French president insults citizen

[Mozart]

http://www.youtube.com/watch/v/HezBBCdlgzk

[RebLem]

So, were his hands dirty?
Was he a dumbass?

[Mozart]

So, were his hands dirty?
Was he a dumbass?

I don't doubt it. There is no use pretending.

[Morigan]

That reminds of a somewhat similar event that had happened in the 90's when our prime minister had grabbed someone trying to touch him by the chin and had thrown him away. It was everywhere on the media, lol.

[Symphonien]

I don't see it as that bad. The other guy refused to shake his hand, saying "Don't touch me" and then "You're making me dirty". Sarkozy then says something to the effect of "Get lost then, jerk/asshole".

At least, that's what I understood with my fairly limited French. Maybe it was a lot harsher. I wouldn't really know since I haven't been to France. I think "con" can be taken a number of ways, depending on how it's said...

[Wanderer]

I've seen the video before; Sarkozy replied to the man in similarly rude fashion but he did not initiate the "incident". The so-called citizen should have backed away from the "filthy" president without comment in the first place and the president should have exercised some self-control, more so considering his function. Both proved to be only human and it's hypocritical to either put the blame on one party solely and/or subsequently blow this insignificant incident out of proportion.

[Florestan]

I've seen the video before; Sarkozy replied to the man in similarly rude fashion but he did not initiate the "incident". The so-called citizen should have backed away from the "filthy" president without comment in the first place and the president should have exercised some self-control, more so considering his function. Both proved to be only human and it's hypocritical to either put the blame on one party solely and/or subsequently blow this insignificant incident out of proportion.

I subscribe.

[Hector]

I've seen the video before; Sarkozy replied to the man in similarly rude fashion but he did not initiate the "incident". The so-called citizen should have backed away from the "filthy" president without comment in the first place and the president should have exercised some self-control, more so considering his function. Both proved to be only human and it's hypocritical to either put the blame on one party solely and/or subsequently blow this insignificant incident out of proportion.

Why? Why should polticians put up with this shit all the time because they are politicians? I thought Sarkozy showed exceptional restraint.

During the General Election a few years back the Deputy PM was out campaigning and some mullet-headed moron thought it might be fun to smash an egg on him.

John Prescott, of good working class stock, landed the idiot with a perfectly executed right-hook.

It was the best thing that happened during the whole campaign.

[Ephemerid]

Hey, its better than what happens here in the States-- you might recall the incident about the man in Colorado who told Cheney who made some remark about him & Bush doing a lousy job (it wasn't even particularly inflammatory if I recall) & he got a visit from the Secret Service later (I think he was arrested but then released). 

And as far as an public presidential speeches and that sort of thing, the Secret Service makes sure there's no protesters around t-shirts, pins in lapels, anything that might suggest dissent). 

Freedom of speech my a$$.