Republicans apparently love the French after all
France, for whatever bizarre reason, is a popular target of scorn and derision among wingnuts, except when it suits their purposes:
Congressional and government delegations, together with the defense and aerospace industries, are making final preparations for the 2007 Paris Air Show next week, one of the largest trade shows in the world. ... The United States is expected to be the largest exhibiting country after France.
[...]
President Bush designated Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), the ranking member of the Senate Appropriations defense subcommittee, as his representative. ...
Also planning to join them are Sens. James Inhofe (R-Okla), a senior defense authorizer, and Wayne Allard (R-Colo.). The federal government will sponsor the delegation.
Meanwhile, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) has been invited by Alabama Gov. Bob Riley (R) to be part of his state’s delegation. Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) is part of the delegation as well.
[...]
Also expected to attend the show are: Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Moseley; Air Force Secretary Michael Wynne; Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter; Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition Dolores Etter; Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition Claude Bolton; Pentagon weapons buyer John Young; Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Conaway; and NASA administrator Michael Griffin.
To be fair, some Congressional Dems are going as well, but they don't have the history of Francophobia the wingnuts seem to relish. I wonder if FOX News will show a clip of Stevens dining on escargot?