The Internet is hurting French politicians' feelings
In the US, making fun of politicians is as American as baseball or fireworks on the 4th of July. Saturday Night Live has been racking up ratings and laughs at politicians’ expense for decades and now the Internet provides us with even more material as it captures politicians acting less than stately and proper. This tradition does not exist in France, but, to the chagrin of French statesmen, that is changing thanks to the Internet.
For some time France’s political elite have enjoyed a level of sacrosanctity in the press that would make any US politician envious and it’s become clear that they do not receive criticism well. Soon after one middle-age woman wrote “oh, the liar” under a video clip of an interview with Nadine Morano, France’s secretary of state for the family, she became the center of a police investigation and lawsuit. Apparently, Ms. Morano saw the comment and became so offended that she subpoenaed the woman’s IP address, obtained her identity and brought suit against her for “public insult toward a member of the ministry,” an offense punishable by a fine of up to $18,000.
If you think that’s ridiculous, wait until you watch this video of an inebriated Ms. Morano dancing to a Black Eyed Peas song with younger male supporters.