Conservative ban smacks of hypocrisy

[hiti]

Don Martin, National Post

Published: Thursday, April 05, 2007

OTTAWA - In what can only be spun as the token cleansing of a guilty conscience, the federal Conservatives have decided to ban lobbyists from their campaign war room.

That's serious ingratitude for a government that depends on lobbyists to salvage its controversial messages and lousy media relations, but there are clearly some bedfellows too strange when voters are being wooed for a majority mandate.

What's even stranger is the dramatic attitudinal adjustment in Stephen Harper, who stopped viewing "lobbyist" as a dirty word the minute he became "Prime Minister".

To be clear, there's nothing illegal about lobbying, even under the Accountability Act should the Harper government ever get around to putting tighter lobbying restrictions and reporting requirements under the eye of an independent Commissioner of Lobbying.

And there's also no arguing most lobbyists are far better at communications than any MP and usually more plugged into decision-making than the Conservative backbench.

If reporters want a heads-up on a next day news story or background to a decision, they know better than to chat up the PMO when they can get the facts faster from a plugged-in lobbyist.

But for the Conservatives to suddenly reassert their sanctimonious holier-than anybody disdain of professional arm twisting and message-massaging just for the election is instructive, insightful --and hypocritical.

Perhaps they should heed the senior party official who raised this question in 2006: "How can you be sitting in a room giving advice and then go back to being a lobbyist a week later?"

That Conservative was John Reynolds, future Conservative campaign chair and now a registered lobbyist for a pair of charity causes.

The short answer to his question is, you can't. So why even try?

http://tinyurl.com/27zpam

So this is an example of Steve getting it done....... say what he will do, pass laws and acts and then shelve them instead of implementation of parts of the Accountability Act that interfere with his drive for a majority. This Harperite government is nothing but a Con job........ liars, hypocrites, scamers and con artists.

[hiti]

Hey... where are Steve's shinning defenders?

[Catchme]

Hey... where are Steve's shinning defenders?

They are probably angry, as this shuts down the insipid voice of the theo-con lobbyists from having a say in the 'war room'.

Though, I do not really believe John Reynolds will be shut out of it, he will be included under another hat.

Of course, the military equipment lobbyists have no worries about be excluded either, as they already have their lobbyist holding a cabinet position.

[geoffrey]

Of course, the military equipment lobbyists have no worries about be excluded either, as they already have their lobbyist holding a cabinet position.

Don't be silly. Should Martin have been shut out of the PMO for being one in a long line of Power Corp. lobbyists? Or how about McCallum, he's a former RBC exec that was Revenue Minister... that's a bit of a conflict of interest no?

Realistically, there is alot of oversight so I'm not nearly as afraid of lobbyists as you all seem to be.

My point isn't to justify O'Connor's position (which by the way, hasn't had any real conflict of interests yet... there has been no complaints to the ethics commissioner). My point is to show that all the parties are the same in the end... there is little point in voting for ethics at all.

That being said, the Conservatives haven't sent millions in cash to friends in Quebec to redistribute to their candidates... until that happens, I'm going to say the Liberals have a long way yet to go before they regain the moral highground, if ever.

[fellowtraveller]

So, you are now angry that the lobbyists aren't allowed in the war room?

You just can't please some people.

This article says a lot more about Don Martin than it does about Harper.

[Michael Bluth]

You just can't please some people.

that is the key with some of the anti-harper forces.

Thankfully he only has to please at least 2 out of every 5 voers.

Seems like he is doing that.

[ScottSA]

It's not at all clear to me what the controversy is about. Harper disallows lobbyists in the war room and this is a bad thing? How, exactly?

[Canadian Blue]

Can the Harper haters for once bring about a piece of information that is of substance. This is the same drivel over and over again. I'm not even a Conservative and this is getting tiring.

[Martin Chriton]

So this is an example of Steve getting it done....... say what he will do, pass laws and acts and then shelve them instead of implementation of parts of the Accountability Act that interfere with his drive for a majority. This Harperite government is nothing but a Con job........ liars, hypocrites, scamers and con artists.

So who do you suggest we vote for? The Liberals have shown themselves to be bigger liars and hypocrites.

[Michael Bluth]

Can the Harper haters for once bring about a piece of information that is of substance. This is the same drivel over and over again. I'm not even a Conservative and this is getting tiring.

You have hit the nail on the head.

Look at the article and the comments of the OP.

There is no space for reasonble debate. Harper is evil in their eyes and must be defeated at all costs.

Forget reason or the good of the country.

It really is quite sad.

[hiti]

Quote-But for the Conservatives to suddenly reassert their sanctimonious holier-than anybody disdain of professional arm twisting and message-massaging just for the election is instructive, insightful --and hypocritical. -end quote

So before and after an election campaign it will be business as usual for Steve and his elite. It is only during an election when 90% of the voters start paying attention the the clowns in Ottawa.

Hey it's all the fault of the Liberals. LOLOLOL

[Michael Bluth]

So before and after an election campaign it will be business as usual for Steve and his elite. It is only during an election when 90% of the voters start paying attention the the clowns in Ottawa.

But we aren't in an election now. hmmm