I speak English as a second language and I was convinced that "small people" is a synonym for "ordinary people" until I read this article.
The German expression "Der kleine Mann" means "ordinary man" (in the context of an ordinary man against a big company or the government), but the word "klein" literally translates to "small"/"little".
"The little guy" means something similar, but with the added connotation of being an underdog (which sounds like what you describe "Der kleine Mann" as). Tiny idiomatic differences!
Or the American politician's encomium of choice, "working families."
Honestly, I think people already hate BP, I doubt this has much effect.
However, I think it is unfair to attack a Swedish guy (who probably speaks English as a 3rd or 4th language) for saying "small people" when he probably intended to say something like "little guy" or "ordinary people"
A misunderstanding that I believe is at the heart of the lyrics for _Common People_ by Pulp :-)
Ah, but BP is bringing in their own sob story: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1287222/BP-oil-spill...
However, I think it is unfair to attack a Swedish guy (who probably speaks English as a 3rd or 4th language) for saying "small people" when he probably intended to say something like "little guy" or "ordinary people"