O'Reilly on France: "One of the few countries in Europe that really doesn't speak English," people "don't take a shower for 18 days"
On the November 7 broadcast of his syndicated radio show, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly claimed that "[o]ne of the few countries in Europe that really doesn't speak English on a large level is France, because they don't like us." When co-host E.D. Hill said that the French "like their own culture and they try to preserve it," O'Reilly appeared to agree, then added: "But when, you know, you don't take a shower for 18 days, you know --." O'Reilly made the comment at the start of a discussion about recent rioting in the country.
But according to the December 28, 1998, edition of the Financial Times, English is, in fact, the most frequently spoken foreign language in France. Further, 73.5 percent of state-educated students in France learn English.
O'Reilly's comments on the show were the latest in an ongoing series of false claims and misleading statements he has made about France. As Media Matters has documented, over the past year and a half, he has claimed, among other things, that France was "bribed by Saddam [Hussein]"; that it taxes its citizens as much as 80 percent and that French media is "government-controlled"; and that "in France, if you [a politician] have four mistresses, they like you better."
In addition, in March 2003, O'Reilly called for a boycott of French products. Since then, he has repeatedly made false claims (here, here, and here) about the status of French exports to the U.S., claiming that his purported boycott has harmed the French economy. Most recently, he stated that the purported boycott had "hurt the French economy, not to a tremendous extent, but to an annoying extent."
From the November 7 edition of Fox News' The Radio Factor with Bill O'Reilly:
O'REILLY: Yeah, they love me. [Laughing] I'm real big over in France. You know, it's amazing, we're on in France but on the satellite, so we're not, you know -- masses of people don't speak English in France. One of the few countries in Europe that really doesn't speak English on a large level is France, because they don't like us. They don't like the British. So they look down upon our language and our culture --
HILL: But they like their own culture and they try to preserve it.
O'REILLY: And there's nothing wrong with that. Sure, you want to have a croissant, knock yourself out. You like the little escargot; hey, I'm down with that. But when, you know, you don't take a shower for 18 days, you know --
HILL: Stop it.
O'REILLY: I'm sorry. Come on, you know what I'm talking about. Some things they can copy from us. But anyway, so France isn't a country that speaks English, you know, on a wide level like Scandinavia or Holland or even Italy now. You're getting a lot of English speakers. Germany, it's half and half. Up north they speak English, but in the southern part, the more conservative part, they don't.
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I guess we can all agree O'Reilly is a jerk
I think O'Reilly is wrong.
I'd say no showers for at least 21 days.
leatherhelmet - Wednesday November 9, 2005 09:37:01 PM EST
I have no doubt you would say that since you, as usual, have NO idea what you are talking about
"I'd say no showers for at least 21 days."
I guess this is some kind of funny generalization you are making. Just like when someone might say many of the neo-cons and fundamentalists that make up the GOP really aren't very bright people who have never left their own state let alone the country and who think a passport is some kind of foreign food.
I spent a year in southern Germany, and everyone speaks English. I mean, as soon as they heard my American accent, they would launch into English, which was annoying.
O'Reilly's outrages often lead me to imagine what would be an appropriate act of poetic justice.
For this one, I picture it taking place on a hot August afternoon, when a very large, rather hairy, tanktop-wearing welder at a French shipyard confronts O'Reilly after a 12-hour shift. He grabs Bill in a face-to-face, nose-to-armpit headlock and says in slightly-accented English: "Zo, Monsieur O'Reilly, what would you zay, az eet been 18 ow-wares or az eet been 18 days?"
I note, with no small amount of amusement, that O'Reilly is also the kind of person who would require that anyone in America "talk American," yet the French cannot dictate what language is spoken in their own country.
Furthermore, my wife, who speaks fluent French and has studied in Paris, says that almost all educated French people are bi-lingual (English/French), but choose to speak French at home.
Idiot.
Aww, I was anticipating MMFA's refutation:
But according to French census statistics available at link, in 2004 the average inhabitant of France showered every 3.2 days.
now wait a while. i lived in france and raced bikes for about 5 years. lovely people. try to speak a little french and they fall all over themselves speaking english. it's all in the approach. and yea, they would treat with disdain the groups of americans that would come spilling out of various tour busses at historic markers literally waving dollar bills and looking for tshirts..."need to get that done and back on the bus...we're goin' to amsterdam to smoke dope!" I'd have nothing to say to spankers like that either. and neither would you if they came to your town.
i live in the north of germany. it's pretty interesting here. stuff you'd never think about. It's quiet here. France also. It's slower. Like, in the supermarket...just more quiet. And most people speak english. The labor class? not so much. They don't get it in school as much.
At some point i dated about 500 french girls. showers? plenty. neat? you bet. uninhibited? you need to come visit. anyhow, they all love america. have a friend here. can't speak english. failed that subject in school. none the less? massive Red Sox fan.
Bill O? Don't let him get too under your collective skins. His big job is selling soap. Oh, and winning Peabody awards also.
This is hillarious!
I can't understand O'Reilly's hatred for the french. Imagine if it was chanelled at Hispanics, or Jews!
How this clown gets away with this is beyond me.
Rumor has it, he and the Republican Party share the same bank account.(This is a sarcastic joke!)
Well I don't know how often "The French" take a shower and, frankly, it is none of my business. All I know is that if I listen to BO for even a minute I feel unclean and have an overwhelming desire to take a shower. I suppose now that the criminality underlying the Bush administration and the Republican Party as a whole is being exposed to public view they need to drag out the same old cannards. French bashing serves a certain segment of their marketing base so out it comes. None of the rest of us are buying though: and that really pisses them off. Thank you MMFA for tightening the screws on rightwing whackjobs.
Memo to FOX News:
Most people do not like to hear cultural slurs by people who represent themselves as "fair and balanced" pundits. Please send O'Reilly back to Inside Edition where you found him so that he can do the type of journalism he does best. Namely reporting on where Michael Jackson will live next and investigating reports of 20 foot albino alligators living in the NYC sewer system. Thanks for listening.
Just more of that bigoted humor that SOME on the right seem to be quite fond of. I still don't have a clear understanding of where the conservative disdain for the French comes from. What's the origin of this?
Hi Lynn:
This Wikipedia article may be a good start. Obviously it can't be the whole story though.
Thanks.
A Great Read.
Haven't you read this month's Paris Business Review?
Hi Dave:
I used to regularly read the Paris Business Review but since BO's endorsement of the journal the subscription rates have gone out of sight. But I'm sure the trickling up of wealth to the overclass will eventually trickle down, culminating in full employment, healthcare, and a living wage for all of us.
This guy is losing it -- more each day.
Ah, the good old stereotype that the French don't shower. Of course Bill has no idea where that comes from. Here's an history lesson for you sir. During WWII, the french were short on many supplies, one being soap. Not only that, their outdated water system was damaged and crippling. U.S. soldiers stationned in France quickly smelled the effects these had on french hygiene. And then the stereotype lived on. For more information read "112 Gripes about the French" (a govnerment booklet for US soldiers to help them understand the French) There is however, a very tiny percentage of the french population (mostly of aristocratic heritage) who still follow the old mediaval culture of not bathing.
It's amusing to see Mr.O'Reilly always attack the people who have little or no mean to respond. The French population in the U.S. is close to insignificant, which makes them a pretty easy target for cheap shots. I'd like to see him make the same virulent comments about latinos, blacks or jews. I guess that makes Mr.O'Reilly a bit of an opportunistic coward.
By the way, Bill, I'm french-canadian (what an evil combo!) and as you can see, I write in...English! It was a PERSONAL choice. With that in mind, could you let foreign countries decide to which level THEY want to use English and embrace your culture? If you don't mind of course.
daggotht:
BO is a hipocritical bully. If someone made similar bigoted statements about his own ethnic group he would be outraged. I've met people like Bill. I don't know how many taxi's I've gotten in (I do a lot of out of town travel for work) and many of the White American cabbies want to engage me in a conversation about the "Mexicans". This one cabbie actually told me how nice his town used to be when it was just Black and White. I am African American so that statement was for my benefit. I quickly change the subject and make it clear I am not going to join them in their Hispanic bashing. Depending on how long I am on an assignment I often have repeat cabbies. They know not to there with me again. I can only imagine what they say about Blacks when none are around.
I recently spent a year living and working in France. I never had trouble finding people who spoke English, nor can I recall having ever encountered anyone with noticeable body odor.
Bill O'Reilly is the living embodiment of the Ugly American.
Krotos Hairetikos:
What difference does it make whether they speak English or not, they're French. Assuming that everyone in the world is obliged to learn English only further illustrates BO's bigotry.
"What difference does it make whether they speak English or not"
-----
Because O'Reilly said they don't. People with experience say they do.
I'll believe experience over O'Reilly any day of the week, from Lundi to Dimanche.
I think you misunderstood my point, which is whether they speak English or not is entirely immaterial. It’s just a stupid statement. Let’s look at this hypothetical - a French broadcast journalist asserts Americans don’t shower and they don’t even speak French. I would take great exception to the bathing part but I would wonder why in the world would a French journalist be about my inability to speak French since I am an American. Additionally, I am quite aware that most educated Europeans are bi-lingual or multi-lingual. How many Americans can say same?
I meant to say concerned about my inability to speak French.
The right continues to show how easily they can be manipulated to hate people by their blind devotion to a political party. The french are not our enemies, after Sept. 11, there was nation wide support and genuine sorrow by them and the world for our situation, how quickly we forget the "we are all americans today" headlines. Also, they supported our strikes against the taliban and our occupation of Afghanistan. They continue to be one of the major peace keeping forces there. France has also provided more terrorist intel than any other country. So my question is how long will people like O'reilly continue to embarass themselves and all americans by pushing the hate agenda? Lack of support for the Iraq war seems to be the number 1 reason for this hatred, but then again many many americans do not support the war as well as most of the world.
Wow, O'Reilly says the French are smelly and look down upon non-frech.
Why doesn't MM cover when Jenine Garafolo(sp) calls the middle of america "fly-over" country?
I really wish MM would quit crying everytime a neocon talk show host cracks a joke about something. Especially since they never cover half the outrageous things that Randi Rhodes and Franken and Malloy say. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Air America fan, but MM needs to stick to catching jerks in the middle of lies rather than send me an email alert that O'Reilly makes fun of French people. A "joke" isn't a lie. And if you're offended by what O'Reilly said in this clip you're more out of touch with reality than George.
Especially since they never cover half the outrageous things that Randi Rhodes and Franken and Malloy say.
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So let me get this straight...you've got yourself on e-mail alerts from MMFA, yet you haven't caught on that they only address conservative misinformation and outrageous statements? Your statement above is inaccurate; they never cover any outrageous things that Rhodes, Franken and Malloy say, because that is not their purpose. There are plenty of right-wing sites you can go to if that's what you want.
bromanct,
For quick answers to your questions, click on the "ABOUT" in the menu at the top of this page and read the "Who We Are" section.
Okie dokie?
Wow, O'Reilly says the French are smelly and look down upon non-french. by bromanct I know Franken is a comedian and O'reilly isnt. You are assuming he was telling a joke...wheres the punchline? He's on a NEWS station and believe it or not people believe his rants as facts. You might say who would believe such stupidity,well just look around any GOP website and you'll know who believs it. FOX news has a large audience and should show a lil responsibility when it comes to what they pass as news(seems they should be called FOX editorials). Finally, MMFA did point out the misinformation about how the french do not speak english, which is what they have always said their website was for.
BTW bromanct, the sad fact that is being lost in all this, is that O'reilly's statements are offensive and would be difficult to defend if it was Blacks or Hispanics he was referring to. When you replace french with either of these 2 words, Iam assuming it becomes rascist and not a "joke".
--he hates france because they had the audacity to not join with us in launching a war of aggression on a country that was not a threat to us. imagine that, not wanting to start a war without a good reason...what pigs.
tralfaz - Thursday November 10, 2005 04:19:08 PM EST
Not to mention listening to the opinion of about 80% of THEIR citizens. I often wonder what the term democracy means to those like O'Reilly. I guess something like you are free to do what you are told
Being myself a citizen of Freedom (I understand that's how well-educated people call France nowadays), I can assure you:
I'm afraid BO speaks the truth! Because of his very effective and widely followed boycott, we barely can buy any food and water... As a result we cannot shower more than twice a week, and we have to live on escargots.
He's right!
O grand master BO, if you read this, hear our pledge, and put and end to this unbearable suffering:
There is just one little point to correct, if I may (please forgive the snotty insolence of this remark): In the transcript I could not see any mention of us eating frog legs. How puzzling?!? MMFA must have again put a fine speech out of context, I'm sure.
Too bad that none of us froggies speak any english. I guess that most of the education freely provided by our socialist welfare state must have consisted in cheese-making, gun-dropping and american-bashing. I would have loved to post an answer, if I only could...
Meilleurs sentiments, and with all my naturally unabashed arrogance,
yours truly (or maybe not).
"Being myself a citizen of Freedom (I understand that's how well-educated people call France nowadays)..."
LOL. Nice job.
I wonder how many languages BO speaks. I would guess one. I've been to France and English was spoken by practically every one I met there. His ignorance is astounding.
I just sent BLO an e-mail, in big bold letters, stating that Al Franken was going to Iraq for a third time. I then told him that if he goes (ha,ha) he should pack his favorite toy (if you know what I'm saying!!!)
If you mean fellafel, he doesn't need to take it with him.You can still get that in the Green Zone.But his Fox News colleagues may not trust him if they see him purchasing Arab foodstuff...and why he wants to rub fava and chick pea paste on women is a mystery.I doubt if his girlfriends ever get hot enough to fry it on their bellies.
Americans shouldn't even consider themselves to be as clean as the French until the great day arrives when almost any bathroom in a home, apartment or hotel in the US has a 'bidet' beside the commode.
My major criticism of the positions of the French government has to do with their double standard when it comes to opposing neo-imperialism.I was never more proud to be a francophile than I was when listening to the impassioned defense of international law Dominique de Villepin made at the UN in his last ditch attempt to prevent the 2003 US/British invasion of Iraq.However, when the US decides to interfere in the affairs of Arab countries that fell into the French, rather than British, sphere of influence under Sykes-Picot, or a former French colony like Haiti, the French government cooperates with Bush.They must realize that when the US starts down the same road with Syria that it took with Iraq the momentum for war will quickly build and the end result will likely be exactly the same sort of disaster for the Syrian people and for Arab progressives as is unfolding in Iraq.It may flatter France to have the US trying to shore up the rickety colonial framework which is France's legacy in Lebanon, or punishing the Syrian Arab nationalists who never submitted to French imperialism, but the driving force is still the odd coalition of American war profiteers, Euro-American oil conglomorates and the neocon vision of permanent Israeli security that is destroying Iraq.
la touche:
I certainly hope you aren't judging Americans by the rantings of Bill O'rielly who apparently has an untreated personality disorder. To do so is a mistake, he is a bigot and he speaks for a very miniscule segment of America.
Of course not.He speaks to the bottom of the barrel, but in the interests of the scum on top.
Very well said.
I certainly hope you aren't judging Americans by the rantings of Bill O'rielly who apparently has an untreated personality disorder. To do so is a mistake, he is a bigot and he speaks for a very minuscule segment of America.
************************************************************* After working in Mental Health for 10 years, most radio show host and news personalities have personality or character disorders. If I had to call it, for the unhealthy practice of labeling others, I would bet O'Reilly has a lot of Narcissistic traits. ************************************************************* When I hear O'Reilly speak, I wonder how could he get away with what he says about others, yet I have noticed when he's confronted about what he says, about 70% of the time, he states he is being misquoted or taken out of context. He then realigns his image to reflect a more positive one. The reason for this is O"Reilly has a very distorted view of who he is. When others reflect the true image of who he is, he almost will reject the reflection he's faced with.
He had better be careful; he strikes me as one of those who takes inventory of what nationality is not in the room, and then, he proceeds to talk negatively about that nationality because they are not present. In this instance, he spoke about the French; he better know the nationality of everyone at the Fox network because this can backfire in a jobless way.
Joseph