“Dati sees herself as living proof that it is possible in French society to overcome poverty and discrimination through hard work.
“We need to stop seeing people of immigrant background as either problems or victims,” she once said.
“It’s not always easy for us to climb the social ladder. But the Republic makes success possible. Public examinations are the same for everyone.”
Dati does not see herself as a spokeswomen for France’s troubled suburbs – and has often been at loggerheads with community groups in the suburbs critical of Sarkozy’s tough line on immigration and law and order.
As justice minister, she would be in charge of rolling out Sarkozy’s planned reform of criminal law, that would toughen sentences for young offenders, including from the suburbs.
But Dati has also repeatedly defended Sarkozy against charges of racism sparked by his tough campaign talk on controlling immigration and defending French identity.
She also supports Sarkozy’s call for some form of affirmative action, based on socio-economic rather than ethnic grounds.”
Er, could he have chosen anyone more in line with his policies? I love how people that have had a bit of luck with all their hard work like to claim that it's possible for everyone.
*North African on the outside, bigoted Caucasian on the inside
Update : Hm, Maghrebism has challenged my classification of Ms. Dati:
You know, I’ve seen this a lot/it happens a lot. Apparently, we Moroccans/North Africans in Europe, are subjected to an invisible law that states that we can only be government-members if that government is “leftist”.
Apparently there is also another invisible law that states that North Africans have to have the same view on immigration and integration as the “leftists”.
And if we don’t share the same views, we’re bigots, traitors and Uncle Toms.
Isn’t thatWhy can’t an immigrant child share the same views as Sarkozy? (or any other rightist politician for that matter)
Is the “right” always wrong on immigration issues and the “left” always right? Why can’t a Moroccan share the same views as Sarkozy, based on her own evaluation and experience? Why does that make her an “Oreo”/ Uncle Tom?
Isn’t that also discrimination and bigotry? Well, yeah it is.
Actually, no, it’s not. Ms. Dati’s parents wouldn’t even have been allowed to enter France under Sarkozy’s proposed immigration policies, and that’s just one of the reasons I find her so hypocritical. She’s pursued Sarkozy for years, begging to be part of his team – obviously morals are trumped by career ambition in her case.