Remember Shavluk?

[Canadian Blue]

Anyone remember Shavluk?

http://othernews.ca.myway.com/article//200.../154961050.html

OTTAWA - The Green Party has lost one of its candidates just days before an expected federal election call over allegations he made remarks deemed to be anti-Semitic.

John Shavluk was ejected as the party's candidate in British Columbia's Newton-North Delta riding Thursday following word that he made such comments in 2006 in an online forum.

"Respect for diversity is a fundamental principle of the Green Party," leader Elizabeth May said in a written statement.

"We condemn anti-Semitism and our members work to encourage respectful dialogue, diversity, peace and cooperation".

May said she spoke directly with Shavluk, and told him he cannot stand as a candidate in the election campaign that's expected to be called Sunday.

"I communicated with John and thanked him for his work on behalf of the Green Party but explained that he will not be a candidate because his views are not consistent with our philosophy," she said.

"I will not sign his nomination papers and the Green Party will nominate another candidate."

Prime Minister Stephen Harper will visit with Governor General Michaelle Jean early Sunday and ask her to dissolve Parliament, sources say.

Harper is expected to call an election for Oct. 14.

The controversy appeared to have originated from Shavluk's meandering comments on a forum called enmasse.ca. A lengthy rant about drug laws, police, the war in Iraq, and conspiracy theories about 9-11 included a brief reference to a "Jewish world bank."

Even as the Green Party was removing Shavluk as a candidate Friday, Internet bloggers were writing about his comments - some criticizing him, others coming to his defence.

A blogger identifying himself as Matt wrote: "First of all, I know John personally. I have gotten to know him somewhat recently but have come to consider John a good friend."

"Let me be very clear about this. John is not, has never been and will never be an 'anti-semite.' In fact, the charge is preposterous, absurd and laughable."

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showuser=3566

[M.Dancer]

Excuise me while I laugh my face off....

[Canadian Blue]

The Globe and Mail article has the actual comment. I can't help but wonder why nobody at the Green Party riding association noticed that he was raving nutbar.

VANCOUVER — The federal election campaign is not even officially underway, but the Green Party has already turfed one of its candidates.

The Party announced today that it is dropping John Shavluk, the Green nominee in the suburban riding of Newton-North Delta, from its list of official candidates over an allegedly anti-Semitic remark in a blog by Mr. Shavluk several years ago.

During an exchange over the Internet with a policeman in Washington, D.C. on the many conspiracy theories floating around about the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Mr. Shavluk wrote: “hey i heard some guy in Australia knows someone who says he had something to do with your governments complicate attack on your shoddily built Jewish world bank headquarters. you know ‘the 2 towers' (who has the ring I wonder) better invade there too eh,,oh no oil?...”

In a press release, Green Party leader Elizabeth May said that respect for diversity is a fundamental principle of the party.

The Green Party announced Thursday that it is dropping John Shavluk, the Green nominee in the suburban riding of Newton-North Delta, B.C., from its list of official candidates over an allegedly anti-Semitic remark in a blog by Mr. Shavluk several years ago.

“We condemn anti-Semitism and our members work to encourage respectful dialogue, diversity, peace and co-operation.”

She said she had talked to Mr. Shavluk and explained that his views were not consistent with Green Party philosophy.

“I will not sign his nomination papers and the Green Party will nominate another candidate.”

Mr. Shavluk, 51, who has run previously for the B.C. Marijuana Party, was outraged by the decision and categorically denied his blog posting was anti-Semitic.

He said he was merely parroting what others had been saying about the 9/11 attacks, particularly in a video that dealt with the many conspiracy theories over the deadly assaults.

“I am not anti-Semtic. I am pro-human rights,” he said in an interview.”

Mr. Shavluk, who has been campaigning vigorously for the legalization of marijuana for years, said he is the victim of “an organized assassination attempt. I don't know what's going on. This is one blog item out of 5,000 items I've done.

“I'm surprised by the cowardice of the Green Party,” he said.

“I didn't even say this [the controversial remark]. I repeated it because that's what the documentary alluded to. It just parroted what others were saying.”

However, Bernie Farber of the Canadian Jewish Congress, said the Green Party did the right thing.

“People have to understand you have to be careful about what you write,” said Mr. Farber. “My experience tells me this is not the guy who's going to defend our community against anti-Semitism. …I've never seen it as an error when someone writes something like this.”

Last year, the Green Party nixed the nomination of Kevin Potvin in Vancouver East over comments he made shortly after the 9/11 attacks, in which he confessed that an inner voice was saying “yeah!” over the collapse of the twin towers.

Mr. Potvin, himself, was critical of those sentiments, but was nevertheless dropped as a candidate.

Awe, those truly were the days.

[Ontario Loyalist]

Shavluk is a pot activist and is one of those types who gravitated to the Greens because he wanted to use their increasing exposure to push his own agenda. He shouldn't have been allowed in the party in the first place because of some of the things he has already said. Glad he's gone. I hope he stays out of politics for good.

[Argus]

Anyone remember Shavluk?

http://othernews.ca.myway.com/article//200.../154961050.html

http://www.mapleleafweb.com/forums//index.php?showuser=3566

Well, if anti-semitism is the only problem perhaps he could run for the Liberals? They don't seem to have much of a problem with that.

[White Doors]

haha

good find CB. I remember Shavluk. good times.