or intervened.
Sarkozy picked up DeWitt's camera but then put it down. A woman then spoke up in English and relayed Sarkozy's request to be left alone, DeWitt said. The woman did not identify herself.
Hours earlier, Sarkozy had spoken to reporters and said in French,
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Well, I guess the French have elected a guy who carries his own water.
Maybe he should wear one of those “Don’t Hassle Me” tee shirts up their on the lake, like Bob Wiley did. (What about Bob?)
Hassling nosy AP photographers? I like this guy more and more.
On an unrelated note, can you imagine the stink if President Bush announced that he was taking a two week vacation to Tahiti or the Bahamas or some other foreign country? Yet Sarkozy vacations in New Hampshire, Blair used to vacation in Florida. Am I the only one who finds that a little unusual?
I’m sure what Sarko was saying in French to those reporters wasn’t a quote from Moliere.
I’m thinking he might not have been with his Wife, but that’s just me.
Not just disgusting, but dangerous, too.
The car chases are clearly dangerous & criminal. If you or I were to chase someone across town, we’d be arrested I’m sure. Harassment or stalking comes to mind, as well as interfering with another driver, & various other traffic violations. People have died & been seriously injured as a result of this behavior.
The press has gone too far, & the right to privacy is ignored.
Bravo, President Sarkozy! Too bad you didn’t punch one of them while you were at it. Diplomatic immunity does have its purpose.
Wish our leaders had that much spunk!
European countries are tiny compared to the size of the US. They're used to vacationing out of country. And with the exchange rate/ weak dollar, the US is a bargain destination.
Wish our leaders had that much spunk!
His request was not unreasonable but he can't expect that people in the USA are going to understand him in French.
It is reasonable for him to expect that the press will have translators at major public events, but they aren't going to have translators with them everywhere.
If he wants to vacation in the US he should learn enough English to be able to ask to be left alone, or bring someone with him that can do it for him.
I'm glad the press had the professional courtesy to leave him alone after his request was made clear to them.
He should try spanish instead...
Well, yeah, and there are tens of thousands of U.S. citizens who vacation in Europe. But we're talking heads of state here, not your average Jacque Blow. I'm assuming that they don't just pack a bag and hop a plane, that we have to provide security for them while they're here and all the rest.
His wife and son are vacationing with him.
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