Another candidate "scandal"

[kimmy]

The NDP candidate for the new riding of Vancouver-False Creek has abruptly withdrawn from the election race hours after inappropriate photos of him surfaced on a social networking site.

Ray Lam, a community organizer who sits on the board of Vancouver Pride and other gay-rights group, said the photos were taken from his private Facebook page.

“I regret this material and the associated comments that have now become public,” said Lam in a statement.

“I do not want this to be a distraction in the election campaign and have advised the party that I am stepping down.”

One photo showed Lam with his hand on a woman’s chest, while another showed him posing with two other people grabbing his underwear.

http://www.theprovince.com/Naughty+pics+si...3161/story.html

Dumb, maybe. But is this really the sort of thing that should disqualify someone from public office?

Practically everyone has been photographed doing something embarrassing at some point, whether it be young people clowning around at a party or whether it a drunk fifty year old standing on a chair singing "Freebird" with his necktie tied around his head at his niece's wedding reception.

Now that there is a camera in every cell phone, we are raising a generation whose entire lives are recorded in photographs. And now that social networking is as ubiquitous as e-mail, it is likely that many of those photographs will be available to the public.

If this standard continues, at some point the only people able to run for public office will be people who had no friends and never got invited to parties.

-k

[Wild Bill]

If this standard continues, at some point the only people able to run for public office will be people who had no friends and never got invited to parties.

-k

Judging by the products of the spinmeisters and handlers around each party leader, is that not the image they WANT to project?

[tango]

What I find odd is that he did not remove the pics when he ran for office.

[Borg]

Why remove the pics?

It is his right to display who and what he is - and - probably - as an NDP candidate he figured he could get away with it - freedom of sexuality?

Decency be damned.

It is always funny until someone gets poked in the eye with a stick.

Only in this case it is still funny.

Borg

[madmax]

http://www.theprovince.com/Naughty+pics+si...3161/story.html

Dumb, maybe. But is this really the sort of thing that should disqualify someone from public office?

Dumb certainly comes to mind.

However,He is not disqualified from public office, but has resigned over the public embarrassment.

This is exactly the opposite of what has happened in Nova Scotia where the Liberals ran an attack on an NDP candidate for her Nude photos and movies and it backfired on them. She became more popular and may even win the riding.

I don't know what the NDP chances in this riding are, or were, but it sounds like it would be unlikely for this candidate to win.

Facebook is public, not private and putting up these kinds of pictures is not unusual for a vast number of facebook users. However, few of them, ever consider running for public office.

This candidate should have either eliminated these racy photos prior, or warned the riding association of these pictures and their possible repurcussions.

All Candidates have the potential to be caught in embarrassing situations at a later time in their political endeavours. And it seems that while all Candidates are vulnerable to such attacks, many candidates are just as quick to throw stones and hope that they never get caught with their hands in the wrong location.

[August1991]

Dumb, maybe. But is this really the sort of thing that should disqualify someone from public office?

Yes, and here's why.

As candidates compete for votes, they strive to seek the middle ground and they inevitably resemble one another. Nevertheless, voters have to discriminate among the different candidates.

Unlike a grocery store where I can choose chicken and you can choose fish, and we can both go home happy, a democratic political race can only have one choice, and one winner. In such a competition, where the candidates are increasingly skilled at knowing what to say and do, it is inevitable that voters will use seemingly arcane or minor gaffes to discriminate.

Democratic politics is a rough business: it attracts players who like a "winner take all" victory, and the game is played in front of a large audience.

Oh, somewhere in this favored land the sun is shining bright;

The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light,

And somewhere men are laughing, and little children shout;

But there is no joy in Mudville--mighty Casey has struck out.

[Wilber]

Dumb yes but who hasn't done the odd dumb thing under the influence. How long ago were these pictures taken? Most people do grow up eventually. Sure glad there were no cell phone or digital cameras during my misspent youth.

What got me were Campbell's sanctimonious comments about this today, coming from a guy who would have a criminal record if he had pulled the same stunt at home as he did in Maui. Best keep your mouth shut Gordo and let people make up their own minds about this.

[g_bambino]

[A] democratic political race can only have one choice, and one winner. In such a competition, where the candidates are increasingly skilled at knowing what to say and do, it is inevitable that voters will use seemingly arcane or minor gaffes to discriminate.

Democratic politics is a rough business: it attracts players who like a "winner take all" victory, and the game is played in front of a large audience.

Egads, August, I'd almost say you're beginning to lose your republican vigour.

[mikedavid00]

If this standard continues, at some point the only people able to run for public office will be people who had no friends and never got invited to parties.

-k

Here's one of the pics incase anyone hasn't seen. He's someone who I wouldn't want representing me just because of his poor judgement:

http://www.rogersradiointernet.com/BC/CKWX...%20blur%202.jpg

[Wilber]

Here's one of the pics incase anyone hasn't seen. He's someone who I wouldn't want representing me just because of his poor judgement:

http://www.rogersradiointernet.com/BC/CKWX...%20blur%202.jpg

How about the Solicitor General's judgment getting his drivers license lifted for too many speeding tickets? The guy in charge of ICBC no less.

[bill_barilko]

The NDP thought they had all the bases covered with Lam-gay and Chinese both-now it's back to square one.

Can't wait to see what they dredge up to run now.

[madmax]

The NDP thought they had all the bases covered with Lam-gay and Chinese both-now it's back to square one.

Can't wait to see what they dredge up to run now.

And it looks worse here....for the Libs.... Sounds like a bunch of drunken goofs.

Where are they finding these clowns???

Michael Smyth: Brutal two days for the Liberals as candidates' woes raise smell

A top cop who's a chronic speeder. Another candidate who was charged with drunk driving. Yet another one who sent out a hateful e-mail comparing the gay "lifestyle" to "gambling, abortion, adultery and pornography." Another who cancelled a "free-beer" rally to comply with election laws.

BC Politics is always a treat.

[bill_barilko]

Another who cancelled a "free-beer" rally to comply with election laws

Life is tough here-tougher than many people realise.......

[Remiel]

It is my sincere hope that the prevalence of this sort of "friendly surveillance" of the social kind will force a transformation in society in which people will stop worrying about things that have little if anything to do with the ability of politicians to do their job well.

I mean... " OMG!! Male politicians like sex and fun? WTF?? "

[August1991]

It is my sincere hope that the prevalence of this sort of "friendly surveillance" of the social kind will force a transformation in society in which people will stop worrying about things that have little if anything to do with the ability of politicians to do their job well.

Your hope is misplaced.

Busy people have to choose between candidates. If they choose between toothpaste, their choice matters. If they choose between candidates, their choice does not matter.

Is it any wonder that capitalist, free markets provide the toothpaste that I want but socialist, democratic elections make me unhappy.

----

Foolish idealists believe that changing the electoral system will correct this. They believe that government will take "better" decisions if the voting mechanism is different.

These idealists are wrong. The problem is more complicated.

----

Inevitably, in a democracy, voters with little time will choose among candidates according to vague perceptions. Modern democratic politicians have known this for ages.

[Remiel]

Your hope is misplaced.

I will let time be the judge of that, thanks.