Let’s See, Character Assassination, Check.

The French left has lost no time at all in mounting attacks on President-elect Nicolas Sarkozy. As I mentioned the other day when AFP let go with a broadside over Sarkozy's vacation - which he had announced he would take before he won - expect this to continue. This is a routine tactic at this point for the left everywhere in the West. Attack at all costs, no matter if you have to invent things to attack about. But you have to like his response to the press on this one: "I have no intention of hiding, I have no intention of lying, I have no intention of apologising."

Nicolas Sarkozy, France's president-elect, shrugged off criticism yesterday of his holiday on a businessman's yacht.

The three-day cruise with his family had not "cost the French taxpayer a cent", he told reporters after disembarking at Malta before flying back to Paris.

"I could have gone to a hotel, but imagine what that would have been like," said Mr Sarkozy, 52, who was elected last Sunday with a mandate to introduce sweeping economic reforms.

"Already when I'm on a boat you rented out planes and helicopters to take photos of me," he added.

"I have no intention of hiding, I have no intention of lying, I have no intention of apologising."

The opposition had accused him of "debauchery" and "tactlessness" for using the private jet of Vincent Bolloré, who has interests in shipping and the media, and for borrowing his yacht.

The Paloma is a 200ft "floating palace" with seven cabins for 12 people, 17 crew, giant plasma screens and an on-deck Jacuzzi. It has two jet-skis, kayaks, water skis and diving equipment.

A spokesman for Ségolène Royal, the Socialist candidate who lost to Mr Sarkozy, described the trip as "a form of arrogance and even an insult" to the French given that his "campaign was about a France which gets up early, a society at work."

A spokesman for Blue Crab Boulevard described Ms. Royal's response as a bad case of sour grapes. Funny about how the left is all about democracy right before the election, then they're all about undermining the will of the voters after they lose.

UPDATE: The Anchoress sees the same trend. She labels it BDS by Proxy. (Wish I'd thought of that.)

Other Links to this Post

1. The Anchoress » “Feral” Sarkozy signals BDS-by-Proxy on the left — Wednesday, 9 May , 2007 @ 10:33 pm