Parlez-vous Republican?

Television advert attacks Republican candidate for US presidency ...for speaking French.

There was Michelle Bachmann demanding more jobs for children; Rick Perry's "oops" moment when he forgot which department of government he would eliminate; and Newt Gingrich's belief that Palestinians were an "invented" people.

The race to nominate a Republican candidate in this US presidential election has had its fair share of surreal moments. And now again, it is Mr Gingrich making the news.

In a move aimed at drawing negative parallels with Democrat John Kerry's failed presidential bid eight years ago, the Gingrich campaign has released a political ad that attacks the Republican front-runner Mitt Romney for speaking French.

It is a sad statement on US politics, not to mention the country's education system, that being fluent in another tongue is considered a handicap. This may well be a political stunt by Mr Gingrich's flagging campaign, but it carries ominous overtones for the race to elect the most powerful politician on the world stage.

All of this is reminiscent of the row over the 2003 Iraq war when US Congressional members demanded "freedom fries" in their cafeteria. We saw who had the right of that one. Like it or not, US elections deeply involve the rest of the world. It will be a fine day when candidates actually valeu the existence of Palestinians, and yes, even the French.