Should Kerry Give a Speech in French?

[liberalpragmatist]

When he's President? I can think of no better way to repair relations with European allies then a European tour a few months after being elected to seek support of allies for a multilateral peace-keeping force in Iraq. Kerry should give a speech in French before the French parliament, and follow it with a press conference in French.

Perhaps the same should be done in Italy, although his Italian isn't as good as his French.

Or would this be politically bad and hurt him among voters? I don't think it would..

[mwar]

1. Could Bush do one in English?

:)

[MontecitoDem]

9. Hah!

Thank you for brightening my day!:7

[WLKjr]

18. lol He seems to speak

spanish better than Engrish whoops I mean English :P

[ramapo]

2. Maybe a short part of the speech

A complete speech in French would be a political disaster here. There's the whole anti-French thing to contend with. I'm sure just making the official visit would sit poorly with some. Anyway, he could make some remarks n French during the speech, that'd be a fine gesture but he should leave it at that.

[Still_Loves_John]

8. If he did it early in his presidency

than it would never be a problem, even if some people didn't like it. It's not exactly the type of thing that would define his presidency. And if it brought about better diplomatic relations with Europe, and therefore more help in Iraq, it would help him in the long run.

Plus it would be great just as a way to flip off Bush.

[LynzM]

3. I think it would be good

We often have other countries' leaders address us in English, why not return the favor? I think the only people it might offend are those who are so nationalistic that they think it would be 'giving in', etc., as opposed to showing that we are open to the idea of working with people in the ways they are comfortable, as well. I know I'd love to see it!

[Lavender Brown]

4. I was just talking about this with my mom

At one time Americans would take pride in being cultured and knowledgeable about the world outside the US - unlike being proudly ignorant GWB-style. She remembered how Jackie Kennedy was admired because she made an effort to speak Spanish or Italian or whatever when she made trips abroad with JFK.

I don't see why Kerry should avoid doing so when he becomes president, and if it would help improve relations with European leaders and the public, then definitely he should. But changing Bush's foreign policy would go the farthest toward that goal.

[sadiesworld]

5. Good idea as long as it is IN France...

and AFTER the election. :+

[Retrograde]

7. or Canada or Haiti

or one of the African nations that has French as an official language.

Or Switzerland.

Sounds good to me.

linda

[liberalitch]

6. French was always known as the language of diplomacy

not to mention it sounds really sexy

[jmags]

10. Tell me about it.

Je mapelle Jacques. Jacques Strap.

[Feanorcurufinwe]

11. I hate to be a bit of a wet blanket

but Kerry's skills in French are generally overrrated. Perhaps he was fluent as a teenager, but not now apparently. I was watching a cspan NH town hall meeting where in the gladhanding afterwards a Francophone couple tried to engage him in French and he begged off as rusty -- and yes he sounded rusty.

But I don't really mean to downplay the usefulness of his - and Teresa's - language skills, just to add a little perspective.

[bitchkitty]

12. Hell yes!

Can you imagine the furor among the freepers? He should do it for our entertainment value alone!

[WI_DEM]

13. for electoral reasons it would be best if he delivered a speech in spanish

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. During JFK's presidency, Jackie's ability to speak French

was a plus in Europe.

Also, it is not generally known that Clinton speaks German proficiently.

[liberalpragmatist]

15. Really?

Did Clinton ever do a public appearance where he spoke German (I mean in Germany)? I don't recall a speech, but was there a press conference or interview where he spoke German?

[Kellanved]

16. I can recall one occasion in 2002

He was the main speaker for the re-opening of the Brandenburg Gate on Unification-Day.
He started his speech in German (very good German actually) and switched into English after the introduction.

AFAIR he spoke to Schöder and other German politicians without translator on several occasions, but not really in public.

Apparently he minored in German, as did Chelsea. His daughter helped him then to brush up his German.

[ibegurpard]

17. Why not?

I wouldn't make a big deal out of it, though. Just do it without any fanfare. The French appreciate it and you don't get the blowback from being accused of french-loving grandstanding.