Question Period

[Topaz]

A NDP female, rose today after question period and said that Con, part.sec. to public service, I think his name James Moore from BC. Anyway, she caught him viewing a website like Playboy and asked the speaker to do something about it. Well, the Speaker said he couldn't but if the ministers wanted to change the rules are computer inside the Commons , they could do so. The Part. Sec. stood up and said he had great respect for Parliamnet and would NEVER do such a thing and said he didn't know where this minister was coming from. Well, oneway to find out to to check his computer's history. I really think he did do it, when he thought its was safe to do so only the NDP minister came to her seat, which is behind him and caught him. I wonder what Harper will say to him?

[Michael Bluth]

Hmmm, if true it definitely is something Moore shouldn't have been doing.

The only NDP female MPs who might have seen this are Jean Crowder (two rows behind Moore and three to his left) or Penny Priddy (three rows behind more and three to his left.) Link

So this mystery MPs seat isn't really that clear a view of his seat. No NDP ministers at the moment either.

Sit somewhere with those parameters and see if you can really see the screen of somebody at that distance around those bodies.

It's possible but not likely.

Harper will privately tell Moore to grow the f*ck up and not view anything objectionable on his laptop while in the house.

[noahbody]

Talk about a bunch of children. "Teacher, can you get him in trouble?"

[M.Dancer]

A few questions

1) Link?

2) I thought computers were not allowed in the house

3) An NDPer sitting not only on the same side of the house but close enough to see a cfront benchers laptop?

[ScottSA]

Good grief. If the job the Tories is doing can be judged by the farcical nonsense the opposition parties have to resort to in criticism, they are doing pretty well. If there are scary people in Parliament, it ain't the Tories; its these neo-Stalinist leftists who want everyone to march in lockstep with their dogmatic ideologies.

[Michael Bluth]

3) An NDPer sitting not only on the same side of the house but close enough to see a cfront benchers laptop?

The link I provided is to a seating plan of the House of Commons.

Yes, Moore technically is in the front benches, but waaaaaaaaaay at the end.

[noahbody]

Here's a link to the story: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...?hub=TopStories

Apparently, this occurred on the eve of the Montreal Massacre. What she saw was an opportunity to make political hay.

The claim is that he had a scantily clad picture of a woman on his laptop. No mention of a "Playboy-like site" which infers he was surfing porn sites.

Maybe he was visiting this site: http://www.garth.ca/weblog/2007/08/26/screwy-in-skeena/

[trex]

I saw this part of the debate on the webcast and if it's true that he's watching porno while sitting in the house, he should be publicly criticised for it. There's no excuse for that. These people need to get on with some serious work, or be removed from office.

What an idiot he'd be to do that, especially in a public setting. Just give the CPC enough rope and they'll hang themselves quite nicely. Justice and decency- the great equalizer.

Those with the biggest mouths, who estoll their virtues loudly from the pulpit, are often the worst ones and everyone knows it. So let the shysters be outed.

[Michael Bluth]

Irene Mathyssen if three rows back and five rows over from Moore.

Times like this are when the Conservatives are happy to have Harper as leader.

It will be dealt with behind closed doors. Any stupid public comments will get the offending kicked out of caucus ASAP.

Nobody will speak out. Moore will apologize for the appearance of impropriety and the issue will die.

[Higgly]

Good debate. This is no different than personal phone calls. I think the Playboy example helps fill that difference out nicely.

I don't see any problem with government employees like House members using their computers for personal affairs, but this is a good example of crossing the line. If some MP has a paramour who sends them lascivious messages, then it is none of our business. If The MP wants to use government resources for titillation, then that's another matter all together...

[Alexandra]

A NDP female, rose today after question period and said .........

I really think he did do it,

Do what? Show a picture of his girlfriend and dog to a member?

`

[Wild Bill]

Do what? Show a picture of his girlfriend and dog to a member?

`

You're probably right!

There's something about the typical NDP woman MP or MPP. They always seem to be prudish and while not outright butch they always make me feel that they would scold me harshly given the slightest pretext. Sorta like everyman's shrewish wife! If you worked with them you'd have to watch every single word you said for fear they'd make a big deal out of it. No laughs, no joy, no fun.

Remember the "Penguin" Mother Superior in the original Blues Brothers?

There's an old story about Winston Churchill, who was caught drunk at a bar by a female opposition MP. She scolded him with "Mr. Churchill! If you were my husband I'd give you poison!"

Churchill is said to have replied "Madame, if you were my wife I'd drink it!"

For all we know the MP was looking at some clothing ads for his wife and the NDP lady literally made a federal case out of it.

[Topaz]

Its possible that Moore was Xmas shopping for his girlfriend/wife and looking at a sites like Victoria's secret or maybe he was looking!!! I bet he's not the only guy on that side that looking at sites like that, he's the only one that got caught!!

[capricorn]

I bet he's not the only guy on that side that looking at sites like that, he's the only one that got caught!!

Some NDP members also sit on that side. I wonder what sites they're looking at on their blackberries or laptops. Probably images of Hugo Chavez.

[August1991]

From CTV link above:

Mathyssen had claimed during question period Wednesday that she saw Moore viewing pictures of "scantily clad" women on his laptop in the parliamentary chamber.

Scantily clad? What does that mean?

This is why I hope in heaven the NDP never gets into power.

1. Politicians should spend their time on other more pressing matters.

2. We don't need a State that imposes morality. If an MP looks at girls in bikinis, it is up to the population to judge his character. Not other MPs. (There is a puritan streak in North America's Left that I have never fully understood.)

I have the impression that Layton is encouraging his MPs to be more Bolshie (eg. Mulcair) because he believes it will get more votes. Perhaps the NDP also believes that this will block the Tories from getting women's votes.

Edited December 6, 2007 by August1991

[jdobbin]

Good debate. This is no different than personal phone calls. I think the Playboy example helps fill that difference out nicely.

The MP probably shouldn't have been looking at pictures of his girlfriend on his computer while in the House. Don't think it qualifies as sexism but it is inappropriate in a workplace.

It certainly is less identifiable as sexism than some posters commentary on Ruby Dhalla was in these forums.

[Michael Bluth]

There's something about the typical NDP woman MP or MPP. They always seem to be prudish and while not outright butch they always make me feel that they would scold me harshly given the slightest pretext. Sorta like everyman's shrewish wife! If you worked with them you'd have to watch every single word you said for fear they'd make a big deal out of it. No laughs, no joy, no fun.

And they always, always feel they have the right obligation to scold people for their behaviour.

My god, what a terribly unfun place Canada would be with the NDP in charge.

[capricorn]

If he had been looking at an actual photo instead of a laptop would it have still offended the NDP MP? Surely she would have spied a photo since her eyesight is so good.

[jdobbin]

If he had been looking at an actual photo instead of a laptop would it have still offended the NDP MP? Surely she would have spied a photo since her eyesight is so good.

Personal photographs have been forbidden in the House for some time. Just as there is a dress code that prevents men who are not wearing a shirt and tie from voting (yes, you heard that correctly), there is a rule about people displaying family photos at their desk.

The last major set of rule changes allowed some aspects of technology to be allowed in but if a telephone rings or a computer chimes, the MP can be evicted from the House for a day. Likewise, anyone caught in the press gallery or public gallery with phone or other device can be banned for a day or more for a violation of the rules. Use a camera and a flash and security will escort you out and delete the picture and possibly have you arrested for mischief.

[capricorn]

Interesting info.

I wonder if crossword puzzles will be banned. They keep some MPs awake so they do serve some purpose.

[Keepitsimple]

I think the honourable NDP member should have simply walked over to the honourable Conservative member and told him that his screen was in her line of sight and she found its contents to be unsettling - and would he please stop. But no - the honourable NDP member had to immediately run to the teacher.

By the way - who knows - perhaps the honourable Conservative member simply opened up an email that had an attached link or a video - and the offensive material popped up. We all get questionable material in our INBOX. Mp's are probably inundated with the stuff. I'll bet there are posters on this site that would love to be able to send vile material directly to a Conservative MP's INBOX.

[August1991]

The NDP has offered an apology to Conservative MP James Moore late Wednesday, after it was revealed that the photo of the "scantily clad" woman on his laptop computer he was looking at while at his seat in the House of Commons was, in fact, his girlfriend.

"[NDP MP] Ms. [irene] Mathyssen had occasion this evening to speak to Mr. Moore," said Ian Capstick, spokesman for NDP.

National Post

I don't know whether to laugh or to cry.

Now then, which newspaper is going to post her photo first?

Edited December 6, 2007 by August1991

[Michael Bluth]

Wow, even the CBC took Mathyssen to task.

keepitsimple said it succinctly. Perhaps a quick conversation with Moore would have been the classy thing to do.

Man, oh man. What an over-reaction.

[capricorn]

Mathyssen's drive by smear of Moore is bad enough. But to link it to the Montreal massacre, one day away from its anniversary, is particularly disgusting. Her antics today will no doubt infuriate many women and come back to haunt her in the future.

It's hard enough for women to gain credibility in politics. Nitwits like her discourage qualified women from taking the leap into politics.

Her apology to Moore should include an apology to all women.

[Michael Bluth]

Mathyssen's drive by smear of Moore is bad enough. But to link it to the Montreal massacre, one day away from its anniversary, is particularly disgusting. Her antics today will no doubt infuriate many women and come back to haunt her in the future.

Her apology to Moore should include an apology to all women.

As should Liberal MP Karen Redmond who jumped on the bandwagon without seeing anything.

It appears that Moore's reputation as a good guy on the Hill helped him in this case.