As we near the end of 2009, French Bashing is no longer common on television. In fact, in a recent episode of Family Guy, French stereotypes were thrown onto the heap of politically incorrect materials in a skit entitled “Bigoted Songs Melody”. Even the eternally unfunny Simpsons are toning things down with a recent caricature of Nicolas Sarkozy and Carla Bruni that lacked imagination and punch – true to their style. Jay Leno for his part is probably too busy trying to counter his downward ratings spiral to care about bashing the French at this time.

So is there anyone left in the US media willing to publicly Hate the French?

Why it’s Glenn Lee Beck. Mister “I hate France” who still thinks the French are just another of his nightly punching bags. During his show, Tuesday, December 15, 2009, Beck took another spineless jab at the French:
“Ben Franklin was considered perhaps the most important man of his day. He was obviously revered in the Colonies, but he was also so respected around the world, that there was hardly a house in France that didn’t have his portrait in it. France had yet to become the “surrender monkeys” and non-deodorant America-haters we now know they are.” Source: FoxNews.com

Beck’s hate speech not only refers to the 1940 surrender, the most traumatic event in recent French history – as funny to the French as 9/11 or Vietnam to Americans – but he does not hesitate to use racialist language that is often used to describe other nationalities and minorities from the Irish to African-Americans.

Like Jonah Goldberg before him, Beck believes he can use the Simpson’s most offensive anti-French slur as he pleases, even if he portrays us collectively and perpetually as sub-humans. Pulling out all the stops, Beck also revisits common anti-French stereotypes about cleanliness and anti-Americanism.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank Glenn Beck for uttering those words so he can remind us all where French-Bashing really comes from – the ultraconservative right wing of the political spectrum steeped in hate, paranoia and teabags.

You asked: Send Me Everything You Can Find About Glenn Beck

We – the French expatriates who live in North America – want to tell you about our experience from 2006-2007, when Glenn Beck said on air how much he “HATED THE FRENCH” – when he was still at Headline News. In seven years of monitoring anti-French attitudes, Glenn Beck is the only media personality to have ever expressed actual HATRED against the French as a people.

• Glenn Beck and His Hatred of the French
• Glenn Beck’s French Problem
• Open Letter to Glenn Beck

Glenn Beck (2006) – Has the world learned anything? I’m convinced the French government is either the biggest group of idiots or they’re constantly drunk off of whatever they’re drinking, their Frenchy French wine. How many times does your country need to be overrun by evil before you finally get it, France?” (…) Glenn Beck – I mean, I don’t know about you, but I’m to a point where I can’t even keep up with all of the reasons I hate the French.” (…)

Thanks again for all your amazing work,
À bientôt notre ami !

* Glenn Beck “Contact Us” Form at CNN
* General comments for CNN / Headline News

Ken Jautz
President, CNN Headline News
Phone: (404) 878-5633

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
One CNN Center
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: (404) 827-1700

Remember – Christopher Achorn (blog), of Searsport, Maine has begun a petition to get Glenn Beck Fired. We at Miquelon.org, encourage our readers, who are American Citizens, to sign this petition. Please mention his Anti-French comments.

Marc St Aubin du Cormier

Our readers alerted us about the content of your program of September 19, 2006, because of alleged French-Bashing. Needless to say, the “alleged” melted away as soon as you started speaking. We were dismayed to see how virulent you were, and how you used one of the most powerful words in the English language – HATE – to express your sentiments towards our people and culture.

You were addressing a policy issue, a legitimate one at that, about sanctions against Iran and president Chirac’s position. Putting all debates aside, nothing gave you the right to voice such hatred towards our people and culture. Political debates? Let’s have plenty! But please, put the hate speeches aside.

Given the realities of political correctness, we believe you would never dare say anything along these lines about any other nationality, culture, religion or race from fear of retribution or action from an established organized activist group. We know you took out your venom on the only group you thought you could target in absolute impunity – The French.

Such courage …

We can understand the push for ratings, and your channel’s desire to “Outfox Fox” – But what you said yesterday about the French, was Hate Speech, and the only decent thing would be to apologize to your viewers.

Sincerely,
Marc Saint Aubin du Cormier

Beck joined Headline Prime News in May of 2006, and uses this show to promote his Conservative views. Nothing wrong with that, except maybe his rhetoric and his methods.

According to his critics, Glenn Beck has been known to use “hateful rhetoric” and some even go as far as calling him a “professional hate monger”. For instance, in 2004, Beck called Michael Berg, whose son had been beheaded in Iraq, a “scumbag” for blaming George W. Bush for his son’s death. Beck has also fantasized on air about murdering Michael Moore … Most of these quotes can be found at FAIR’s website.

Glenn Beck and the French

Tonight’s episode therefore seems to be pure Beck, hate speech and all, with his virulent yet sophomoric attacks on the French following Jacques Chirac’s position on sanctions against Iran.

What is most troublesome, is the fact Glenn Beck went from a policy dispute (which can be debated intelligently) to pouring scorn on all French citizens, the culture and people without batting and eye.

The Anti-French tirade went a little something like this:

“Announcer: Today`s episode of the show GLENN BECK is brought you to by France. Come to France, where we have lots of wine but zero spine. Viva la France. Sacre bleu.” (…)

Glenn Beck – Has the world learned anything? I’m convinced the French government is either the biggest group of idiots or they’re constantly drunk off of whatever they’re drinking, their Frenchy French wine. How many times does your country need to be overrun by evil before you finally get it, France?” (…)

Glenn Beck – I mean, I don’t know about you, but I`m to a point where I can’t even keep up with all of the reasons I hate the French.” (…)

ANNOUNCER: And now reasons to hate the French.”

A collection of images, likely ripped off Google, then files past the screen in quick succession:

Title card reads: “Reasons to hate the French”

Then follows an image of Zidane head butting Materazzi – a Bérêt – a Frog – the Eiffel Tower – Eurodisney – Hitler posing in front of the Eiffel Tower – Paté – Evian – French’s Mustard – Poodles – Fire from riot, burning car – Creamy French Dressing by Kraft – more paté – Roman Polanski – a mime – Gauloise cigarettes – Riot police in gear – Gérard Depardieu – Unidentified actress – Jerry Lewis – Gauloises again – Unidentified actor – Renault car – Another mime – Napoleon – Roquefort and of course a picture of Jacques Chirac.

The next title card reads: “Reasons to love the French” – followed by silence and the sound of crickets.

This sophomoric skit, more in tune with the childish antics of certain hate-sites not worth mentioning, or a bad rehearsal at SNL, was put together by collating a wide number of preconceived and mostly inaccurate ideas about France and the French in a bid to make light of today’s policy position by Jacques Chirac.

To some Glenn Beck may seem be nothing more than a mini-me for Bill O’Reilly or John Gibson. But for others, he’s a dangerous trend for all cable news networks, desperate to “out-Fox Fox”.

What is more troublesome from our view, is the fact hate-speech against the French is slowly creeping across the TV dial – with or without Glenn Beck – in complete impunity.

It’s time to voice your concerns

• Glenn Beck “Contact Us” Form at CNN
• General comments for CNN / Headline News
• Transcript of the September 19 broadcast

Ken Jautz
President, CNN Headline News
Phone: (404) 878-5633

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
One CNN Center
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: (404) 827-1700