Tories sorry for comments

[jdobbin]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...me=election2008

In an audio clip from the Aboriginal People's Television Network, Matchewan asks if he would be arrested if he came to Cannon's office.

"If you behave, and you're sober, and there's no problems, and if you don't do a sit down and whatever I don't care. One of them showed up the other day and was drinking," Lannigan can be heard saying in the clip.

"Are you calling me an alcoholic?" asks Matchewan

"I'm not calling you an alcoholic it's just to say you're in a federal office. If you're coming in to negotiate, I expect, there's decorum that has to be respected."

A statement from Cannon's director of communications Catherine Loubier was read on the air by APTN, saying the comments did not reflect the views of the Government of Canada.

The Tory campaign is certainly not running clickity click as it did in 2006.

Don't think any of it will matter in the end though.

[AngusThermopyle]

Don't really see what the big deal is myself.

Of course it'll be spun into the biggest thing since sliced bread.

[Canadian Blue]

I don't see the big deal, however I'm sure some people will say that it's racist to believe their should be decorum in the HoC.

[betsy]

Elizabeth May says she "agrees with the assessment" that says CANADIANS ARE STUPID! Duffy and Taber both replayed the video clip and both of them challenged May saying that it's clearly right there and May said it. May talked her way out of it...and that's it. Case closed.

Edited September 18, 2008 by betsy

[kengs333]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/stor...me=election2008

The Tory campaign is certainly not running clickity click as it did in 2006.

Don't think any of it will matter in the end though.

Neither do I. We're scheduled to have a Con majority because that's what the elites want.

[capricorn]

What's the fuss all about?

Read the comments posted in the article jdobbin linked. They speak volumes about what the average Canadian will think about this faux gaffe.

[Shakeyhands]

silly drunken indians....

[Riverwind]

I can see both sides on this one.

On one hand, Cannon appears to have actually had drunk people show up at his office. So one could argue he was speaking from experience on this point and would have said the same to anyone in the same context.

On other other hand, one could wonder if he would have made the same comment to a non-aboriginal.

I think Cannon will have to go. Whether his remarks were innocent or not is irrelevent now and he will be perceived to be racist by many which will tarnish the entire Tory cabinent.

Edited September 18, 2008 by Riverwind

[capricorn]

I think Cannon will have to go. Whether his remarks were innocent or not is irrelevent now that he will be perceived to be racist by many which will tarnish the entire Tory cabinent.

It was not Cannon but one of his aides.

[Riverwind]

It was not Cannon but one of his aides.

I missed that (the article with comparisons to Ritz makes one think that he said it). In that case, forget what I said. Fire the aide and move on. A minister should not be judged because one of his people made a remark that *might* have been racist. Edited September 18, 2008 by Riverwind

[capricorn]

I missed that (the article with comparisons to Ritz makes one think that he said it). In that case, forget what I said. Fire the aide and move on.

I read you. It's hard to keep up with all these Conservative "scandals".

[Who's Doing What?]

I read you. It's hard to keep up with all these Conservative "scandals".

Yes indeed.

It seems the iron fist Harper held his party members in during the last election, has some holes. Some of the sand is slipping through.

Edited September 18, 2008 by Who's Doing What?

[nothinarian]

Yes indeed.

It seems the iron fist Harper held his party members in during the last election, has some holes. Some of the sand is slipping through.

Ritz yes but no scandal here

Video shows reasonable approach by constit staffer

Issue was blown out of proportion by media

Jist is we can meet but no drinking like last time - subject whether native, chinese, catholic, mason... is irrelevant...the lady had a point...or do you think she should not stick up for herself

Lets look at it another way ...how would most people feel if their mother/daughter/sister was put in a similar threatening situation and responded in a similar fashion...I thought so.

[scribblet]

I missed that (the article with comparisons to Ritz makes one think that he said it). In that case, forget what I said. Fire the aide and move on. A minister should not be judged because one of his people made a remark that *might* have been racist.

And was based on past experience (drunken people)

[DrGreenthumb]

And was based on past experience (drunken people)

Just shows the low quality of the makeup of the conservative party. They can't even manage to conceal their racism and contempt for anyone who isn't rich and white during the short month of an election campaign. We don't need these clowns running our country. Canada deserves better.

[nothinarian]

Just shows the low quality of the makeup of the conservative party. They can't even manage to conceal their racism and contempt for anyone who isn't rich and white during the short month of an election campaign. We don't need these clowns running our country. Canada deserves better.

Really

by inference all conservatives are racists

Interesting when 2 liberal candidates in Quebec were forced to step down for racist comments about natives

and aboriginal leaders were outraged

http://rjjago.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/nat...ist-candidates/

these weren't staffers but candidates ....and you were saying...

Me thinks all sides have their share of racists, bigots,

[betsy]

I had seen the video tape of the incident with Cannon's aide. She did not say anything that's really offensive.

Apparently she's had someone who came in drunk. It is understandable that she does not feel secure talking to someone who's drunk...especially when they are confrontational.

She has a right to think of her own safety!

All she did was explain, after she was asked by the man she was talking to.

[nothinarian]

I had seen the video tape of the incident with Cannon's aide. She did not say anything that's really offensive.

Apparently she's had someone who came in drunk. It is understandable that she does not feel secure talking to someone who's drunk...especially when they are confrontational.

She has a right to think of her own safety!

All she did was explain, after she was asked by the man she was talking to.

Video shows reasonable approach by constit staffer

Issue was blown out of proportion by media

Jist is we can meet but no drinking like last time - subject whether native, chinese, catholic, mason... is irrelevant...the lady had a point...or do people think she should not stick up for herself

Lets look at it another way ...how would most people feel if their mother/daughter/sister was put in a similar threatening situation and responded in a similar fashion?

[capricorn]

Really

by inference all conservatives are racists

Interesting when 2 liberal candidates in Quebec were forced to step down for racist comments about natives

and aboriginal leaders were outraged

http://rjjago.wordpress.com/2008/09/12/nat...ist-candidates/

these weren't staffers but candidates ....and you were saying...

Me thinks all sides have their share of racists, bigots,

"Liberal candidate Brent Fullard apologizes for comparing Harper with Hitler."

http://westernstandard.blogs.com/shotgun/2...rd-fails-t.html

[scribblet]

It's interesting isn't it how any remarks by CPC aides or candidates is such a huge deal as opposed to coverage when the Liberals do similar stuff....

It does appear that there was drinking the last time, so it was reasonable to ask the attendees not to drink this time. Talk about a tempest in a teapot, but then, this is what it's all really about isn't it. Let's concentrate on this nonsense instead of the issues, or in the case of the Liberals - a huge tax increase called the green shaft.

[Topaz]

I also the video too and the woman could have been more tactful in her speech to the First Nation. She could have asked if the person who had been drinking was going to be at the meeting or she could have talked about that issue off camera and she still did it knowing she was being filmed. True this is not a bad a Ritz, who should step down but Harper doesn't have his guys step down when they say what they feel, that just say, "gee I'm sorry" until next time!

[Argus]

Just shows the low quality of the makeup of the conservative party. They can't even manage to conceal their racism and contempt for anyone who isn't rich and white during the short month of an election campaign. We don't need these clowns running our country. Canada deserves better.

I know facts aren't important to you but...

This native guy's group has been picketing and protesting at Canon's office for months. They did a sit-in there earlier, and apparently one was drunk last week. So this staffer simply told him they could meet with the minister as long as they all observed proper decoum, didn't do a sit-in etc.. And you want to fire her for that because of your reflexively bigoted, paternalistic attitude towards natives, and your bitter hatred of all things conservative.

[jdobbin]

It's interesting isn't it how any remarks by CPC aides or candidates is such a huge deal as opposed to coverage when the Liberals do similar stuff....

Seems to me that when the Liberals, Greens or NDP have made gaffes, it was covered in the media. You have evidence to the contrary or is this just another example of "it's not fair!"

[AngusThermopyle]

Harper doesn't have his guys step down when they say what they feel, that just say, "gee I'm sorry" until next time!

You must have a very short memory.

You don't remember a certain liberal stomping on a George Bush doll? You don't remember the same person making comments about "damn Americans?

[jdobbin]

You must have a very short memory.

You don't remember a certain liberal stomping on a George Bush doll? You don't remember the same person making comments about "damn Americans?

And this wasn't covered in the media? This didn't have an effect on the Liberal party in how they handled the situation?