Quebec Liberal candidate resigns over Oka comments

[Bryan]

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/features...17-c321c4ff75a8

Hopefully now that we have scandals on both sides, the media will just stick to the actual campaign, and give the distractions a rest. (I wish)

[Smallc]

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/features...17-c321c4ff75a8

Hopefully now that we have scandals on both sides, the media will just stick to the actual campaign, and give the distractions a rest. (I wish)

Hopefully the media will continue to report all missteps on all sides. The people deserve to know.

[capricorn]

What your linked article fails to report is that earlier in the day, Dion had said to the press that Simon Bedard has apologized but would remain a candidate for the Liberal Party.

En début de journée, jeudi, le chef du Parti libéral, Stéphane Dion, a assuré que le candidat dans Québec pourra tout de même porter les couleurs du parti pendant les élections, malgré ces propos qu'il juge «inacceptables». M. Dion a indiqué que Simon Bédard s'était excusé pour ces commentaires très durs et qu'il était donc prêt à passer l'éponge.

Shortly thereafter, Stephen Harper said that Bedard's comments were "extreme" and that Bedard's inclusion in Dion's Quebec team is an indication of the weakness of the Liberal election campaign in Quebec.

De son côté, le chef conservateur Stephen Harper a rétorqué ce matin que les déclarations de M. Bédard étaient «extrêmes». «On ne peut pas dire plus que ça» a-t-il affirmé. À son avis, la présence de ce candidat dans l'équipe de Stéphane Dion constitue une indication de la faiblesse de la campagne libérale au Québec.

http://www.cyberpresse.ca/article/20080911...6/5019/CPSOLEIL

Obviously, Dion was subsequently pressured into reconsidering and later issued a press release that Bedard was asked to resign his candidacy.

September 11, 2008

Statement from Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion

Today I announce that I have asked for and received the resignation of Simon Bédard as the Liberal Party of Canada’s candidate in the riding of Québec.

Clearly, Mr. Bédard agrees that the statements he has made regarding First Nations people are not compatible with the beliefs and values of the Liberal Party of Canada.

While Mr. Bédard has clearly indicated that he no longer holds those views, the Liberal Party of Canada’s proud tradition of support for our Aboriginal communities must not be overshadowed by these comments.

http://www.liberal.ca/story_14507_e.aspx

I find it interesting that the press outside Quebec chose to provide a portion of the details of this event even though all the details were available to them. What was left out, of course, is that Dion dithered, made the dreadful decision to keep Bedard on board and was later convinced to flip flop on his decision regarding the fate of Simon Bedard.

[jdobbin]

Hopefully now that we have scandals on both sides, the media will just stick to the actual campaign, and give the distractions a rest. (I wish)

In his radio days, what Bedard said was a pretty cavalier in terms of acceptance . It seems to reflect some of the bombast of radio show hosts. I haven't seen a direct quote on extermination but it should have precluded him as a candidate.

Just another example of how the Liberals can't run a smooth campaign and how they usually stumble in the first week.

[jdobbin]

I find it interesting that the press outside Quebec chose to provide a portion of the details of this event even though all the details were available to them. What was left out, of course, is that Dion dithered, made the dreadful decision to keep Bedard on board and was later convinced to flip flop on his decision regarding the fate of Simon Bedard.

A decision made in the same day is similar to Harper's dithering for days on May's inclusion in the debates? Even today Harper is still complaining about it.

Edited September 12, 2008 by jdobbin

[Visionseeker]

I find it interesting that the press outside Quebec chose to provide a portion of the details of this event even though all the details were available to them. What was left out, of course, is that Dion dithered, made the dreadful decision to keep Bedard on board and was later convinced to flip flop on his decision regarding the fate of Simon Bedard.

In Quebec, the talk won't be about Dion's "dithering", but rather why Harper hasn't dumped the Opus Dei candidate in St. Hubert. IOW, Bedard will be seen as the embarasment that had to go. But talk at the water cooler will still be "Opus Dei! that's just #$%& crazy!"

Quebec is going to be an interesting contest.

[Moonbox]

A decision made in the same day is similar to Harper's dithering for days on May's inclusion in the debates? Even today Harper is still complaining about it.

Harper never wanted her in the debate. She and Dion have quite obviously shown that they have each other's backs and why would Harper want to debate against two very similar positions? Harper still doesn't want her in the debate but decided that since Canadians want to see her speak he might as well not protest it.

This is altogether a poor analogy anyways. It's a completely and 100% different situation and I'm surprised you would even try to compare them.

[AngusThermopyle]

This is altogether a poor analogy anyways. It's a completely and 100% different situation and I'm surprised you would even try to compare them.

When its all you've got you just give it the old College try anyway.

[capricorn]

In Quebec, the talk won't be about Dion's "dithering", but rather why Harper hasn't dumped the Opus Dei candidate in St. Hubert. IOW, Bedard will be seen as the embarasment that had to go. But talk at the water cooler will still be "Opus Dei! that's just #$%& crazy!"

Jumping on that candidate's religion has not materialized as the big deal expected by the Bloc. IMO the majority of Quebecers believe that a person's religion is that person's private business and simply see Duceppe's outrage on the matter as posturing. It's a dead issue. There is much more interesting stuff to discuss around the cooler, like the price of gas.

[capricorn]

A decision made in the same day is similar to Harper's dithering for days on May's inclusion in the debates? Even today Harper is still complaining about it.

You're the one making the comparison, not me.

Today, Harper was asked about the Dion/May coalition by the French media. Harper replied that it is unfair to have May as a peudo Liberal at the debates. You know, Dion doesn't own the "It's not fair" argument.

[jdobbin]

You know, Dion doesn't own the "It's not fair" argument.

Harper should be happy because it is not hurting him in the least.

[capricorn]

The suspense is over. Quebec Liberal candidate Ricardo Lopez resigned over his comments on Aboriginal Canadians.

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/p...-in-quebec.aspx

Too bad Lopez and Bedard weren't weeded out before the election was called.