Why Is McKay On The Hot Seat?

betsy · February 21, 2006

Peter McKay said he thinks the hostages are alive and well. Everyone is castigating him for saying that. That he endagered the lives of the hostages. Endangered how?

Why was that such a "wrong" thing to say?

geoffrey · February 21, 2006

Peter McKay said he thinks the hostages are alive and well. Everyone is castigating him for saying that. That he endagered the lives of the hostages. Endangered how?
Why was that such a "wrong" thing to say?

Because it came from a Conservative?

Who is everyone? Where are you reading/seeing this?

betsy · February 21, 2006

Peter McKay said he thinks the hostages are alive and well. Everyone is castigating him for saying that. That he endagered the lives of the hostages. Endangered how?

Why was that such a "wrong" thing to say?

Because it came from a Conservative?

Who is everyone? Where are you reading/seeing this?

The Liberal and NDP strategists from M Duffy!

...and CBC radio.

Spike22 · February 22, 2006

Reality is no one knows their condition apparently. I am sure they are working the issue the best they can and it is really discouraging no doubt not haveing the answers for the family and Canadian people.

BubberMiley · February 22, 2006

It's a stupid thing to say that shows his lack of experience and poor judgement. You never, ever make statements about the condition of hostages until they have been released. Otherwise you put yourself at a disadvantage because the terrorists think you must now save face and will do anything to ensure their safe release.

gerryhatrick · February 22, 2006

Peter McKay said he thinks the hostages are alive and well. Everyone is castigating him for saying that. That he endagered the lives of the hostages. Endangered how?
Why was that such a "wrong" thing to say?

You CANNOT be serious. If you don't think a story like this:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...Story/National/

is....shall we say "unhelpful", then you're not much on international politics or personal respect (for the families).

He is speaking as a Minister of our Government now...the Foreign Affairs Minister. If he thinks musing about the state of hostages and referring to "information" to that matter is innocent chit chat then he's got a learning curve he needs to get to work on.

The media cannot be blamed. They reported his comments as follows:

"“The most up-to-date information that we have leads us to believe that there will be — and we remain very optimistic — a safe release of these individuals,” he said in an interview."

OBVIOUSLY that is going to be interpreted as "information" the Government of Canada has rather than public domain information.

Surely you see that?

shoop · February 22, 2006

You aren't making a case for why it is unhelpful. Seriously...

You CANNOT be serious. If you don't think a story like this:
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...Story/National/

is....shall we say "unhelpful", then you're not much on international politics or personal respect (for the families).

gerryhatrick · February 23, 2006

You aren't making a case for why it is unhelpful. Seriously...

You CANNOT be serious. If you don't think a story like this:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...Story/National/

is....shall we say "unhelpful", then you're not much on international politics or personal respect (for the families).

Well, I guess Peter McKay himself realizes it. He apologized to the families today for the very reason I expressed above. Guess I not only "made the case", it's proved true:

MacKay apologizes for raising hopes of hostages' families
Last Updated Wed, 22 Feb 2006 11:28:54 EST

MacKay phoned the families of James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden to apologize, saying there were no new developments.

The Loney family says it has accepted the apology.

http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/20...ckay060222.html

Next time you're planning on jumping to the defense of someone purely for partisan reasons, stop and ask yourself if it's such a good idea. Consider all the gloating that will happen when the obvious truth is established and you end up looking....well, blindly partisan!

gerryhatrick · February 23, 2006

Peter McKay said he thinks the hostages are alive and well. Everyone is castigating him for saying that. That he endagered the lives of the hostages. Endangered how?
Why was that such a "wrong" thing to say?

See my last post betsy. Same advice for you.

shoop · February 23, 2006

You never did make the case that MacKay's original statement was unhelpful.

That he showed the class to ease the parents concerns that might have come from this misunderstanding is far from providing an *obvious truth*. The misunderstanding being the newness of information to which he was referring.

See you don't get it, because the Liberals never act with class. Or explain their attacks. They just go into a second round when the prols don't take their pronouncements from the mount as gospel truth.

Next time you're planning on jumping to the defense of someone purely for partisan reasons, stop and ask yourself if it's such a good idea. Consider all the gloating that will happen when the obvious truth is established and you end up looking....well, blindly partisan!

August1991 · February 23, 2006

That he showed the class to ease the parents concerns that might have come from this misunderstanding is far from providing an *obvious truth*. The misunderstanding being the newness of information to which he was referring.

I agree.

The hostages have family. If you had cancer, how would you feel if a doctor said that maybe the cancer was benign? How would your family feel?

I suspect that Mackay, as an ordinary person, is an optimist. But I think that he should keep his optimistic thoughts to himself when he speaks with the authority of government. When Mackay speaks now, the family of the hostages are not hearing Mackay; they are hearing the Canadian Government.

----

Hostages? IMHO, anyone who goes to Iraq now is making a personal choice. The Canadian government (me, you and our taxes) has absolutely no obligation to do anything for their welfare.

I think the Canadian government should make this plain to everyone.

If a Canadian is mugged in Caracas, the Canadian Embassy should help - maybe. If a Canadian is kidnapped in Baghdad, the Canadian Embassy should do absolutely - I mean, absolutely - nothing.

The Canadian government (and Mackay as our spokesperson) should make this plain to everyone.

Hicksey · February 23, 2006

That he showed the class to ease the parents concerns that might have come from this misunderstanding is far from providing an *obvious truth*. The misunderstanding being the newness of information to which he was referring.
I agree.
The hostages have family. If you had cancer, how would you feel if a doctor said that maybe the cancer was benign? How would your family feel?

I suspect that Mackay, as an ordinary person, is an optimist. But I think that he should keep his optimistic thoughts to himself when he speaks with the authority of government. When Mackay speaks now, the family of the hostages are not hearing Mackay; they are hearing the Canadian Government.

----

Hostages? IMHO, anyone who goes to Iraq now is making a personal choice. The Canadian government (me, you and our taxes) has absolutely no obligation to do anything for their welfare.

I think the Canadian government should make this plain to everyone.

If a Canadian is mugged in Caracas, the Canadian Embassy should help - maybe. If a Canadian is kidnapped in Baghdad, the Canadian Embassy should do absolutely - I mean, absolutely - nothing.

The Canadian government (and Mackay as our spokesperson) should make this plain to everyone.

People should be required to sign a waiver saying they are going 'at their own risk'.

There's a point where even going somewhere to offer humanitarian aid is excessively risky and just a stupid thing to do. That's not to say that person's heart isn't in the right spot, just that their mind isn't there with it.

Spike22 · February 23, 2006

That he showed the class to ease the parents concerns that might have come from this misunderstanding is far from providing an *obvious truth*. The misunderstanding being the newness of information to which he was referring.
I agree.
The hostages have family. If you had cancer, how would you feel if a doctor said that maybe the cancer was benign? How would your family feel?

I suspect that Mackay, as an ordinary person, is an optimist. But I think that he should keep his optimistic thoughts to himself when he speaks with the authority of government. When Mackay speaks now, the family of the hostages are not hearing Mackay; they are hearing the Canadian Government.

----

Hostages? IMHO, anyone who goes to Iraq now is making a personal choice. The Canadian government (me, you and our taxes) has absolutely no obligation to do anything for their welfare.

I think the Canadian government should make this plain to everyone.

If a Canadian is mugged in Caracas, the Canadian Embassy should help - maybe. If a Canadian is kidnapped in Baghdad, the Canadian Embassy should do absolutely - I mean, absolutely - nothing.

The Canadian government (and Mackay as our spokesperson) should make this plain to everyone.

People should be required to sign a waiver saying they are going 'at their own risk'.

There's a point where even going somewhere to offer humanitarian aid is excessively risky and just a stupid thing to do. That's not to say that person's heart isn't in the right spot, just that their mind isn't there with it.

Yes these toilets of humanity should be avoided. Definitely not a vacation destination.

"Welcome to my country, now slip into this hood and keep you eyes shut now please. - YIKES"

BubberMiley · February 24, 2006

You never did make the case that MacKay's original statement was unhelpful.

He didn't, but I did. And Mackay apologized for it. So what's your point again?

gerryhatrick · February 27, 2006

It's a stupid thing to say that shows his lack of experience and poor judgement. You never, ever make statements about the condition of hostages until they have been released. Otherwise you put yourself at a disadvantage because the terrorists think you must now save face and will do anything to ensure their safe release.

Exactly.

Drawing attention to hostages is unhelpful, to say the least. Shoop is kidding himself; and losing credibility, to claim otherwise.

It's stupid on many levels besides just the false hope he provided to the families.

Hey Betsy & Shoop, have you heard the latest?

Canadian hostages are alive: MacKay
BRIAN LAGHI

OTTAWA BUREAU CHIEF: With a report from Canadian Press

Two Canadian hostages kidnapped in Iraq while performing development work are believed to be alive, Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay says

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/sto...PStory/National

MacKay confident of Iraq hostages' release
Feb. 20, 2006. 09:47 PM

OTTAWA (CP) — Canada believes its human-rights workers being held hostage in Iraq will be safely released, Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay said Monday.

The latest intelligence suggests four Christian Peacemaker Teams members, including two Canadians, are "very much" alive, MacKay said.

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentSe...72154&t=TS_Home

margrace · February 27, 2006

It's a stupid thing to say that shows his lack of experience and poor judgement. You never, ever make statements about the condition of hostages until they have been released. Otherwise you put yourself at a disadvantage because the terrorists think you must now save face and will do anything to ensure their safe release.

What else would you expect from Wink Wink, nudge, nudge lying McKay???

shoop · February 27, 2006

You have no credibility gerry. Oh no don't accuse me of wearing a tinfoil hat. :lol:

The only mistake McKay made in this one was giving the families false hope. He called them personally and apologized for the misunderstanding.

That shows a level of class and sincerity that the Liberals just don't understand...

This story hasn't had legs because of McKay's kind move to correct his mistake.

Exactly.
Drawing attention to hostages is unhelpful, to say the least. Shoop is kidding himself; and losing credibility, to claim otherwise.

It's stupid on many levels besides just the false hope he provided to the families.

BubberMiley · February 27, 2006

The only mistake McKay made in this one was giving the families false hope. He called them personally and apologized for the misunderstanding.

If I were a hostage, I wouldn't want you or McKay speaking about my condition. Neither of you seem to have a clue how to handle a hostage situation.

shoop · February 27, 2006

Well I am guessing most hostages would want the Minister of Foreign Affairs to be involved in the attempts to rescue them.

But I guess for you blind partisanship is more important than your personal safety. :lol:

If I were a hostage, I wouldn't want you or McKay speaking about my condition. Neither of you seem to have a clue how to handle a hostage situation.

BubberMiley · February 27, 2006

But I guess for you blind partisanship is more important than your personal safety.

No, Mackay jeopardized their personal safety by discussing it in the media and acting all confident that they would come home safely. At least he has advisors that know enough to tell him to make a quick apology. At least they aren't as partisan as you; they can admit when mistakes were made.

Spike22 · February 27, 2006

One of many this guy is apt to make. Remember daddy Elmer MacKay ugh.

shoop · February 27, 2006

Uhhh, didn't I say that MacKay made a mistake in giving the families false hope? And said it was good that he apologized so quickly?

What exactly is your point about blind partisanship?

No, Mackay jeopardized their personal safety by discussing it in the media and acting all confident that they would come home safely. At least he has advisors that know enough to tell him to make a quick apology. At least they aren't as partisan as you; they can admit when mistakes were made.

BubberMiley · February 28, 2006

You brought up blind partisanship; I directed it back that you wouldn't and still won't admit that Mackay made a potentially grave error and risked the hostages lives.

shoop · February 28, 2006

I admitted that he made a mistake by raising false hopes in the families. Which he apologized for.

I haven't seen anything pointing to him endangering the lives of the hostages. Not one MSM source I have seen has made that case. Where are you getting this from?

You brought up blind partisanship; I directed it back that you wouldn't and still won't admit that Mackay made a potentially grave error and risked the hostages lives.

BubberMiley · February 28, 2006

Straight from the last bastion of truly balanced reporting in this country.

MacKay apologizes for raising hopes of hostages' families

Last Updated Wed, 22 Feb 2006 11:28:54 EST

CBC News

Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay has apologized to the families of the two Canadian hostages being held in Iraq after suggesting he had new information about their fate.

MacKay was criticized for speculating publicly about their welfare in a way that could raise the hopes of relatives of the hostages, and for making comments that might further endanger the hostages.

But anticipating that you can't accept anything the CBC reports, can't you see how saying the hostages will likely be released safely is like saying the terrorists aren't serious with their threats? And can't you see how, by saying that, the hostages might be therefore endangered?