The French Election

Apparently the election for President of France wraps up this week. In a stunt reminiscent of our own Hollywood left's boundless self-regard and cluelessness, 100 "stars of the arts and sciences" have published a letter condemning the slightly less socialist candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy:

Sarkozy embodies a hard radicalised Right . . . with all its fears and hates. Entrusting the presidency to a demagogue like this means real danger.

I believe the letter and the entire galaxy of "stars" signing on to be listed here. Either that or it's a recipe for a really complex three cheese quiche. (Pardon my French, I went to public school). A short excerpt from the litany of stars:

Arnaud Cathrine, écrivain, Philippe Caubère, comédien, Stéphane Célérier, distributeur, Claude Chambard, écrivain, Noëlle Châtelet, écrivain, Monique Chemillier-Gendreau

Gesundheit!

Who are these people? I don't recognize any of them. Which leads me to believe their real problem with Sarkozy is his controversial plan to upgrade the standard for being a celebrity in France.

Couldn't they find at least few big names to join them? Where's the guy who played LeBeau on Hogan's Heroes? Where's that guy with that cooking show Saturday afternoons on Channel 2? Where's Marcel Marceau? Perhaps they asked him to sign on and he had no comment.

A few people I've actually heard of do appear in other media reports giving endorsements in the French election:

Blockbuster actor Gerard Depardieu says he will vote for rightwing frontrunner Nicolas Sarkozy, or "Sarko", as the "only able politician, who really works and does the job."

Way to go Gerard. I'll never look at Green Card the same way again. (Until now, with my eyes closed and covering my ears).

I've never heard of this guy, but I wish had:

Rocker Johnny Hallyday, the French Elvis, has made several high-profile appearances with Sarkozy, the 52-year-old former interior minister who supported his controversial decision to go into tax exile in Switzerland.

Elvis fan and he's a tax resister? He sounds more like the French David Strom.

And what campaign for an important public office would be complete without the contributions of the hip hop community:

Sarkozy may have been hoping to smooth over his tough-guy reputation in the high-immigrant suburbs with the support of rapper Doc Gyneco.

Yes, nothing shows your gentleness more than associating yourself with rappers.

Doc Gyneco, who even wrote a book earlier this year entitled "Great Minds Think Alive: Sarkozy and Me", was arrested for drunk driving in January and has not been seen in Sarkozy's circle of celebrity friends since.

I do like that book title. You have to respect a guy who rolls himself into a self-created definition of greatness. I thought of doing this very thing at the Mark Steyn speech a few weeks ago, wedging myself in between Lileks and Steyn, getting a picture, and calling it: Three Internet Legends.

But Sarkozy hasn't gobbled up all of the rapper endorsements. His socialist opponent has this going for her:

Royal, who has made jobs for France's youth a key plank of her campaign, has been seen grooving on television to the music of hip-hop star Diam's, whose songs blast "Sarko le demago" (Sarkozy the demagogue).

That sounds catchy . I see it going as something like:

Sarkozy is such a demagogue
At Christmas he's stingy with the egg nog
I hear he likes cats, wouldn't get a dog
Vote for Royal, she's the dopest Frog

Maybe it sounds better in French

Either way, we'll know whose celebrity endorsers carry more weight soon. The election is this Sunday, May 6. Pas vous manque de défi il!