The perfect Paul Martin Moment

Argus · December 14, 2005

Martin was out buying a wreath the other day, with the reporteres along for the photo op. But then a reporter jokingly asked him if it was a Christmas wreath or a "holiday" wreath.

"Simple Question. Martin's reaction? You know how a deer looks when it's caught in the headlights just before a truck hits it? That's what our 21st Prime Minister looked like. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence in which you could see Martin struggling to come up with a safe, inoffensive and politically correct answer, he finally blurted out "It's a $240 wreath!" Ha, ha, ha."

How sad. Our Prime Minister, a man of 67, a Christian (Catholic) and a succesful businessman before entering politics can't bring himself to utter the word "Christmas" in the context of buying his own family a Christmas wreath."

Lorrie Goldstein - Sun media

normanchateau · December 14, 2005

Remarkably reminiscent of the deer-caught-in-headlights look of Stephen Harper when he was asked if he loved Canada.

shoop · December 14, 2005

He is pretty pathetic. So beholden to the left-wing of the Liberal party that he can't even say Christmas. What sort of Catholic is he....

Our Prime Minister, a man of 67, a Christian (Catholic) and a succesful businessman before entering politics can't bring himself to utter the word "Christmas" in the context of buying his own family a Christmas wreath."
Lorrie Goldstein - Sun media

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normanchateau · December 14, 2005

He is pretty pathetic. So beholden to the left-wing of the Liberal party that he can't even say Christmas. What sort of Catholic is he....

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Yes, it's an outrage alright. Almost as bad as Harper not being able to say he loves Canada. Personally I have no problem saying I love Canada but I prefer not to be greeted with the ubiquitous "Merry Christmas".

Leafless · December 14, 2005

normanchateau

You wrote- " Almost as bad as Harper not being able to say he loves Canada. Personally I have no problem saying I love Canada but I prefer not to be greeted with the ubiquitous Merry Christmas."

Love- "An intense feeling of deep affection or fondness for a person or thing."

I would say, I to would be unable to express those kind of seniments especially after being left in the destructive hands of the Liberals for to many years of merry making.

But, for the Prime Minister of Canada unable to express (non-religious) sentiments concerning the Christmas season with the word "Christmas" is totally unacceptable especially on the North American continent where the spirit of Christmas will live on long past the date of expiry of Mr. Martin existence.

Judaism's Hanukkah has developed a similar traditon of gift giving. Christmas has some acceptance even in the Islamic world where Jesus is regarded as a prophet. Many secular aspects of Christmas are becoming common in developed Muslim nations.

The Christmas season is celebrated many different ways around the world and is celebrated in India, Japan, China, hong kong, Macao, Philippines, Taiwan, Mexio, U.S. and CANADA, Australia, New Zealand, Czech Repuplic, Poland, Slovaia, Russia, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Finland, U.K., Ireland.

So Mr. Prime Minister it's perfectly O.K. to say "Merry Chritmas" without feeling your making an ass out of yourself. Say it and make all Canadians happy rather than feeling like Christmas rejects in a land famous for it's Christmas festivities and for many in combination with "the birth of Christ."

normanchateau · December 14, 2005

I would say, I to would be unable to express those kind of seniments especially after being left in the destructive hands of the Liberals for to many years of merry making.

Apparently Stephen Harper shares your sentiments given his inability or lack of desire to say he loves his country.

kimmy · December 14, 2005

Probably Harper's reluctance to address the question was because he couldn't believe it had been asked by a real reporter, and not by a four year old, a head-trauma victim, or a mental retard put there as a plant by Rick Mercer.

-k

scribblet · December 14, 2005

Martin was out buying a wreath the other day, with the reporteres along for the photo op. But then a reporter jokingly asked him if it was a Christmas wreath or a "holiday" wreath.
"Simple Question. Martin's reaction? You know how a deer looks when it's caught in the headlights just before a truck hits it? That's what our 21st Prime Minister looked like. After a few moments of uncomfortable silence in which you could see Martin struggling to come up with a safe, inoffensive and politically correct answer, he finally blurted out "It's a $240 wreath!" Ha, ha, ha."

How sad. Our Prime Minister, a man of 67, a Christian (Catholic) and a succesful businessman before entering politics can't bring himself to utter the word "Christmas" in the context of buying his own family a Christmas wreath."

Lorrie Goldstein - Sun media

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I saw that bit on the news, it caught Martin by surprise. What a putz, and what a mess we are in when we cannot even say Merry Christmas publicly.

BubberMiley · December 14, 2005

I think Martin was simply unwilling to give a serious answer to a ridiculous question, so he had to plan a reaction--think of something funny to say. On that, he was maybe not so successful.

Martin would look more foolish if he appeared to take seriously a question so obviously derived from the FoxNews "War on Christmas."

I would give Harper the same benefit of the doubt. It's sometimes difficult to react to obviously foolish questions, and I'm sure that during his pause after being asked whether he loved Canada, he was just thinking "WTF?"

Argus · December 14, 2005

I think Martin was simply unwilling to give a serious answer to a ridiculous question, so he had to plan a reaction--think of something funny to say. On that, he was maybe not so successful.

Given the fuss over the "holiday tree" vs "christmas tree" at the governor General's not very long ago I would think questions about "Christmas" vs "Holidays" would be foreseen and planned for. It certainly should not have taken them by surprise.

Canuck E Stan · December 14, 2005

$240 for a wreath? How about a $40 wreath and the rest to feed some homeless.

BubberMiley · December 14, 2005

There's the scandal. I bet that $240 wasn't coming out of his pocket.

Sully · December 14, 2005

Yes, it's an outrage alright. Almost as bad as Harper not being able to say he loves Canada. Personally I have no problem saying I love Canada but I prefer not to be greeted with the ubiquitous "Merry Christmas".

You can say you love Canada, but you do mean it Norman?

Like a lot of "I love this and I love that nowadays" its really just all talk, too much talk not enough substance.

I challenge you to somehow prove to me that you really love Canada? Can you prove to me that you love this country, I doubt it. I think you are all talk and I guess you want Harper to be just like you.

BTW "MERRY CHRISTMAS" Norman, yes I am not afraid to say its part of my culture, which is just as important as anyone elses. CHRISTMAS, hmmmmm CHRIST-MAS, hmmmmm the reason we celebrate this time is cause of hmmmmmm CHRIST-MAS, get it..................there is a reason behind this holiday, just as holidays have reasons for many different peoples. I am sure you would defend them with all your might, so why not CHRISTMAS......just have to look behind all the commercialism to see it has relevance....

normanchateau · December 14, 2005

I think Martin was simply unwilling to give a serious answer to a ridiculous question, so he had to plan a reaction--think of something funny to say. On that, he was maybe not so successful.
Martin would look more foolish if he appeared to take seriously a question so obviously derived from the FoxNews "War on Christmas."

I would give Harper the same benefit of the doubt. It's sometimes difficult to react to obviously foolish questions, and I'm sure that during his pause after being asked whether he loved Canada, he was just thinking "WTF?"

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BM, you've either forgotten or not yet learned how we play the game on this discussion board. You're not supposed to say that both leaders were simply unwilling to give a serious answer to a ridiculous question. There are only two acceptable responses here when Martin and Harper are being discussed. One is "Martin bad, Harper good". The other is "Harper bad, Martin good". Perhaps you don't know this because you're still a "Junior Member" as indicated by the two blue squares near your name.

BubberMiley · December 14, 2005

Yeah, Norm, but unlike Leafless, I love Canada no matter who's in charge.

normanchateau · December 14, 2005

I guess you want Harper to be just like you.

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I wouldn't wish that on anyone...not even Stephen Harper.

scribblet · December 14, 2005

Yeah, Norm, but unlike Leafless, I love Canada no matter who's in charge.

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Don't you think veryone loves the country they happen to be born in, no matter who is running it. We might not like the political shenanigans but disliking a party and wanting to change its policies does not translate into 'hating 'Canada'. This is another liberal tactic; they can't use the hidden agenda crap anymore, so now its anyone who doesn't agree with a liberal - 'hates Canada', or if you really tick them them off, you are 'racist'.

BubberMiley · December 14, 2005

I realize Leafless's writing style leaves a lot to be desired in terms of being able to understand just what he's getting at so it probably slipped past you, but I'm just referring to the following quote from earlier in this thread that was defending Harper's apparent inability to feel the love.

Love- "An intense feeling of deep affection or fondness for a person or thing."
I would say, I to would be unable to express those kind of seniments especially after being left in the destructive hands of the Liberals for to many years of merry making.

Slim MacSquinty · December 14, 2005

He must care a lot or why else we he subject himself to all the crap from the lefties.

My stomach turns everytime I hear the Libs yapping like the only real Canadians are Liberals. Never trust a politician who wraps himself in the flag.

sharkman · December 14, 2005

As interesting as Martin's feeble response was the non coverage it got in the media. None, since most of the liberal MSM are just fine with Christmas disappearing and Martin leading the charge.

BubberMiley · December 14, 2005

Yeah, Christmas is on its way out, man. You hardly hear about it anymore. I think most right-wingers are embarrassed to even be associated with the crusaders fighting the "war on christmas".

Leafless · December 14, 2005

BubberMiley

You wrote- " Yeah, Norm but unlike Leafless, I love Canada no matter who's in charge."

The initial question "do you love Canada" was a moronic question to begin with as it is not a fundamental question relating to how one feels about ones country.

To say 'I love Canada' is related more or less to a sexual aspect relating to the first five or six definitons of 'love' and therefore a better word could be used to detirmine and describe feelings towards a 'country' rather than a 'person' the word love is normally associated with.

Mr. Harper probably would have felt better with a question directed concerning his feelings as being how PATROTIC he is to Canada which in all good sense would not be ask anyway assuming naturally a leader of a national federal party would naturally be patriotic to Canada.

I am also patriotic to Canada but feel the ingredients to this important quality is being diluted to a meaningless word under Liberal leadership.

I think initially this was inappropiate question and wonder if this reporter was from Quebec and if not was a dumb question only a Liberal leader would respond to with so many negative variables attached to that question.

sharkman · December 14, 2005

Yeah, Christmas is on its way out, man. You hardly hear about it anymore. I think most right-wingers are embarrassed to even be associated with the crusaders fighting the "war on christmas".

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Wrong, again, Bubber. I think you need to be a little closer to the right in your ideology to actually know what righties are thinking on Christmas, you pot crusader!! At any rate Christmas is still the most highly anticipated holiday of the year, judging by the amount of Christmas shoppers in any mall this time of year.

BubberMiley · December 14, 2005

Leafless, I think I made the same basic point as you (though more concisely) when I said:

I would give Harper the same benefit of the doubt. It's sometimes difficult to react to obviously foolish questions, and I'm sure that during his pause after being asked whether he loved Canada, he was just thinking "WTF?"

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cybercoma · December 14, 2005

Yeah, Norm, but unlike Leafless, I love Canada no matter who's in charge.

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Don't you think veryone loves the country they happen to be born in, no matter who is running it. We might not like the political shenanigans but disliking a party and wanting to change its policies does not translate into 'hating 'Canada'. This is another liberal tactic; they can't use the hidden agenda crap anymore, so now its anyone who doesn't agree with a liberal - 'hates Canada', or if you really tick them them off, you are 'racist'.

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Same tactic employed by the US Conservatives. Odd.