Ignatieff's Wife is Not Canadian Citizen

[Harry]

It is this kind of disgusting inuendo that does Harper in, and reduces the Conservative's re-election chances more than anything else. Some folks are drinking too much tea at their parties.

Rae bristles at personal attacks against Ignatieff’s wife

The questioning of Ms. Zsohar’s citizenship plays into the attack ads by the Conservatives on Mr. Ignatieff’s patriotism – that he is “just visiting” after being out of the country for 30 years.

Mr. Rae said he finds the reference in those ads “the most unworthy part of the Conservative attack on Michael.”

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/rae-bristles-at-personal-attacks-against-ignatieffs-wife/article1976184/

[ToadBrother]

I made it up?

Yes, you made it up.

It's a convention now, bambino. The PM's wife matters. We're in the 21st century.

It doesn't matter what century we're in. The PM's wife has no role in our government.

God knows what the conventions of the 22nd century will be. Thankfully perhaps, you and I will be dead by then.

I'm still waiting for you to provide a single piece of evidence for your initial claim. All this "21st century" nonsense is just fabrication.

[cybercoma]

I made it up?

It's a convention now, bambino. The PM's wife matters. We're in the 21st century.

God knows what the conventions of the 22nd century will be. Thankfully perhaps, you and I will be dead by then.

The Prime Minister's marital partner matters about as much as what the Prime Minister has for breakfast. It doesn't.

[Harry]

This thread and the opening post are an abomination and really quite sad to see here at Mapleleafweb.

[cybercoma]

No, this is MORE relevant:

Did you know at both that at both Meech Lake and Charlottetown they served goulash? Hungarian goulash!

*queue dramatic music*

If Michael Ignatieff becomes Prime Minister we will have Goulash served in Parliament. HUNGARIAN GOULASH! In our Parliament!

[Shwa]

*queue dramatic music*

If Michael Ignatieff becomes Prime Minister we will have Goulash served in Parliament. HUNGARIAN GOULASH! In our Parliament!

Hey, that works for me - I love Hungarian anything - especially goulash & paprikash! Growing up in the blue collar Shwa, we had neighbours from Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Austria, Germany, Russia. Borscht? I thought it was just beet soup!

[bloodyminded]

In this 21st century, most Canadians, English or French, want to know their Prime Minister. If Harper's wife were from Trois-Rivieres or Victoriaville, and she were smart, Harper would now be a PM in a comfortable majority.

You've got to be kidding.

If this were the case, PM's wives would be vetted and chosen by advisors, which to my knowledge is not yet the case.

[ToadBrother]

You've got to be kidding.

If this were the case, PM's wives would be vetted and chosen by advisors, which to my knowledge is not yet the case.

He's just making it up. I can't quite figure out why he hasn't abandoned the claim yet. It's so ludicrous and so obviously false.

[bloodyminded]

He's just making it up. I can't quite figure out why he hasn't abandoned the claim yet. It's so ludicrous and so obviously false.

And deeming something "convention" when you're making it up reminds me of the common DVD marketing pitch: "A brand new Disney classic!"

[Saipan]

Did you know at both that at both Meech Lake and Charlottetown they served goulash? Hungarian goulash!

Now, tell me why they did that??

They were Hungry.

[RNG]

They were Hungry.

Shouldn't that have been Hungary?

[Harry]

Is Zsuzsanna allowed to do this? After all she is not a citizen yet?

Go Zsuzsanna: Ignatieff’s wife loves life on the Liberal bus

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/go-zsuzsanna-ignatieffs-wife-loves-life-on-the-liberal-bus/article1977967/

[August1991]

8 pages later and it seems that other than a couple of exceptions, posters of all political stripes seem to think this is a non-issue.

It's enough of a non-issue that the Liberals got Bob Rae to say so out loud, twisting the story to suggest the question is about immigrants:

But Mr. Rae did: “This is one issue that takes us down a road where I don’t think we want to go,” he said. “The notion of any question of optics around Zsuszanna … is absurd and deeply offensive.”

Mr. Rae said, too, that Canada welcomes “immigrants to this country. … We live in an open country.”

G&M

The fact that Ignatieff's wife was born abroad is not the issue. The issue is that she and Ignatieff have been married for about 15 years, she has supposedly been resident in Canada for the last 5 or 6 years, and she's still not a Canadian citizen.

Some people don't see this as a problem. I do. And I suspect that I am not alone.

[ToadBrother]

Some people don't see this as a problem. I do. And I suspect that I am not alone.

Well I'm sure there are other bigoted Tories who feel the same.

It's still not any kind of constitutional convention.

[bush_cheney2004]

....Some people don't see this as a problem. I do. And I suspect that I am not alone.

Wait a minute...has it been determined yet that she even wants to be a Canadian citizen? Why should she have to make such a choice just to further her husband's political ambitions?

What's in it for her given that a PM's wife is of no real consequence or import to the office?

Edited April 10, 2011 by bush_cheney2004

[August1991]

Well I'm sure there are other bigoted Tories who feel the same.

It's still not any kind of constitutional convention.

TB, this is what I find tiresome with the Left. And it also explains in large part why I will probably vote Conservative despite my many objections with Harper and his party.

How dare you accuse me of being a bigot.

I happen to have lived abroad and confronted similar personal choices as Ignatieff. Perhaps because of this, to me, it is important to know that Ignatieff wanted his spouse to become a Canadian citizen and endeavoured to make it happen. For gawdsakes, they have been married for over 15 years.

In this, I agree with many ordinary Canadians who have not lived abroad but understand the question of citizenship instinctively.

----

As to the point of "constitutional convention", the common law is based on decision and precedent. The Civil Code is based on interpretation.

If Ignatieff (like Dion) does not become PM, then we may not have a legal precedent but ambitious politicians will interpret the message.

For example, I take note that Justin Trudeau married a Quebec francophone - but then, his mother is from BC.

BTW, do you know the maiden name of Brian Mulroney's wife?

Edited April 10, 2011 by August1991

[Moonlight Graham]

Sure it isn't---- ask any of the "Canadians" living abroad in the Middle East who haven't been here for 15 years, don't pay any taxes here and only need their "Canadianism" when there is revolt, war, or rioting in the country in which they spend their lives.

Word.

But we'll come and spend millions to bring you back to Canada during a crisis, pay for your social services, and then when the crisis is over you just leave again. I can't blame these people, but i can blame the stupid policies that let's this crap happen.

I'm not a big fan of dual-citizenship. In a world anarchic world system of sovereign states dominated by an ideology of nationalism, people should have to choose their flag, formally pronounce their loyalty, and be done with it.

[August1991]

Wait a minute...has it been determined yet that she even wants to be a Canadian citizen? Why should she have to make such a choice just to further her husband's political ambitions?

That's the whole point, BC. They have been married for 16 years. She only applied for Canadian citizenship - haphazardly at that - because of political expediency.

[bush_cheney2004]

That's the whole point, BC. They have been married for 16 years. She only applied for Canadian citizenship - haphazardly at that - because of political expediency.

It's not her burden...she get's nothing out of the deal that I can see. The context should remain as Ignatieff's ambitions, not his wife's lack of Canadian citizenship. Did Michaëlle Jean's husband have to jump through these political hoops like his wife?

[Harry]

TB, this is what I find tiresome with the Left. And it also explains in large part why I will probably vote Conservative despite my many objections with Harper and his party.

How dare you accuse me of being a bigot.

I happen to have lived abroad and confronted similar personal choices as Ignatieff. Perhaps because of this, to me, it is important to know that Ignatieff wanted his spouse to become a Canadian citizen and endeavoured to make it happen. For gawdsakes, they have been married for over 15 years.

In this, I agree with many ordinary Canadians who have not lived abroad but understand the question of citizenship instinctively.

----

As to the point of "constitutional convention", the common law is based on decision and precedent. The Civil Code is based on interpretation.

If Ignatieff (like Dion) does not become PM, then we may not have a legal precedent but ambitious politicians will interpret the message.

For example, I take note that Justin Trudeau married a Quebec francophone - but then, his mother is from BC.

BTW, do you know the maiden name of Brian Mulroney's wife?

Your creepy comments are reminding me of a fella in Marseille, France.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Marie_Le_Pen

[ToadBrother]

TB, this is what I find tiresome with the Left. And it also explains in large part why I will probably vote Conservative despite my many objections with Harper and his party.

Who said I was on the Left?

How dare you accuse me of being a bigot.

Oh my, you mean somebody saying something like that can be hurtful? Imagine being a Hungarian immigrant whose husband is running for PM feel about some mean-spirited Quebecois making crap up about constitutional conventions because of her nationality.

I happen to have lived abroad and confronted similar personal choices as Ignatieff. Perhaps because of this, to me, it is important to know that Ignatieff wanted his spouse to become a Canadian citizen and endeavoured to make it happen. For gawdsakes, they have been married for over 15 years.

In this, I agree with many ordinary Canadians who have not lived abroad but understand the question of citizenship instinctively.

It still isn't a constitutional convention, and it's still a meaningless aside, and it's still bigotry.

----

As to the point of "constitutional convention", the common law is based on decision and precedent. The Civil Code is based on interpretation.

Now you're just going completely off the rails. The Common Law is separate from the Constitution.

You are aware that the Common Law is practiced in many jurisdictions outside of our kind of constitution. Several US states, for instance. Common Law is separate from constitutional law.

If Ignatieff (like Dion) does not become PM, then we may not have a legal precedent but ambitious politicians will interpret the message.

For example, I take note that Justin Trudeau married a Quebec francophone - but then, his mother is from BC.

BTW, do you know the maiden name of Brian Mulroney's wife?

I think you should stop talking out of your ass before your vocal chords permanently get affixed there.

Edited April 10, 2011 by ToadBrother

[August1991]

Your creepy comments are reminding me of a fella in Marseille, France.

I'm creepy?

Ignatieff and his wife have been married for 15 years.

In all that time, she never bothered to become a Canadian, and he never insisted.

----

Here's the Anglo MSM Toronto version of their 15 year marriage and her wait to become a Canadian citizen:

“I was born in Hungary. … Like many new Canadians I was born somewhere else. But my other part is hoping to be Canadian. I am married to a Canadian. I always knew that at some stage we would live in Canada. I am just waiting like everyone else.” She has applied for Canadian citizenship – “It could happen any day.”

G&M Edited April 10, 2011 by August1991

[Molly]

I'm creepy?

Ignatieff and his wife have been married for 15 years.

In all that time, she never bothered to become a Canadian, and he never insisted.

'Creepy' is a pretty good word to describe it, I'd say. 'Outlandishly paternalistic'- that works , too. -One short century behind things. "...and he never insisted." indeed! Un-flippin'-believeable.

[Shakeyhands]

And it also explains in large part why I will probably vote Conservative despite my many objections with Harper and his party.

Hahahhaha. Now you are just being funny. We get it, you don't like Ignatieff or the Liberals and you never will. Really, that's ok.

How dare you accuse me of being a bigot.

I don't believe you are a bigot at all. Though someone that might not have read so many of your posts might believe you are based on this one.

I happen to have lived abroad and confronted similar personal choices as Ignatieff. Perhaps because of this, to me, it is important to know that Ignatieff wanted his spouse to become a Canadian citizen and endeavoured to make it happen. For gawdsakes, they have been married for over 15 years.

In this, I agree with many ordinary Canadians who have not lived abroad but understand the question of citizenship instinctively.

She has to go through the process like anyone else. Just another faux outrage from August.

[YEGmann]

She has to go through the process like anyone else. Just another faux outrage from August.

There is no outrage. For anyone else, four years is enough to become a Canadian citizen. Every immigrant knows that. All you need is just to lift your ass and fill those damn forms.

Ignatieff arrived to Canada to be a Prime Minister. This is not "anyone else" intention. Nevertheless, on her sixth year in Canada, his wife hasn't obtained Canadian citizernship. There is only one explanation. She did not want it strongly. She did not applied on time. And Mr. Ignatieff didn't care.

By the way, when did Suzana (sorry I used transliteration) Zsohar apply for Canadian citizenship? Yes, it is not my damn business, but I do want to know a personality of my potential Prime Minister. Maybe it was just yesterday? It would say a lot.