B.C. Premier Christie Clarke caught cynically trying to woo ethnic gro

[Peanutbutter]

I don't see how no one can vote for Christie Clark. She has a pretty face. The reason enough for many women to vote for Trudeau.

[The_Squid]

A BC Liberal with some integrity?

The premier wouldn't explain why Yap was stepping aside, but said Minister of State for Seniors Ralph Sultan would be taking over Yap's duties.

Yap told reporters that he's taking responsibility for the contents of the leaked email — but he also said he had never seen the document.

"I'm the minister responsible. This is an issue that involves multiculturalism and the responsibility rests with me as the current minister responsibility for multiculturalism," said Yap.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/03/04/bc-christy-clark-ethnic-vote.html

[kimmy]

A political party formulating an "outreach strategy" to appeal to ethnic voters? That's a non-issue.

A governing party using government resources to further partisan political objectives? That's a real scandal.

What I find disappointing is that coverage of this issue seems to be distracted by the salacious "ethnic" angle, which distracts from the real issue.

As for Clark herself... somebody compared her to Sarah Palin. That's off the mark. Other than representing a right-of-center political party, they have nothing in common. Palin was bold and strongly committed to her ideology. Clark doesn't seem to have any ideology at all. She has been a huge disappointment as premier, seeming to stand for nothing beyond saying what she thinks the electorate wants to hear.

-k

[Bonam]

Clark doesn't seem to have any ideology at all. She has been a huge disappointment as premier, seeming to stand for nothing beyond saying what she thinks the electorate wants to hear.

-k

Makes one long for the good old days of Gordon Campbell.

[kairos]

I can't imagine how she ever could have become head of the party. All she's ever done other than being a career politician is having a radio show:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christy_Clark

Very much like Sarah Palin and Ralph Klein.

[kimmy]

Palin and Klein were very successful politicians.

How did Clark become premier? Media savvy, and being the most "un-Campbell" option.

-k

[ReeferMadness]

I'm probably the last person in BC to say something in defence of Clark. I'm not a huge fan but I think that what's going on now is the political equivalent of "piling on" in football.

I think that Clark tried to be a pragmatist and carve out some of the centre. She made some moves when she first became premier (such as raising minimum wage) that were probably intended to counter the party image as being too business-friendly and out of touch with common people. The completely dishonest way that Campbell brought in the HST was unacceptable but once it was done, it would have been better to keep it. The NDP were opportunistic in their opposition. I like that Clark tried to do the right thing and save it when it probably would have been more politically expedient for her to hang it on Campbell and walk away.

[ReeferMadness]

Palin and Klein were very successful politicians.

Palin was (and is) a laughingstock. Klein was a George Bush clone - although he was not too bright and really quite out of touch, he still managed to project that folksy image of being like the guy next door.

Frankly, I think that Clark has more substance than either (maybe both put together).

[ironstone]

All parties pander to ethnic groups to some extent,some more blatantly than others.Seems too many voters put their own interest's ahead of the country.It's always "Me first!" these days.

[Wilber]

I think Clark has inherited a government that has been in power so long it has got too used to it. It's true that most parties try to get out the ethnic vote (not sure what that is exactly) so I don't think that is such a big deal. Those who are being targeted might differ of course. It's their way of doing business that has become the real problem, like using personal email accounts to avoid paper trails while using public employees on the public's dime to do party business. Gmail accounts at that Campbell left a real credibility deficit when it comes to ethical government and she hasn't seemed capable of reversing it.

Edited March 9, 2013 by Wilber

[Canuckistani]

I think Clark has inherited a government that has been in power so long it has got too used to it. It's true that most parties try to get out the ethnic vote (not sure what that is exactly)

You don't? Everybody else seems to, since they all use it, including the media. Even those feeling aggrieved are using the term, or seem to understand that it applies to them. A hint might be that Clarke wanted to apologize for the head tax and Komagatu Maru incident, pick up some "quick wins" by doing so. And the groups being pandered to seemed to have no problem with it, just that the pandering should be more sincere. That they'll still be respected in the morning.

The ethnic vote is any ethnic group that has large numbers voting as a bloc and that votes how their community leaders tell them to vote. Also the people who register en masse for leadership conventions, often having their membership dues paid for them. A politician of a specific ethnicity who says they want to get elected to represent their "community" would be going for he ethnic vote, unless s/he's white, in which ase s/he'd be going to oblivion at best.

I believe they also wanted to apologize to First Nations. I'm not sure if they are deemed ethnics, since they are not deemed visible minority. (A lovely Canadian term that the UN has told us to stop using as they deem it racist. And there we were just trying to be nice and all). They're a minority, and they're visible, but I guess they have super victim status, so to call them the ethnic vote is depriving them.

Edited March 10, 2013 by Canuckistani

[Wilber]

"The ethnic vote is any ethnic group that has large numbers voting as a bloc and that votes how their community leaders tell them to vote."

This assumes that an "ethnic" group is a voting block. Pretty blatant assumption IMO and somewhat insulting to those targeted. It assumes they don't have the capability for independent thought and the ability to act on it. Unlike us "regular" folks.

[Canuckistani]

"The ethnic vote is any ethnic group that has large numbers voting as a bloc and that votes how their community leaders tell them to vote."

This assumes that an "ethnic" group is a voting block. Pretty blatant assumption IMO and somewhat insulting to those targeted. It assumes they don't have the capability for independent thought and the ability to act on it. Unlike us "regular" folks.

The truth hurts. You think politicians expend all this energy if there was no point to it. Or that "community leaders" don't exploit this? It's nice to be all pc, but the real world often isn't. Have you really never heard about the scandals of signing up Indo Canadians en masse who may not even speak English but jsut vote as they're told, or that often their membership fees were paid by somebody else? Where do you live that you can avoid having your innocence tainted by this information?

The ethic voters are quite happy to play this game, as are all politica parties. You're just not supposed to be so blatant about it.

[Wilber]

I realize such things do happen but I don't tar every non white non Anglo Saxon Canadian with the same brush by labeling them "ethnic" and assuming they will all act the same way.

Edited March 10, 2013 by Wilber

[Canuckistani]

I realize such things do happen but I don't tar every non white non Anglo Saxon Canadian with the brush by labeling them "ethnic" and assuming they will all act the same way.

Good for you, nobody does. As immigrants become more comfortable in their new country, become 2nd gen etc, they "grow up" and vote more accross the spectrum. But the only reason parties play this game is because it pays off at the polls. Not because they want to upset your pc sensibilities. And the 'ethnic voters" play right along, because there's something in it for them as well. One hand washes the other. Just as the CPC is going to throw some red meat at one of their constituencies, older white males, if they think they can get away with it. See how it works? Everybody is an ethnic voter in a way. The older white males just aren't organzed the same way.

[Wilber]

As an older white male I consider that insulting. You assume my age disqualifies me from from being able think critically you assume you know how I think and will vote.

[Canuckistani]

Oh, give it a rest. If you're older you can't possibly be so naive. Or you're just puffing yourself up. Older white males skew conservative - that's an accepted fact.

[Wilber]

Nice to know you are such an expert on older white males. What pigeon hole do you put yourself in?

[Canuckistani]

Same one. And I don't conform to stereotype either, I skew more left more often. Doesn't mean that you can't look at what older white males do as a group tho, or brown young women or however you like to cut and dice the population. And pols of all stripes have experts who do just that. One thing, most OWMs don't play as/are as naive as you do - usually.

[Wilber]

One thing about getting older is you finally figure out you aren't so much smarter than the rest of the world, as you thought you were when you were younger. You also learn that making assumptions about other people can be costly. To you.

I don't see intelligence in that attitude, I see a lack of respect.

[Canuckistani]

Ok, play your pc fiddle. the pols aren't, the ethnic voters aren't, nobody is much. Groups of people show tendencies towards certain behaviors. No matter how you pick out that group from the total population. Doesn't mean that any individual you meet will show that tendency, but sufficient of them do to make it worthwhile for pols to pander to them. Or advertisers. How you've lived to be old and still so naive is beyond me. I think you're just puffing yourself up - or just having me on.

[Wilber]

I'm not being PC, I'm showing them the courtesy of not telling them how I think they do or should think, according to a demographic thay I made up to put them in. That, I believe is why so many of them are pissed about this.

[Canuckistani]

I'm not being PC, I'm showing them the courtesy of not telling them how I think they do or should think, according to a demographic thay I made up to put them in. That, I believe is why so many of them are pissed about this.

They're only pissed becasue the political pandering was so blatant. For the pandering by the politicians to work, the pandered to have to do their bit and give the pols their votes. Otherwise the political pandering would stop in short order. Every party plays this game/ The Libs caught caught is all. Everybody uses public funds for partisan purposes, again, the Libs just got caught is all.

[Wilber]

Fine, go right ahead but don't complain if it blows up in your face and don't try to justify it by saying everone else does it.

[Canuckistani]

OK, I will. Or won't, or whatever you're talking about.