The exact quote (courtesy of CTV) in the context of reaction to a remark by Michael Ignatieff:
When asked about the term "war crime" to describe Israel's action against Hezbollah in Lebanon, Harper told reporters at a press conference on Thursday that he found the usage inappropriate, saying "I don't support that view."
"This is consistent with the anti-Israeli position that has been taken with virtually all of the candidates of the Liberal leadership, and I don't think it's helpful or useful."
Of course the outrage spewed from all Gritty corners. (Well at least there's one thing they can all agree on!)
This whole situation reminds me of Catholic MP's whose voting records often seem to be in conflict with Church teachings and dogma.
Start walking the talk, guys. Then maybe your protests will be more credible.
* * * *
Bob Rae seems especially apoplectic about the Prime Minister's observations.
Is it just because his wife and children are Jewish, or could it perhaps be another desperate attempt to garner sympathy and erase horrible memories of his disgraceful stint as premier from the minds of Ontario voters?
More at D&D - Liberals: Some of our best friends are Jews.
Steve Janke - Cotler's wife dumps the Liberal Party right in the National Post!!!
Saturday Update: Bob Rae - More Jewish than the Jews. Very thought-provoking post at C.L.
43 comments:
Brilliant logic of at D&D: “But now that everyone is scrambling to deny it, we know now that it's true.” So, if I say you and your “conservative” friends are fag-hating bigots and racists and you all deny it, well then I’ll know that you are in fact fag-hating bigots and racists, right? Is that the way it works? Wow. Gotta love that.
Look, Harper’s statement was divisive and reprehensible and just meant to stir up trouble in my opinion. What his exact intention was is a matter of speculation, but it was a pretty baseless acusation unless you can back this up with some facts. Now there would be a concept, huh?
Vicki -- So Bob went skinny-dipping with Rick Mercer. So what? Good for him!
So, if I say you and your “conservative” friends are fag-hating bigots and racists and you all deny it, well then I’ll know that you are in fact fag-hating bigots and racists, right? Is that the way it works? Wow. Gotta love that.
Red, why don't you leave that comment at D&D's?
Hey Red - they difference is that all of these liberals that are now sputtering with righteous indignation actually said things to inimate that they were anti-isreali - including the illustrious Mr. Rae!
Me thinks they doth protest too much.
I like you more Joanne. :-)
Plus you linked to him/her so it didn't seem to make a lot of difference.
Alberta Girl -- Well, I'd like some proof of these intimations of anti-Israel sentiment that you claim exist rather than simply rely on fabrications of your memory.
Vicki -- I don't think there's anything shameful about dropping your pants and going skinny-dipping. You should try it sometime. It's fun. And there's nothing to be ashamed of.
I like you more Joanne. :-)
Awww, gee whiz. *blush*
[Aside to everyone else - With friends like that...]
Back to RT:
The "methinks they do protest too much" comment came to mind right away for me too. However it was D&D's observation about the growing Muslim population in Canada that I found intriguing. I think Liberal sentiments will be cast accordingly.
I'm just waiting for someone to do a Liberal mock-up of Mel Gibson's recent T.V. interview...
OK Red Tory - I have done some searching and will admit that Bob Rae never actually made direct anti Isreal statement, however, in his zeal to play politics he slammed Steven Harper for defending Isreal's right to defend itself and self righteously declared Harper's cautious agreement with Isreal's right to defend itself as somehow wrong - yet he was doing the exact same thing. He is flip flopping as the spirit moves him trying to be all things to all people - yep - he is a true liberal. From what I have read, he and Steven Harper feel the same way about the middle east, so why in the world does he not agree with him - oh, right - he wants to win the leadership so he has to appear all huffy and puffy and try to play the right against the left.
Steven Harper was asked a question by the media - by the biased media - a question they knew would provoke controversy and he answered directly and honestly (something, by the way, both the MSM and Canadians are not used to seeing from our politicians), something that the MSM decided to play up because they know that they sure can't go after the government on all the announcements they are making.
Bob Rae takes the cake with his sputtering and indignation over an honest answer because to me, all the liberal candidates, including Bob Rae were mocking SH defense of Isreal when the conflict first broke out. Yet = from my reading - he feels exactly the same way.
So Red Tory - what gives - is it just politics??
Red Tory said...
Brilliant logic of at D&D: “But now that everyone is scrambling to deny it, we know now that it's true.”
RT - Its the oldest trick in the book. Accuse your opponent of the most heinous thing you can think of and then play both sides of the fence:
If they say something: "We must have hit close to home for him to be so angry"
If they say nothing: "If it weren't true then he surely would have said something by now"
They took a page straight from the Rove playbook.
Alberta Girl said...
Steven Harper was asked a question by the media - by the biased media - a question they knew would provoke controversy and he answered directly and honestly
Well let's evaluate that a little. Taking directly from Joanne's post, heres the question:
When asked about the term "war crime" to describe Israel's action against Hezbollah in Lebanon,
Pretty straight forward question, does Harper believe the term 'warcrime' accurately describes Israels action against Hezbollah? And here's Harper's answer to that question:
Harper told reporters at a press conference on Thursday that he found the usage inappropriate, saying "I don't support that view."
Now he could have stopped there and would have answered the question fully, but instead he chose to take is as an opportunity to paint all Liberal leadership as anti-semitic:
"This is consistent with the anti-Israeli position that has been taken with virtually all of the candidates of the Liberal leadership, and I don't think it's helpful or useful."
Hardly the "direct and honest" answer that you claim it was.
Libs used the 'Cons are anti-gay, anti-womens rights, anti-whatever the lie of the day was'
now Libs are getting some of their own medicine.....gotta love it!
Forcing Libs to come 'out' as even semi-proIsreal will weaken the Muslim vote. mission accomplished.
If Rae wins, expect "The Emperor Has No Clothes" ads.
p l e a s e vote Bob Rae!!!
Wilson, that last one is hilarious! You should post that at C.G.
counter coulter - please - how was that not honest and direct. Stephen Harper has proven again and again that he doesn't answer questions with regards to how it will play out in the media, he doesn't pussy foot around saying lots but saying nothing. The media doesn't know how to handle it.
Besides - this righteous indignation on the part of Jane Taber and her cronies in the media and those in the liberal party is simply a distraction to avoid the fact that once again, Stephen Harper is making an announcement that a. fufills an election promise and b. does something that the former government talked about but - as usual - never implemented.
Cherniak - notice the SH also did not tar all candidates with his statement - he used the words "virtually all" , but of course, this was lost in the rush to angrily deny their feelings.
And speaking of "buzz words" - well the left and their "non-biased" (hahahahaha) MSM cronies are very good at pulling out the buzz words - to refresh your memory - here are a few
George Bush puppet
anti-muslim
the NDP's "hot air act"
far right wing neocon
racists
mean spirited
just a few - so before you get so high and mighty just take a look in the mirror or take a highlighter and go through a newspaper and highlight all the negative "buzz words" that the MSM uses when writing about the conservatives. Then do the same for all the negative "buzz words" they use to describe the liberals and NDP. Or watch Jane Taber as she hosts for Mike Duffy - now there is the queen of all buzz words.
Me thinks you will have your eyes opened.
Bob Rae skinny dipping, now that IS a war crime.
Seems its OK for liberal/dippers to name call or accuse conservatives of anything they want but then they pop a vein and have a shitfit when they get the same. In any case being called a fag hating bigot, intolerant or racist by so called "progressives" is like being called a witch in the middle ages, totally meaningless, unless they try to burn you at the stake.
Red Tory - if you accuse me of being a "fag-hating bigot" (which perhaps I am in your eyes, I don't support SSM), and during my denial I sputter in rage as Bob Rae has done, then you probably can assume you are right. D&D rightly notes the self-righteous scurrying that has occurred as a result of this remark. It sure looks like Harper hit a sore spot with the Libs.
And counter-coulter is too funny! "Accuse your opponent of the most heinous thing in the book". I really didn't know that "anti-Israeli bias" was the most heinous thing one could be accused of. I would have thought "Nazi" or "baby-killer" to be a little more heinous. I actually thought Harper's remark was a pretty mild and accurate description of the Liberal mindset of late. Who knew it was actually an accusation of heinous proportions?
vicki said...
Why is the onus on Harper? Iggy flip-flops, Libs are on record for being anti-Israeli and pro Hez.
What utter nonsense. Please to be providing this "record" of Libs that are pro-Hez. Or is it your contention (which seems to be the conservative equivocation) that anyone who criticizes Israeli action is automatically pro-Hez by default?
Ben said...
And counter-coulter is too funny! ...I really didn't know that "anti-Israeli bias" was the most heinous thing one could be accused of.
I know you'd like to consider it some sort of joke, but I would say that being called "anti-Israeli" (since that's what Harper actually said) would be considered pretty heinous. Just as the JDL how heinous they think the accusation is. Not to mention the fact that the accusation itself is completely baseless and without merit.
Going back to Ignatief's comments....I think the venue was an interesting factor.
Was Ignatief pandering to the sentiments of the Quebec Lefties?
Was he hopeing to curry favour within the overtly anti-semetic communities in the Belle Province?
Seems to me that is exactly what he was doing and probably thinking that no-one in anglo Canada would notice!
Just another Liberal scumbag who will say anything to get a few votes.
As for Harper's assertions of anti-Israel sentiment in the Liberal leadership..since last Augusts Lebanon events there have been many on the left offering words of encouragement and support for the TERRORIST organization Hezbollah!
I have heard or seen NOT ONE Liberal speak out against this!
That's as good as taking an anti-Israel position as is saying it outright.
Only ones taking a stand on this issue are taking the position that Israel is our ally and the victim of attacks be various Arab groups.
Everyone else is waffling at best and thats just spineless BS.
So I say thank you to PM Stephen Harper for taking a stand and for speaking clearly on behalf of Canadians.
PGP - Yes, that struck me too. I don't have any figures handy, but I would suspect that Muslims make up a large part of the immigrant population in Quebec.
Oh man, some of you folks are too precious for words. Blaming the media (yawn), finely parsing Harper’s words (“He didn’t say all, he said virtually all.” Ha. I had a good laugh over that one.) and simply peddling more lies and fabrications as Alberta Girl did to support her baseless accusations. Show me some proof. Provide links to where Liberals have made “pro-Hez” statements or “denied Israel’s right to defend itself.” Show me the money!
Sympathetic remarks from liberals are well documented in the news coverage over the weeks of engagement and continuing on....I don't feel like going over all of that for YOUR edification.
If you think I'm wrong fine....if you want to actually learn something do your own research!
if you want to actually learn something do your own research!
Man, I wish I had said that!
PGP said...
If you think I'm wrong fine....if you want to actually learn something do your own research!
Ah yes, the old "disprove it" method. But you see, debate doesn't work this way. The burden of proof falls on the accuser not the accused. I do find it amusing though when those that make the accusation attempt to shrug their responsibility by attempting to make others prove a negative.
Sympathetic remarks from liberals are well documented in the news coverage over the weeks of engagement...
If it is so well documented then it shouldn't be a problem for you all of those "pro Hez" statements, no?
B/C: for you all = for you to find all
Tango - Yes, that is Irwin's wife
Interesting development, to say the least!
Re, the burden of proof.
I have no intention of spending time looking for examples that I know are abundant.
If you CC think this means that you have in some way WON something ...well you just go right ahead and feel real good about it.
My opinion stands. Harper was stating the obvious.
Further: Today Ignatief is quoted as saying "It's up to International Bodies to determine what is a crime."
Gee Iggy! Yesterday it was up to "I'm an Expert" Ignatief! What changed? You shure you were not just hoping to get some sympathy from the ant-semite segment of Quebec?
Looks to me like that's exactly the case.
Sweater Guy -- You know they’re abundant but can’t bother your snowy head with citing any of them and then you go on to claim that Harper is “stating the obvious.” Man, that is pretty rich.
Ignatieff has stated before that he’s not a jurist and wasn’t expressing a legal opinion but a description of what occurred that was a “war crime” as would most people when dozens of innocent civilians are killed through an admitted error by the IDF. I happen to think he’s right on the technical legal side too, but that is, as he said, up to others to determine.
Anyone read about how the supposed incident at Qana was yet another production of Palli-wood... "Green Helmet Guy" work?
Where was Bob Rae's outrage when Liberal MP Denis Coderre marched at the head of a pro-Hezbollah rally in Montreal along with Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe and PQ leader Andre Boisclair on August 6 2006?
Funny, it reminded me of his stint as Premier. I had forgotten how thin skinned the whole lot of them where:
http://hespeler.blogspot.com/2006/10/bob-rae-is-offended-again.html
Mac said...
Where was Bob Rae's outrage when Liberal MP Denis Coderre marched at the head of a pro-Hezbollah rally in Montreal along with Bloc leader Gilles Duceppe and PQ leader Andre Boisclair on August 6 2006?
This seems to be a rather popular smear that the conservatives keep peddling.
So I'm lazy......
CC, thanks for the links to impassioned denials by libloggers. The next time you post something I disagree with, I'll link a couple of tory blogs and I'm sure you'll accept that as proof positive of the fallacy of your arguments, right?
And proof... remarkably absent.
Come on folks! It's abundant, it’s obvious, it’s everywhere to be found... at least according to your contentions. But strangely, no one can seem to find any of it. Dare I suggest you’re full of shite?
I'm never going to look at you the same way again for calling Rae "disgraceful" for something so harmless.
You're not a conservative, you're a prude. Get a life.
CWTF -- Fortement amusant.
And look... still no proof!
Jason - The "disgraceful stint" referred to the Rae Years in Ontario. I linked to CG at that point because his theory is that the bare-butt dip may have been a diversion. I'm sure it was meant to be tongue in cheek (yuck!).
On the other hand, if I had called that disgraceful, it would be o.k. for you to label me a "prude", and tell me "to get a life"? Interesting.
And somewhat judgemental.
Red, why don't you head over to Zac's, where we're having a similar discussion.
And another one bites the dust.
They're dropping like flies.
Does anybody remember how many Liberal leadership candidates supported Harper's stand on Palestine when Hamas won theelection? Has anybody kept track of how many actions by Hamas fitt the definitios of war crimes? I think the answers to these questions will settle the question of Liberal leadership candidate bias.
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