It started last week with Warren Kinsella's Dec. 14 editorial The Viral Campaign against Stephane Dion. According to Kinsella, lyrically-challenged Tory bloggers are ultimately responsible for the 'smear', but it all started with Ezra Levant:
My friend Ezra Levant, a long-time conservative (and Conservative) activist, revealed the "news." Wrote he in the Calgary Sun: "When it comes to making decisions about the war on terror, and Canada's role in Afghanistan, will Dion be unduly influenced by France, a country that has taken up the role of lawyer and arms dealer for every terrorist state in the world, even defending Saddam Hussein until the eve of his overthrow?"
Then another "friend", Pierre Bourque picked up the story and ran it for a while on Bourque Newswatch, which apparently inspired Conservative bloggers (who are supposedly so unpatriotic as to not even know the words to 'O Canada') to cover the story with such unrelenting force that MSM was cowered into running the story and demanded a response from Citoyen Dion.
First of all I have to say that if all these guys are "friends", I'd hate to see their enemies!
But anyway, today we have a response by Ezra Levant in the Post, "Dion's citizenship was real news".
Levant's position is that he was merely pointed out facts whereas Kinsella has been known to do a little 'smearing' himself, and should therefore get off his high horse:
In his book, Warren described his own TV appearance during the 2000 election -- where he mocked Stockwell Day's purported belief in creationism by holding up a stuffed dinosaur -- as his crowning political moment. How can distorting and ridiculing Day's Christianity be acceptable, but pointing out the incontrovertible fact of Dion's foreign citizenship be beyond the pale?
Did Warren Kinsella ever consider the remote possibility that he himself is responsible for perpetuating the unwanted media focus?
BTW, I think Mr. Kinsella owes all Blogging Tories a personal recital of "O Canada" - by heart.
21 comments:
I'll can even torture you with my French version, learned as a young lad in the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets.
That was nothing more than Warren's backhanded attempt to try and incite a response from the BT's . Yawn!
As Levant said in today's column - Welcome to the bigs Dion.
That was nothing more than Warren's backhanded attempt to try and incite a response from the BT's
Well, I guess I fell into his trap.
I'd love to hear your version 'en francais'. Perhaps you could set it up on your blog as a little Christmas feature? How about a video on BT-TV?
That would be awesome, Paul!!!
Johanne, not that I'd like to take Kinsella's side here, but I think there's a large difference between having a dual citizenship and believing that the world was created little more 5,000 years ago.
but I think there's a large difference between having a dual citizenship and believing that the world was created little more 5,000 years ago.
Agreed. The former affects your potential decision making ability towards one or both of the countries, the latter is irrelevant in poltics.
That was nothing more than Warren's backhanded attempt to try and incite a response from the BT's
I disagree Paul, it was an attempt to paint us a un-patriotic. It means, I think, that Kinsella is back on board the good train Liberal and it is a sign of what's to come.
Next election, expect lots of "they aren't patriotic," nonsense.
EZRA ENDORSED TED MORTON FOR ALBERTA PREMIER EVENTHOUGH HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE US AND IS A US CITIZEN. EZRA IS AN UNPRINCIPLED LOSER LOOKING FOR A HEADLINE.
Brian, it will be difficult for the Libs to call the Conservatives unpatriotic when they have a French citizen as their leader. Their issue will be the Environment. (Even though their leader blew it on the environment) Go figure!
Having waited for Paul Martin and his ilk to fade out, yes, Kinsella is back on the gravy train.
He did have some kind words for Stephen Harper over the last few months and that's what made me check out his blog. But now, the tide will soon be turning. I don't have much time for a guy who "loves that man" Jean Chretien and defends him every chance he gets. That's pretty much indefensible in my books.
Anon at 09:50:43 AM EST - I had to delete your comment due to language. It doesn't offend me personally, but I have some sensitive readers. ;)
Perhaps you could rephrase it without the four-letter words? Thanks.
Anon at 11:35:00 AM EST - I have to think that there is a difference between someone running for a provincial party vs. someone who could become Prime Minister and have a great deal of control over foreign policy.
«BTW, I think Mr. Kinsella owes all Blogging Tories a personal recital of "O Canada" - by heart.»
Agreed - but he has to do the original French CANADIAN version.
Anonymous said...
«EZRA ENDORSED TED MORTON FOR ALBERTA PREMIER EVEN THOUGH HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN THE US AND IS A US CITIZEN.»
I think you've missed Mr. Levant's original point. France has been a "contrarian" in the fight against terrorism. E.g., France is about to withdraw its troops from the NATO mission in Afghanistan.
And what about commercial disputes that may arise? Given the anti-globalisation movement in France led by such people as José Bové, there are bound to be trade disputes between the two countries. Should the PM have to recuse himself from dealing with such problems if he holds dual citizenship? Paul Martin had to "sell" his holdings in CSL to his sons because of a possibilty of conflict of interests. Shouldn't the PM be a full-time PM?
But I thought Dion was a flip flopper and political opportunist for selling out his own mother, by offering to renounce his French citizenship if necessary. Has that changed? Did I miss an update from BT Central?
Besides it won't make much of a news story. Just some words. Too bad he can't turn in his passport to the French President. He never had a French passport. And that voter registration card. Too bad he doesn't have one to give back, since he's never voted in a French election.
Well Lib Sup is right.....
Much ado about very little...Levant stirs the pot...Bourque stirs some more.....Kinsella has a melt down because His Boy is getting some heat.
Now mud slinging and name calling abounds!
I actually thought Kinsella was going for laughs when I read his article...but seems he really is hurt.
Boo Hoo Warren! Want me to send you a towel?
Now mud slinging and name calling abounds!
Well, I guess that flame wars do not have to be restricted to blogs. ;)
Jo ..you have caused me to wet my keyboard with coffee again.....
And BTW - is everyone having trouble commenting?
It appears blooger is not receptive these days!!
I think we should start raising money to send Kinsella on that stupid Mexican cruise that Levant, Frum and their cronies are going on this winter. Now THAT would be fun!
Now THAT would be fun!
Ha! Can you imagine? Who would jump overboard first?
Maybe they could go for a three hour tour.
L.S. - We could take bets on how long they'd last.
The weather started getting rough
The tiny ship was tossed
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The Minnow would be lost.
L.S. - Hah!! So in our fantasy they are all shipwrecked together on Gilligan's Island! This thread just keeps getting better. ;)
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