Heard yesterday on the BBC radio that the new American BP spokesman said

[Ichingcarpenter]

The problem with Hayward was that english was not his native language and thats why so many gaffs he made.
He meant American but said English

I loved how the BBC commentators did a tongue and cheek laugh with that statement.

I wish someone would find the audio on that because ..................... good grief.

[dgibby]

1. Was he talking about Hayward or Hayward's boss,

who's Swedish?

[Ichingcarpenter]

2. I don't think the Swede made the gaffs

but they were interviewing him on why the insensitive gaffs, since the Swede never said much.
The interviewer was focused on Hayward but the American redirected the answer to look sweet.

Oh, BTW............ Swedes damn well understand English and the nuances of the language.


I can tell you what little people mean in Swedish and its the same and its derogatory

[Golden Raisin]

3. Carl-Henric Svanberg, the BP

Chairman was the gentleman who made the "small people" comment. Mr. Svanberg is Swedish so it is possible there was a language issue, but most of the English-speaking Swedes I have met, let alone one who is a prominent Captain of Industry, speak and understand English superbly. Tony Hayward, BP CEO, was the one who, "Wanted his life back", dodged questions and pleaded ignorance at the Congressional hearings, and took time off for a day of regatta yacht-watching in the middle of the Gulf Disaster.

[gratuitous]

4. It pains me to point this out, but it's "tongue-in-cheek"

Not tongue and cheek.