Le Pen pays visit to Muslim neighborhood in Argenteuil
And now, a clearer sign that one way or another, Le Pen is courting the Islamic vote:ARGENTEUIL, France -- The leader of the French far-right paid a surprise visit Friday to a rough suburb home to the veiled and robed immigrants he has blamed for the country's problems, calling the bemused residents legitimate children of France.There may have been some there who gave him a cold reception, but otherwise, it seems that Le Pen is able to enter these neighborhoods where Sarkozy may not be able to without some kind of really vicious reaction, and to receive a good welcome from the Muslim residents.
The unannounced flash campaign stop by Jean-Marie Le Pen was cloaked in secrecy, probably to head off any possible protests or violence against a man reviled by many minorities, in a town where even front-runner Nicolas Sarkozy fears to tread.
When his bus rolled to a halt, Le Pen made his way into a predominantly Muslim neighborhood, mobbed by photographers and veiled women in long robes, some snapping pictures too.
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"You are French citizens, the legitimate children of France who are part of our republic," Le Pen told the perplexed crowd at an Argenteuil shopping center.
Update: whoa ho, wouldn't you know it, Le Pen continues to be an irritant by resorting to race-baiting! He attacked Sarkozy for being of an immigrant family and for being of Hungarian/Greek/Jewish descent. Clearly, this old windbag doesn't let up, does he?
