The American obsession with France and its post WWII 'anti-americanism' results largely from the WASP ascendancy prior to 1968, when American culture was formulated. From the 1870s economic boom until WW I, the ruling classes, including the upper middle class, were infatuated with French culture and language. Matriculating to Harvard during this period required a proficiency in Greek, Latin and French. The latent Republicanism of the Second Empire and second/third Republic allowed a degree of social mobility for Americans abroad that only the very rich could experience in the British Empire. As one of Saki's imperious Aunts noted: 'Brittany. All those Americans attempting to speak French, I hope they never try English'. During this period, we had Mary Cassatt, the lost Generation geniuses, the regiment LaFayette and more; in addition, the people of France reciprocated with the Statute of Liberty mostly paid for by private subscription.
Or so the mythology goes. This Francophilia was transmitted by popular culture and high culture during this time period to the masses by mass communication. Kids in Kansas knew about the Can-can, burlesque and that an alternative existed four thousand miles away to the puritanical morality of small town USA.

The Jewish community also has deep ties of affection for France. Saul Bellow loved Paris. Woody Allen lives in Paris. Hell, even Richard Perle has a house in France. Our Azkhenazi brethern have never really forgotten their ancestors' middle European dream to live like a God in France.

History is a factor in this obsession. Arguably out of all the European states France has the least objective right to be displeased with America. We fought together in two World Wars. We never attempted to undermine their Empire, unlike our bankrupting the Brits. Against Churchill's advice, we demanded that France get a Security Council Set--thanks FDR. We ignored Algeria and helped supply the French in Indochina before going in ourselves. DeGaulle and France got a pass on meddling in Quebec, sabotaging NATO, nuking coral reefs in Polynesia into the 90s, etc. We havent even prosecuted BNP Paribas for its role as the central clearing bank in the Oil for Food scandal. We did screw them in the Suez crisis, okay granted. In toto however, the American public opinion has always been baffled by French obstructionism and their government's attitude.

To recap then, the average American views France as reification of both the most attractive aspects of Continental culture and emblematic substitute for the remaining European countries. The cultural ties to the UK are strong, but of a practical nature. Britannia has Shakespeare, the Scottish Enlightenment and Blackstone. These influences are part of our common heritage and possess no mythic significance or attraction. Spain has always been considered a provincial, Catholic backwater, or as Husymans put it: Africa starts at the Pyrennes. Italy the same. Germany is confused with Bavaria and most Americans could not find the Czech Republic on a map if you paid them. France is the only European country which has a place in the American popular imagination, independent of politics, and it causes much consternation to many Americans that the French apparently dislike them considering our past largesse.