Sarkozy Walks Out Of 60 Minutes Interview: "If I Had Something To Say About [My Wife] I Would Not Do So Here"

Watch French President Sarkozy walk out of a 60 Minutes interview he called "stupid" and a "big mistake."

Read more about the interview below and on Huff Wires:

France's president abruptly ended a "60 Minutes" interview aimed at introducing him to U.S. audiences, dubbing it "stupid" and a "big mistake" and refusing to answer questions about his wife.

Before the CBS news show interview in Paris even began, Sarkozy called his press secretary "an imbecile" for arranging the session on a busy day.

Comments

[dutchsinse]

Yay! The mainstreammedia is constantly shoving this drivel they pass for news down the throats of the mindless drones... if more people responded like this, our "news" would look a lot different!

[BUSHsurvivor]

Bush, Sarkozy, Chavez, Putin, ImaDickHea­d...

Oh Sweet Jesus...He­lp US!

[cowboyneok]

Maybe the press needs to ask themselves, "Would I ask this question to George W. Bush?" It is SO obvious they don't ask the President potentially embarassing questions. If the answer is "No," then maybe then need to start questioning why they have such deference for the Emperor with no Clothes.

[jeersforfears]

Good thinking. It's time the press starts asking Bush embarassing questions, to make it even and stuff.

You must be proud.

[HumeSkeptic]

It is disingenuous to blame 60 Minutes when the French press has speculated and talked and discussed the Sarkozy marriage troubles so extensively.

Why blame just the American media?

Besides Cecelia has always been a very public figure and very active in politics.

Sarkozy needs to grow up a bit, otherwise Putin will continue to treat him like a kid. (see my other post).

[HumeSkeptic]

"President Sarkozy has played an active role in the public speculation about his private life. He has repeatedly drawn his wife into the limelight, praising her as his closest confidante. But the French tabloid press only played along while their marriage appeared to be intact. In 2005, when his wife had an affair with Richard Attias, an advertising executive, and the French magazine Paris Match printed a photo of the couple in New York, the jilted husband was determined to exact his revenge.

Alain Genestar, the magazine's editor-in-chief, eventually had to go. It was so desired by Arnaud Lagardère, the owner of Paris Match. Lagardère is a friend of the new president and apparently willing to do him favors. Since then the industrialist has kept his editorial staff on a short leash, revealing a clear preference for Sarkozy. Suddenly Paris Match was writing devotedly about how the Sarkozys had spent the night after the election in a hotel suite, behaving "like lovers." The description is so poetic that it could just as well have flowed from the president's pen."
...

France Fascinated by Its New First Couple
By Stefan Simons in Paris

http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,484145,00.html

[jeersforfears]

Your other post is just as moronic as THIS post, which is just as moronic as ALL your posts. I'll pass, thanks.

[HumeSkeptic]

And why exactly do you find this post moronic, if I may ask?

[freespeach]

The issue isn't about which nations' media to blame, for most of us.
French people can answer for their own media, and criticize or praise it as they see fit.

This is about American media on this American blog. And we all know that our media sucks balls.
They are fascist Bush enablers and we have every right here, to criticize them or praise them.
They are worthy of our criticism, if not our outright scorn.

This is also about what constitutes fair and reasonable journalistic standards.
Why should we apply it differently to various politicians because they use their spouses (male or female) as an asset, or keep them out of the game?
Either way our standards should be consistent, and 60 Minutes will be seen through a lens which factors their recent failures and yellow journalism. So 60 Minutes is getting pounded. Good.

Sarkozy is a right wing asshole, who will be a good ally for Bush in his desire to go to war with Iran.
That is what he should be answering for.....bu­t of course our lightweight scandal obsessed media want the scoop from the bedroom instead. Hence the criticism you see here. What did you expect?

[HumeSkeptic]

Perhaps she would have asked him more questions, had he not thrown a tantrum. Although, I doubt that she would get around to asking about Iran.

But, if Sarkozy has a decent staff, they should have known what 60 Minutes is most of the time. Remember Clinton interview before the 1992 election?

[HumeSkeptic]

CBS should have had this playing to calm him down:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rL83-ljQiMo

[Lelu]

Yes, his divorce is of great importance to my life but we also need to stop elections from being stolen, in America, France, Mexico, Scotland, etc. (you really think they elected a Reagan-worshipper in FRANCE????)

[jeersforfears]

No, m'dear, you've figured it all out. They've taken over everything. Read more at:

www.eatmyshortsandlickmyzipper.com

[Lelu]

Look it up.

[nick1936]

Good for him he should of asked her how many men she has slept with an see her recation

[ggmome]

The best case of 'MIND YOUR BUSINESS'.

[mommadona]

"It's Good to be King"
or "Queen" as the case may be...

rub-a-dub-dub, all those
manly men in that little 'tub'
of a boat off the coast of
those "Americas"

Then a little bit of a weenie in the bun
At the "Operation Kennybunkport"
"Ahhhhhh youth....A­hhhhhh Bartleby"

[Bluedanube]

Another low class American "journalist" that finds titillation and "scandal" the coin of the realm. I don't agree with his politics but I do support his abrupt ending to an interview that was wandering into the trivial and meaningless. If more American politicians began treating these media celebrities with the contempt they deserve perhapse they would get the message.

[litigatormom]

If only Bill Clinton had made a similar response to those stupid and irrelevant questions about Monica Lewinsky..­..

[Ping]

If only Bill Clinton hadn't shown up at the deposition.

[AverageWhiteMan]

He's French.

Did you expect him NOT to surrender ?

[amanda85]

...and then you wonder why the rest of the world thinks Americans are idiots... (not all, but waaaaaay too many...)

[TLV]

Cute. Have you never heard that when you allow others to treat you like a doormat, you richly deserve it?

Sarkozy is obviously no doormat.

[Ping]

Yes, the French always cave.

[RevMetheus]

Considering the French were the only nation to stand beside a band of traitorous terrorists who overthrew the standing government of the time, I would probably feel ashamed at that "surrender" meme. Especially since those terrorists were our Founding Fathers.

[amanda85]

The rest of the world has a very different idea of what journalism is and should be. It's not the first time American "journalists" make a similar faux pas.

Pity, because the US used to have some truly fine journalists.

[HumeSkeptic]

You wouldn't be saying this had you witnessed what has been going on in the French press for about a month. I happened to be there about ten days ago. It was a circus.

And it was all over British newspapers as well (not tabloids) and in German newspapers.

One reason might be that Sarkozy himself made her a political figure by writing about their relationship in his campaign book. Since he did that, he should be man enough to face the consequences.

[caqforever]

how is his personal life of any consequence to you or to world affairs ???
"i was in france 10 days ago" -- yeah and maybe next time you and folks like you will stop concentrating on trashy voyeuristic tabloid news... -- and that may even stop idoitic press coverage of peoples personal affairs ...
your logic of " french press, german press were also covering ... blah blah ..." is stupid ... -- like saying ... oh other folks are sniffing butt so why not me ??
Sarkozy is a politician that will use what he can to make himself popular... as long as people like you enjoy tidbits form other peoples personal lives this kind of selling and killing will work...
BTW european press coverage (not including british press) of this news is sarcastic and speculativ­e... not sensationalist and vouyeuristic like amercian press coverage ....
shame on you .... get a freaking life ...
you obviously dont know anything about french politics or ways... and resort to your american taste and concern for blow-jobs etc...

[watchingthings]

There was a time when 60 minutes was a very informative program, one that many people rarely missed. 60 minutes use to add to a person's knowledge base. How things are with a man and his wife does nothing for most people who would rather hear of a President's policies and outlook on world events.

[disgusted48]

Arianna and Huff Po,

why do allow people to be so abusive toward one another on your blog? Personally attacking each other back and forth. Since all comments are screened you can catch them but you choose not to.

I have written some edgey but not vulgar or hateful things that have not been posted.

I am beginning to wonder about you guys. Someone needs to do an investigation.

I like your news reports, but some of your commentators and many of you bloggers just go too far. Apparently with your blessings. I may have to find a more civilized blog.

[amanda85]

Some of the worst offenders are rarely censored. One wonders if they're not part of huffpo's technical staff. Do you remember the Andy Yaco-Mink affair? Any SERIOUS publication would have fired him, instead huffpo fired the blogger who exposed him.

Watch how this comment will be promptly removed...

[Ping]

Obviously because you use half truths, lies and unsubstantiated rumors in your posts.

[cmk1967]

Good for him. I'm glad he got up and walked out. It's not an indication of a short fuse but an indication there is better way to spend his time.