Champagne Socialist? Hollande Boards Private Jet Hours After Winning French Election, Despite Promises to Take Trains Like the Common Man
- Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:19pm by
Erica Ritz
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Socialist Francois Hollande won France's presidential election Sunday, defeating conservative incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy
According to Le Huffington Post and the Daily Mail, Francois Hollande’s commitment to the socialist campaign on which he ran started wavering mere hours after he won the presidential election.
What did he do? No, he is not becoming more capitalist. Rather, Hollande chose to take a private jet to cover the distance it would have taken him five hours to drive, despite his campaign promise to live like the common man and take trains if elected.
According to the Daily Mail, the jet costs close to $20,000 USD an hour, and Hollande’s campaign treasurer has labeled the criticism “ridiculous!”
The treasurer continued: “in terms of numbers, the plane cost relatively little…”
This, critics say, from the man who supports a 75% income tax on the rich. Why should they sacrifice the majority of their income to the state, they ask, so a hypocritical president can live in luxury? It would be different if he were not so harsh on the rich, but his personal lifestyle and political beliefs are seemingly already at odds.
Facing charges of being a “champagne socialist” just days into his term, international critics are saying this exemplifies why socialism has yet to succeed. While proponents of the ideology maintain it has never been implemented properly, others argue that, unless you change human nature, it can’t be implemented properly. There are just too many people who will take off in a private jet at their constituents’ expense– even if they have just spent months promising to ameliorate the debt and reform the “bling, bling” presidency they succeed.
The interior of a Falcon 900 (Photo: Executive Jet Management)
A better system, they argue, is one where anyone can fly on a private jet if they work hard enough, or are lucky enough. Some will succeed, some won’t, but the population won’t be trapped in big-government poverty so a so-called socialist can live in luxury.
In his own defense, Hollande maintains that there was no train between the two locations at the time he needed one, and he had to thank his supporters in both Paris and Tulle, personally.
Never mind that the socialist, who maintains that everyone should be treated equally, would likely have asked others to wait for the next train, or choose just one city to celebrate in.
Nonnnn! one Frenchman wrote in disappointment on Twitter.
It will be interesting to see whether Hollande reforms his early habits, or whether he follows the lead of many socialist leaders before him and lives in luxury, while his constituents are broke.
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Comments (69)
The-Monk
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:46pmHis “perky” smile is from knowing all the “perks” he will soon have…
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 9:00pmThat **** eatin grin will soon be gone when France implodes under socialism,of course they‘ve always been a socialist country but with the level of debt they have it won’t take long.Maybe they’ll make Holland ase sauce out of him,Frenchy’s gotta eat to.
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 9:07pmAu revoir France! That country is going to hit a brick wall! God help them!
Report Post »1947
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 9:34pmSame Thing The Obama’s do…….
Report Post »Marci
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 3:18amYet Barry called him in and told him not to tax and spend for the sake of the global economies…..or for a translation: “Yo Holley…that’s my gig–hold up, I need to bankrupt and transform my country first, if you show them what happens, I can’t make it through the election!”
Report Post »johnjamison
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 7:33amIt always amazes me how socialist politician use class warfare to get elected. Because the end results of socialism is two classes the government elitist and the private citizen servent.
Report Post »oldchevyguy
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:44pmObama is going to ask the new French President to hold back until November.Hope he don’t ! Let the fun begin.
Report Post »HorseCrazy
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:41pmshocking a lying commie? who knew?
Report Post »TRILO
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:35pmAs Andrew Wilkow always says on his radio show “Socialism is for the people, not the Socialist.”
Report Post »pecosval
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:26pmHollande and Obama are going to be great friends
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 11:49pmYou mean (in French)… Oland & Obama!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 6:19amGreat comrades actually.
Report Post »Hickory
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:25pmHeh, heh, heh. There goes another liberal. Once they get the keys to the kingdom, they start rolling in the dough. People just will never learn. I am beginning to think we have a world wide epidemic of the dumb ass.
Report Post »Wibbins
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 10:59amWell, when the schools leave out the BAD things that socialism and communism has done and the MSM points out all the bad for capitialism, you know the crony capitalism that obama has been doing every since he took office with the bailouts and bundling, people become blissfully ignorant.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:25pm“While proponents of the ideology maintain it has never been implemented properly, others argue that, unless you change human nature, it can’t be implemented properly.”
Pretty much explains everything. We can have an honest difference of opinion, but the left won;t see it that way. They left cannot or will not live in communes governed by socialism & grow them until they are effectively a state & then a nation.
They will say “All in” & if you don’t comply, the will go Lenin & Stalin on you.
I know of a commune in Virginia. It has survived a decade or two. They are respectable people. They don’t cause problem like Occupy do. They don’t try to blow up bridges & assault people.
Why can’t more people who believe in socialism join them? Well they are not perfect. They have had to implement different pay scales for different work.
Report Post »vtxphantom
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:15pmAnother liar, like obama. Not surprised.
Report Post »Bryan B
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:26pmThis is a typical elitist…..
Does it remind you of anyone else ????
I’ll give you a hint, his initials are BO…….
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:05pmIt doesn’t take long to break campaign promises … do as I say … not as I do … Suckers !
Report Post »LogiStyx
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:58pmSo predictable;
Report Post »“ALL ANIMALS ARE EQUAL, BUT SOME ARE MORE EQUAL THAN OTHERS”
- George Orwell, Animal Farm, Ch. 10
mils
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:16pmFrance is all “quivery” over Francois’ election, like matthews over obama.
Report Post »France does not remember it’s history.
They will be whining once again in a couple of years..just wait and see….and we will be in line with them…:’(
Silversmith
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:49pmAnd they are SURPRISED???? Socialism (spelled Communism) continues to show how easily people are duped. It has never worked. EVER. Step away from the failed theory!!!!
Silversmith
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:43pmCan you say, “Hope and Change” en francais?
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:11pmI never said it in English…..
Report Post »FromSeaToSea
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:19pmWas he trying for the freemason votes with that “blue lodge tie”?
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:43pmReminds me of Gov. Christie using a State Police helicopter to go to his kids ballgame.
Report Post »Mark0331
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:15pmIn which every dime for its usage and fuel consumption was repaid…nice try.
‘Christie Communications Director Maria Comella said the governor had paid $2,251 to the state to cover the cost of the trips, adding that the New Jersey Republican Party had thrown in $919 to cover the cost of the ride to Princeton.’
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:17pmDoes it make you think about Obama’s countless vacations at tax payers expense ….I remember him saying we were all going to get along on less….Of course he didn’t mean himself…3 1/2 yrs later I can.say ,its the one promise he has kept….we all have a lot less
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:34pm@Exrepublisheep
Report Post »A Falcon 900 and a NJ State Police helicopter are two completely different modes of travel. Now if Gov Christie flew around in a Falcon 900 after being elected (and not even taking office yet) after proclaiming to take trains like the “common folk” you might have a point. But, you don’t. As usual.
Walkabout
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:46pmEx whatever
You must be leftwinger to have walked that dog. You got shot down so fast & yet I know in another forum, you will bring it up again.
Report Post »marine249
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:41pmThere is no differance between a FRENCH SOCIALIST
Report Post »and our SOCIALIST. When their lip are moving out comes
pure bull sh+t.
fromtheburgh
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:41pmThis guy getting elected in France may just be the thing we need to wake up people here!! I bet Obama hates that there is plenty of time before November!
Report Post »Weiners Wiener
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:41pmI hope the French get everything they have coming to them from electing a socialist. The rich will leave, and jobs will leave with them. The people will be angry when they hear more stories like this one, and no company will want to do business there. Perfect. Maybe the youthful knuckleheads here can see what socialism’s all about when they vacation in Paris on their spring break.
Report Post »OhSnappage
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:41pmThis guy is just getting started France, you just screwed yourselves over, strap in for a harsh dose of reality.
Report Post »MrButcher
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:40pmIs there any other kind of socialist anymore?
I’ve always found it rather ironic that in America (Europe too) the “working class” or the proletariat is very conservative and the “upper class” or the bourgeoisie is where all the socialists are…explain that to me, Herr Engles?
Perhaps a true “workers revolution” would be more beneficial to conservatism than to the leftists…
Report Post »OperationNorthwoods
Posted on May 9, 2012 at 2:22amSocialism is designed by the elite to get countries into debt where they can then be controlled by the threat of default on the debt.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:39pmso much for the little people and the smelly train.
Report Post »drbage
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:48pmHmm, you could eliminate Mr. Hollande’s name and substitute Mr. Obama’s–birds of a feather… Wonder if his second partner flew on a separate plane with the children a la Michelle and was there a third to carry the necessary dog???
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:33pmTrains are not that bad in France.
It says a lot about him that he refused to use the train.
The only reason not to used a train as a Socialist is security & no other.
But he or his people did not state that as his reason.
Report Post »Tractorboy
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:36pmJust like in Animal farm, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:36pmLOL, wait until he actually takes the office. I bet he is slobbering to get his Air Farce 1.
Report Post »republic2011
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:35pmsocialism is good for you! not for me :-)
Report Post »republic2011
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:34pmThey are all Champagne socialists. They believe in an elite class that rules over the workers. They don’t sell it that way, but that is always how it turns out. Happened that way in Russia, East Germany, Romania, Poland, Cuba, Venezuela, etc. They start by preaching equality and social justice. Then, once they take power, they make everyone else live and toil in misery and they live out an extravagant lifestyle in specially designated areas (in East Germany, they called it Spehrgebiet – in other words… government property don’t enter). Don’t think the socialists in our government are any different. That’s where the term “useful idiot” came from. A minority sells this bull crap to the majority and once they take over they kill off their useful idiots that helped them get into power. This is all about control and power. nothing more.. nothing less. Don’t let anyone from either side tell you different. I don’t care if you are liberal or conservative… you should be very afraid of what is happening. Both sides will suffer when the socialists/communists/marxists win. God forbid the muslim extreme is part of that party. They will ruthlessly kill off these other pansies and take over.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 9:40pmYes. Our lily-livered Lefties are all sharing a ride on the Revolution Express Bus with these other anti-establishment groups. The arrogant Lefties think they are smarter than God . Trouble for them is that they are riding the bus with other groups which are as evil as the devil ! Think the arrogant Lefties will have a sudden, surprising, and horrible ending to this trip !
Report Post »FromSeaToSea
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:32pmSaw this movie. I remember….It’s Animal Farm.
“all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.”
Report Post »poorrichard09
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:29pmImagine that, a lying politician!
Report Post »PCsince1776
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:34pmYeah ! A lying Socialist at that! Go figure!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:34pmEven more surprising: A Socialists… who makes promises to the people… and does not follow through!
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:41pmAmazing, huh?
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 7:52pmCan’t wait to hear him say “Let them eat cake”
Silversmith
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on May 8, 2012 at 8:30pmlukerw
Even more surprising: A Socialists… who makes promises to the people… and does not follow through
***
But he failed in the 1st week or the 1st 3 days! That has got to be a new record!
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