Sarkozy "l'Américain"

Asking whether France's rightist parties can adhere to ideas dominating in America, Jean-Claude Casanova points out that those who are eager to trip up the America-admiring Nicolas Sarkozy have taken to calling him "Sarkozy l'Américain".

Sarkozy has earned that moniker, adds Jean Birnbaum, because he keeps favoring the search for practical solutions over the Gallic penchant for abstract debate. Birnbaum notes that it is, and has always been, an exceedingly perilous nickname in France for the politician wearing it.

Already less than a generation ago, this was used on one of François Mitterrand's prime ministers. And some two centuries ago, as Philippe Roger notes in his "genealogy" of The American Enemy throughout history, it was used on another prominent French VIP. "From Talleyrand to Rocard, the US label has always made mincemeat of French politicians", says Roger (De Talleyrand à Rocard, l'étiquette US a toujours flingué un homme politique) — more on his book (as well as Jean-François Revel's) here and here.

So forget French chatter about their "American friends" and their assurances about how much they really like the American people ("eet ees only Bush an' zeir o'zair leaders zat oui 'ave somes'ing agains'"). It is all scorn and condescension. To quote MiF, "Americans, you are hated here".