French President showing how to handle the media.

**Husar** · 10-29-2007, 11:55

I also think he handled that very well.

**Fragony** · 10-29-2007, 11:59

He should have inquired if she likes to take it doggiestyle first, for perfection.

**Ronin** · 10-29-2007, 12:13

handled perfectly.

he said he had no comment on the matter and she continued to press on a personal issue that is no business of anyone else....interview ends...seems reasonable.

now if only Clinton had the same reaction a couple of years ago.

**Geoffrey S** · 10-29-2007, 12:35

He made clear with his first answer he was not willing to answer such questions, and reacted appropriately when the 'reporter' refused to respect that.

**Zaknafien** · 10-29-2007, 12:54

UH, he's a public leader. The press have every right to ask about his personal life. If he wanted it to remain private he shouldn't work in public office. Its ridiculous the way he responsed, and people should be incensed.

**Fragony** · 10-29-2007, 13:00

Originally Posted by Zaknafien

If he wanted it to remain private he shouldn't work in public office.

Maybe where you live. Here it is also 'not done' to say the least.

**KukriKhan** · 10-29-2007, 13:06

Originally Posted by Fragony

Maybe where you live. Here it is also 'not done' to say the least.

Yeah - a culture-clash thing. Here, we grill them on every aspect of their personal lives. That grilling leads to many worthy candidates (e.g. Colin Powell) choosing to not run for office.

**Geoffrey S** · 10-29-2007, 15:08

Originally Posted by Zaknafien

UH, he's a public leader. The press have every right to ask about his personal life. If he wanted it to remain private he shouldn't work in public office. Its ridiculous the way he responsed, and people should be incensed.

Indeed, he's a public leader, yet the questions posed by the reporter had nothing to do with either half of that definition and I fail to see why he need answer such queries.

**The Celtic Viking** · 10-29-2007, 20:52

He handled it perfectly. The press has no right what-so-ever to ask about anyone's private life, and when he so clearly marked that he would not speak of it, asking him again is really rude. Like it's any of her business. I'd just tell her to piss off, but he politely shook her hand and left with dignity. Good for him.

**econ21** · 10-29-2007, 22:33

I don't think it would be acceptable if a British Prime Minister were repeatedly asked about their divorce. But then again - may be the fear of such an interrogation is why parties nowadays make sure their leaders are - apparently - happily married.

The other aspect is that the French President is the Head of State. I think the symbolic aspect of that role requires some additional distance that the French President maintained effectively here.

**Whacker** · 10-29-2007, 22:46

Originally Posted by Zaknafien

UH, he's a public leader. The press have every right to ask about his personal life. If he wanted it to remain private he shouldn't work in public office. Its ridiculous the way he responsed, and people should be incensed.

At first I thought you were being sarcastic, until I realized that you weren't. That is dead wrong and is full of crap, people's private lives are private, period, no matter what their job is. I could care less if the mayor of my city is really a cross dressing furry with a fetish for I Love Lucy lookalikes, that's his/her own private business, so long as they do their job well and appropriately. Spare us the nonsense about public scrutiny and being 'examples' in advance.

**Papewaio** · 10-30-2007, 05:26

Originally Posted by Whacker

I could care less if the mayor of my city is really a cross dressing furry with a fetish for I Love Lucy lookalikes, that's his/her own private business, so long as they do their job well and appropriately.

Unless it was a hypocritical stance. Such as a mayor who campaigned against transvestites and red heads.