EUTube

Since the European Union is about as popular as the U.S. Congress, it has launched a European version of YouTube, called EUTube, to help bolster its image. Based upon the following, it doesn't seem to be producing desired results.

Alongside a number of videos focusing on more mundane aspects of EU policy -- such as "For a Smoke-Free Europe" (561 views), "The European Anti-Fraud Office" (1,437 views), and "The Reform of the Common Market Organisation for Sugar" (215 views) -- is a short, 44 second video with the unassuming title "Film Lovers Will Love This." In two weeks, it has been viewed over 280,000 times. Criticism hasn't been far behind.

The film, part of a series of short outtakes highlighting an EU fund that helps distribute films made in Europe across the continent, shows racy sex scenes from a number of European movies. As the groaning, moaning and shrieking reaches a crescendo, the words "Let's come together" flash across the screen.

European Commission spokesman Martin Selmayr says that the mini-film has generated a huge amount of complaints, including many from Poland about one brief image which shows two men having sex. A Polish member of European Parliament from the conservative party League of Polish Families says the commission is using "immoral methods" to connect with European citizens.

According to Margot Wallstrom, European Commissioner for Institutional Relations and Communication Strategy, it's a priority to improve the EU's public image and all possible means will be used.

I suggest that the U.S. Congress won't be influenced by the EU public relations porn tactic. In general, members of Congress don't care what people think about the institution. They only care about what their constituencies think about them individually. Not only that, but the simple idea of porn approved by Sen. Harry Reid and Rep. Nancy Pelosi is too bizarre to imagine.