French perspectives on the health care vote

Fox covering Obama press conference. Photo: Mark Sardella (CC)

An irreverent look at how the French press and people have analyzed the vote, and their prognostics for the Senate vote to come.

Well it certainly can’t be said that Europeans aren’t interested in U.S. affairs, and reaction to the healthcare vote has been widespread. It cannot be said however that there’s been a wide spread of opinion to go with that reaction. Many people in France see the outcome of the vote as a positive development, but those same people generally doubt that the bill will get past the Senate.

Let’s take a look at the biggest French national dailies. Sorry, I mean let’s take a look first of all at the worst of the biggest French national dailies.

Libération, which began operations in the wake of May ’68, used to be a vibrant and pertinent quality newspaper with a pronounced and well-articulated left-wing slant. It has, however, turned into a tired and cynical anti-establishment rag over the last 15 years. Its editorials and articles slam the Socialists as being too centrist, but the paper does not have enough guts to assume the consequences of its antiquated attitudes and embrace the hard left. Go figure, unless like me you already have. (Libération needs sales.)

In France, you must carry this paper, and no other, if you like rap music or saw Zeppelin before 1974, if you go to ecology meetings and if you are unemployed, a teacher or an artist of some sort. You must also express a visceral hatred of all things American. That avoids you having to admit that you’re jealous of America and that you eat McDonald's regularly in another part of town to avoid being recognized.

Libé’s article is strangely accurate for once and matter-of-fact, probably because the readership, which is primarily composed of angry young leftists and soured old trade unionists, wouldn’t understand the finer points of what is, after all, a complex bill.

The paper points out the abortion care amendment, saying laconically that it was “...a measure much appreciated by the Republicans” and that it was the price to pay for getting the bill passed in what is termed as “the America of partisan politics.” Elsewhere, the article opines that if Obama has to wait until 2010 for a vote, the upcoming elections will complicate matters for Obama because some southern Democrats will have to compromise their vote in order to get elected.

Comments came-a-plenty, and those which actually addressed the issue, about 20 percent, generally welcomed the news in a cynical sort of ‘About time too and my-lord-isn’t-America-backwards’ way, which is standard operating procedure for the left here. “The left here,” incidentally, would be considered in the USA as being a mix of Stalin and Pol Pot, and then some. Several commenters wanted to know when America, and Obama, would “Live up to their election promises on the bill” that which translates as “Obama has sold out to the right-wing-fascists.”

The rest of the commenters got sidetracked by personal insults, racial and sexual slander, and a discussion about whether Michelle Obama would be suited to making porn movies. Commenting, or should I say the hurling of violent invective, continued on late into the night, making me wonder how France ever gets up in the morning.

Moving on, the thinking-man’s-liberal-and-ever-so-slightly-left-of-centre Le Monde is another world, a world of peaceful reflection, cerebral splendissitude and self-satisfied analytical nombrilism.

It is a must for all intellectuals and centrist Socialists who can actually read French words containing over four letters, unlike their poor-cousin buddies over at Libération. They also pride themselves on their cold detachment and sharpened debating skills which are, of course, the result of their superior intelligence.

Le Monde is generally pro-Obama and its upbeat article follows that line, even to the point of erroneously calling the vote “The green light for the reform of the American health system.” Strangely enough though, and as if they wanted to correct their mistaken optimism, they put up another article very soon afterward which outlined in detail the many pitfalls waiting in the Senate. Better late than never.

The commenters were not confident about the bill’s future, far from it. Many people expressed doubts that the bill will ever get past the Senate and others still were saying that, even if it were passed, it would be nothing more than a tepid and watered-down version of the original idea.

“Jeanne L” seemed happy enough though, and she described the vote as demonstrating “Elegance and intelligence," whereas “Jaques G” thought that “The Americans got a little more civilized yesterday. They deserve our congratulations. Now they only have 150 years left to catch up.” I personally thought he’d be better off at Libération, where his particular brand of condescension would surely be appreciated.

And what of the French right? Firstly, some American readers may be surprised to learn that the French right would be just, but only just, to the right of Obama in American terms. Their fave read is Le Figaro, which means that if you carried a copy of it onto a French university campus you would most probably find yourself being strung up high from the nearest tree or lamppost, like Mussolini, as a fascist. Strangely enough, few people reading Le Figaro’s article commented on the bill’s chances in the Senate. Too much cognac and too many cigars no doubt.

Figaro’s article is short and to the point, and those Blue Dogs and Republicans among you will surely appreciate some of the comments, particularly that of “Catherine004004” who wrote “Sovietization is alive and well.” She was convinced that “The Americans will soon get disillusioned with this, when they see the results like those in France.” She was referring to France’s abyssal healthcare debt, due to a system that guarantees healthcare for all.

“Hélio” would be a wonderful addition to GOP ranks, too. His comment, “Statism! This project represents inacceptable interference by the State in the private lives of individuals” was, I sneakily suspected, a direct translation of some phrase or other from one of Palin’s more scabrous blogs. Way to go, Hélio!!

Socialist infiltrator and sniper “Mr Hulot” on the other hand reminded them both grimly that “In Chicago, the defunct have to wait for a place in hangars and are put in plastic bags because of a shortage of money.” I mean, can this be true?

The few extreme-left-wing and Trotskyite commenters to be seen dotted around the comment boards predictably dismissed the whole thing as a farce, as did their news outlets, comparing Obama to Bush and describing him as a “Sell-out to big-money interests.” Fascist National Frontists said much the same thing. This is not unusual in a country where extremes of left and right often hold the same opinions, but (they say) for different reasons.

Foreign observers here will remember that the French – and French Socialists in particular - were ecstatic when Obama was elected. That mood has slowly changed to one of sullen dismay as the months and events have gone by. It's as if it has finally sunk in that Obama was elected to govern America, and not to fulfill their wishes for a world and an America “à la Française.”

And now, to add to their woes, they have also discovered that, just like here in France or anywhere else, American governments and leaders of all political colors almost always end up diluting election promises in order to get legislation through.

I discussed the vote yesterday with a couple of French friends who could best be described as despondent Obama fans.

“Why did he tolerate the abortion amendment?” they asked.

I answered, in my best - read “terrible” - imitation of an American accent: “Welcome to the wild and wacky world of realpolitiks, guys an’ gals!”

They did not laugh.