Harper won't take part in media consortium debates

[poochy]

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/canada/canadian-politics/conservatives-say-harper-wont-participate-in-traditional-election-debates-run-by-broadcasters

Aside from the usual left wing bias of the mainstream media, true or not, I wonder if this is at least in part retaliation for this same consortium colluding to deny political parties (of course mainly the conservatives and their ever so mean attack ads) time to broadcast political ads that use news clips from those same networks. That effort was lead by the ever so unbiased CBC, and if that is the case I say, good on the CPC for sticking it to them. However, if the debates aren't available to most Canadians that will be a problem.

[Argus]

I think the Tories are just tired of a format which has Harper vs everyone else. They'd like a format which has him given equal time, for which I don't blame them, really. But that's the way it goes when you're the government, the guy to beat. Certainly May's presence was a huge distraction last time around, and it was even worse when the BQ took part. At worst it should only be the Tories, NDP and Liberals.

[Prairieboy43]

I think the Tories are just tired of a format which has Harper vs everyone else. They'd like a format which has him given equal time, for which I don't blame them, really. But that's the way it goes when you're the government, the guy to beat. Certainly May's presence was a huge distraction last time around, and it was even worse when the BQ took part. At worst it should only be the Tories, NDP and Liberals.

No! Welcome Green Party's view.

Election will be decided, Ontario, Quebec.

[cybercoma]

He will because he's going to be punished in the polls if he pursues this. As for Argus's argument about it being "everyone vs Harper" that's precisely the way it is when you're Prime Minister; regardless of the format or party in power, the prime minister will be called upon to defend his/her record.

Edited May 12, 2015 by cybercoma

[cybercoma]

The networks will hold the debates without him and when he's not standing at that podium to respond to his record, he's going to look very bad to the undecided voters. This may play to the conspiracy theory loving "liberal media bias" crowd who wouldn't vote against Harper anyway, but it's literally political suicide when it comes to moderates who will watch those debates to decide. Harper will be there. This is just scraps for the people on the right who believe that nonsense about liberal media bias.

[Big Guy]

I think it would be a mistake for Harper to avoid the debates. I have little use for them myself but his absence would create a stage for the opposition groups and comedians. I can see the stage with May, Mulcair, Trudeau and an empty lectern. It would give them a free hand go after Harper policies and promises without a rebuttal.

[Michael Hardner]

They should start planning the debates now, without them. They'll join up pretty fast if they're planning to take part.

[poochy]

I think it would be a mistake for Harper to avoid the debates. I have little use for them myself but his absence would create a stage for the opposition groups and comedians. I can see the stage with May, Mulcair, Trudeau and an empty lectern. It would give them a free hand go after Harper policies and promises without a rebuttal.

He isnt avoiding the debates, he is refusing to attend debates led by a biased media consortium.

http://www.michaelgeist.ca/2014/10/broadcaster-copyright-misuse-collusion-criticism-governments-political-ad-copyright-exception-may-pointed-wrong-direction/

[poochy]

They should start planning the debates now, without them. They'll join up pretty fast if they're planning to take part.

You also seem to have missed the point, where is it written that the CBC and the media consortium has to organize and televise the debates? That same consortium tried to deny the conservatives fair use of their own news clips (something they had a right to) and maybe they are getting paid back for it now. Blame the bias of the CBC led consortium. http://www.michaelgeist.ca/2014/10/broadcaster-copyright-misuse-collusion-criticism-governments-political-ad-copyright-exception-may-pointed-wrong-direction/

[Big Guy]

There is no official "debate" committee or rules, timing, questions etc. Each campaign camp will manoeuver trying to get the best scenario for their candidate. TV stations will be looking for their best time slot.

I think I will start the debate season - We have scheduled a debate for any party leaders interested for August 20, in Crushed Nuts Saskatchewan in the basement of the Methodist Church at 6:00 p.m. The debate will be followed by a full muskrat dinner prepared by the Ladies Supper Club. Donations will be accepted. No shoes, no socks, no service.

[Michael Hardner]

You also seem to have missed the point, where is it written that the CBC and the media consortium has to organize and televise the debates? That same consortium tried to deny the conservatives fair use of their own news clips (something they had a right to) and maybe they are getting paid back for it now. Blame the bias of the CBC led consortium. http://www.michaelgeist.ca/2014/10/broadcaster-copyright-misuse-collusion-criticism-governments-political-ad-copyright-exception-may-pointed-wrong-direction/

Well, the other parties seem to be ok with it. If the Conservatives hate TV so much, then they don't have to go on it I suppose.

[Keepitsimple]

Chances now seem pretty good that we'll end up with some interesting debates and hey, the major networks will be sending camera crews to all of these debates anyway.....it's a proven money-maker through good viewership and advertising. And who knows, maybe one of the major networks will be able to come up with a decent proposal. In any event, looks like we'll be seeing more debates, not less. Good news all round.

[On Guard for Thee]

Having just watched QP with Harper in attendance for the first ti in a while, I can see why he would like to duck debates. Had I not been actually able to see Harper with his lips moving, I would have sworn it was either Calandra or Poilievre spewing out the mind numbingly redundant, totally transparent, non answer talking points. They can obviously stay with a script but Mulcair can think on his feet, and those talking points wont play well, especially when the audience would likely be much larger for such a forum as people are making up their minds who to vote for.

[Shady]

They really do need to come up with a new format to the debates. It just ends up being a free-for-all where everybody talks over everybody else.

[PIK]

We will know if the debate is full of softball questions for trudeau. He has a lot of explaining to do, we will see. And may does not deserve to be there.

[On Guard for Thee]

For my money I think a series of one on ones would be better. Less distractions from chatter would allow listeners to focus, and would hopefully be more edifying as to policies.

[Freddy]

We will know if the debate is full of softball questions for trudeau. He has a lot of explaining to do, we will see. And may does not deserve to be there.

I hope he smokes a big bat right before the debate

[poochy]

Well, the other parties seem to be ok with it. If the Conservatives hate TV so much, then they don't have to go on it I suppose.

The fair use issue was specifically directed at the conservatives after Peter Mansbridge complained that his interview with Trudeau containing some gaffe or other, was used in an ad against Trudeau. There is no question this was attack against the conservatives, now i don't know if that is what spurred this latest decision, but i wouldn't doubt it. Anyway, the conservatives have committed to debates, just not organized by this same CBC led consortium, so you don't seem to be paying attention when you say that "if the Conservatives hate TV so much, then they don't have to go on it I suppose."

Edited May 12, 2015 by poochy

[scribblet]

A good piece by copyright lawyer Howard Knopf on the fact that media themselves are now starting to become part of the story. The documentation seems to suggest a planned political attack against the Conservatives by Canadian major media news outlets, coordinated by CBC; all the while knowing their position on copyright and attack ads was legally weak . So just maybe, this is why the CPC wants a different way of running the debates.

http://excesscopyright.blogspot.ca/2014/10/copyright-and-political-ads-inisght.html

[Topaz]

Does it really matter if Harper is in the debates with the others? Harper's words are worth nothing because as Manning said, words mean nothing to Harper. Besides, this will give the greater majority who don't vote for Harper to get a better idea of the others. Harper doesn't like being upstaged on debates and he knows the NDP leader can make him look bad. Let Harper go on alone and keep going right out the door!! Would he come if Election Canada held it, probably not.

[poochy]

Does it really matter if Harper is in the debates with the others? Harper's words are worth nothing because as Manning said, words mean nothing to Harper. Besides, this will give the greater majority who don't vote for Harper to get a better idea of the others. Harper doesn't like being upstaged on debates and he knows the NDP leader can make him look bad. Let Harper go on alone and keep going right out the door!! Would he come if Election Canada held it, probably not.

Umm, there will be debates, he will attend, they wont be run by this biased, colluding, consortium. The NDP have already agreed to two of them. Which makes your entire post irrelevant.

[cybercoma]

A good piece by copyright lawyer Howard Knopf on the fact that media themselves are now starting to become part of the story. The documentation seems to suggest a planned political attack against the Conservatives by Canadian major media news outlets, coordinated by CBC; all the while knowing their position on copyright and attack ads was legally weak . So just maybe, this is why the CPC wants a different way of running the debates.

http://excesscopyright.blogspot.ca/2014/10/copyright-and-political-ads-inisght.html

This is insane conspiracy theory nonsense that has no basis in reality. Keep your blogspot articles to yourself and come back with some credible sources of information.

[Bryan]

This is insane conspiracy theory nonsense that has no basis in reality. Keep your blogspot articles to yourself and come back with some credible sources of information.

It was widely reported at the time.

http://www.torontosun.com/2014/10/19/media-consortium-takes-on-tories

But a bombshell access to information document released this month shows senior executives at the CBC, CTV, Global and CityNews actually do have secret conversations, and send confidential e-mails to each other, co-ordinating and manipulating their policies.

In that 137-page document, these media executives call themselves the "Consortium," and they are led by Jennifer McGuire, the head of news for the CBC.

[cybercoma]

Imagine, Sun News reporting that the other news outlets are conspiring against them.

[Bryan]

137 page document where the other outlets refer to THEMSELVES as the Consortium, and go into detail confirming almost everything the Sun had been saying all along.