Today's editorial chastises McGuinty's communications adviser Ben Chin for attempting to intimidate Hamilton's CHCH-TV from running a clip showing Ontario citizen and developer Mike Quattrociocchi asking the Premier a very legitimate question: "What are you going to do about the natives occupying my site?"
I guess that Ben Chin doesn't like it when the Premier looks foolish and unprepared, because he accused the station of setting up McGuinty and proceeded with various threats.
The Post concludes:
Such thuggish tactics are not the way to manage the media. Freedom of the press is a key right in a democracy, one that is especially important during an election. It should not be trampled on by backroom political flacks seeking to censor legitimate political commentary. Mr. McGuinty should apologize for Mr. Chin's over-zealous behaviour and assure CHCH-TV that he will not boycott the station.
It would also be nice if he answered Mr. Quattrociocchi question, too.
Exactly. Instead of trying to blame the Feds and run for cover every time an Ontario citizen asks a legitimate question during the rest of this election campaign, I suggest that Dalton McGuinty actually try to deal with this issue rather than passing the buck to the federal government at every opportunity.
Both levels of government have a role to play, and Dalton's isn't simply to 'keep the peace'.
And BTW, he's not doing a very good job of that either.
Earlier in the day, Sam Gualtieri, 52, was found unconscious on the floor of the home he is building for a daughter. He was taken to hospital where he is in serious condition...
...Gualtieri, 52, of Caledonia, was found unconscious on the floor and rushed to West Haldimand General Hospital in Hagersville. Gualtieri's brother, Joe, said last night his brother was in serious condition with a broken nose and bruised skull. Carter said the victim was to be transferred to a hospital in Toronto because Hamilton hospitals were unable to take him.
"He's barely conscious," said Joe Gualtieri. "He can't communicate right now."
Joe said Gualtieri's wife, Sandy, and his three daughters were at his bedside and described his brother's face as "all smashed in and cut and bleeding."
Ontario deserves a real leader.
* * * *
Related: SDA - See McGuinty threaten media.
Hamilton Spectator - Builder calls Natives' fees 'Mafia Shakedown', and Tory: One Law for Everybody.
Globe - Builder injured in clash at Caledonia site. (H/T National Newswatch):
Star - Homebuilder injured in fight with Indians.
570 News - Aboriginals maintain protest at Ontario housing site; homebuilder in hospital.
And a big thanks to Jack for highlighting this post on his Daily Blogger feature page.
Videos now available at Caledonia Wakeup Call.
Record - Homeowner injured as Aboriginals protest at Ontario housing development.
Brantford Expositor - Occupying the Agenda:
Related: SDA - See McGuinty threaten media.
Hamilton Spectator - Builder calls Natives' fees 'Mafia Shakedown', and Tory: One Law for Everybody.
Globe - Builder injured in clash at Caledonia site. (H/T National Newswatch):
"The Indian was striking him on the head with a two-by-four while he was unconscious."
Star - Homebuilder injured in fight with Indians.
570 News - Aboriginals maintain protest at Ontario housing site; homebuilder in hospital.
And a big thanks to Jack for highlighting this post on his Daily Blogger feature page.
Videos now available at Caledonia Wakeup Call.
Record - Homeowner injured as Aboriginals protest at Ontario housing development.
Brantford Expositor - Occupying the Agenda:
Native land claim protests could quickly become the defining issue of this provincial election campaign and Brantford could become the focus for the contentious issue.
That would be good news for John Tory and the Progressive Conservatives, bad news for Dalton McGuinty and the Liberals and really bad news for Brantford...
* * * *
Saturday Update: This actually doesn't have anything to do with the above story other than it's another example of McGuinty's credibility being questioned: McGuinty on thin ice when it comes to health-care spending (Globe).
26 comments:
Bravo NP!
I knew I liked them for a reason :)
Something missing from the story..
Should we assume that assault charges have been layed...
on anyone...
or are the attackers immune from the law?...
As far as I know, no charges have been laid yet.
Bluetech - From the Globe link updated at the end of the post:
Constable Wright would not say whether the attack was linked to the land dispute, but said the OPP are "conducting a criminal investigation into the situation and all angles will be looked at."
I should hope so.
And the silence across the rest of the MSM is DEAFENING.... not one
searchable reference to Mike Quattrociocchi...
Listen to Jeff Allan right now.
Just as I knew he would, Kinsella is starting to spin the Ben Chin episode. Check out his "musings" today - I bet in a few more days, he will have spun himself into a pretzel!
Sometimes it's better to wait before jumping all over a story - I think ALL people should wait. This is not spin folks.
September 14, 2007 – I am in the unusual position of being friends with Ben Chin and also many of the folks on the National Post editorial board. The latter wrote about the former today, but they did not make reference to the following bit of information, which I probably passed along to them too late. It kind of places the “incident” in a different light, don’t it?
Yes, it certainly does. Ontario Conservative Party executive members being sent out, secretly miked, to confront Dalton McGuinty. They pulled this kind of crap four years ago, and it didn’t work too well for them. Some people never learn.
Is the 2 X 4 beating 'spin' too?
So anon...explain to us how your friend Chin can intimidate a media station?
You are right ...some people never learn.
Great job Joanne and to the National Post also who, had the guts to focus on the REAL story yesterday and challenge the crazed liberal lemmings.
Please take a gander at the diversion tactics being played out on Kinsella's blog.
The Tory's are gaining on the Liberals so Kinsella's trying hard to change channels....again.
Here's the hillarious part though.
The Prince of Darkness, master of Kick Ass is scrambling to keep his leader's negative record from exposure, but making the focus some supposed student plant by the PCs.
McGuinty's record on first nations issues is pathetic and needs to stick.
You know who I was MOST annoyed with this morning? CFRB's Bill Carroll, turned apologist for the McGuinty campaign. Why?
Because he had Mr. Quattrociocchi
on to tell his story, but when Mr. Q. spoke about what Chin did to CHCH calling Chin a donkey(not offensive in my books) Carroll asked for an apology from Mr. Q. for taking a personal shot at Chin.
I've heard Carroll say worse things than that an not apologize.
Don't tell me the Liberal have moved Bill Carroll too?
Chin and the Liberals deserve what they got yesterday and then some.
To anon. 9:52 - The spin is thick.
The Chin and First Nations incident is in no way related to the Mike Colle incident so stop pretending the public are idiots.
How many young liberals do you have dogging the NDP and Tory's exactly?
Read Kinsella's book.....we have.
You've got another convert to John Tory.
Remembering Caledonia and how thanks to the McGuinty liberals we now have two laws...one for first nations and another for the rest of the citizens of this province, will see my vote go to the law and order party.
Thanks to Ben Chin for the bully tactics on CHCH. No one messes with Hamilton.
CHML has just reported that police are now treating the area of the second occupation as a 'crime scene'.
You've got another convert to John Tory.
Good to hear!
One thing for sure - with Dalton you can just expect more of the same.
Please take a gander at the diversion tactics being played out on Kinsella's blog.
I did. Pathetic.
What Mr. Kinsella may not know is that Mr. Philp's - the autor of his little find and no doubt the source - daughter works for Dave Levac the Liberal MPP for the area.
Amazing how they leap to defend one of their own when he &%@$*s up. But dig up dirt on a Conservative that dares to not roll over when his livelihood is at stake. I wonder what they've dug up thus far on Sam Gualtieri.
What Mr. Kinsella may not know is that Mr. Philp's - the autor of his little find and no doubt the source - daughter works for Dave Levac the Liberal MPP for the area.
Oh, thank you Anon for that little tidbit!
JoAnne...can you please clarify the 'piece' that anon just referred to...?
And the longer we wait to hear about charges being layed, the worse it will get.
Hopefully the police are making sure to dot their i's and cross their t's...
In a saner situation, it would not be difficult to charge the attackers.
This is sick, and one reason I'm glad I no longer live in Ontario.
Bluetech, you can read all the sordid details here.
bluetech: Don't blame the police, they know that they will be crucified by the politicians if anything goes wrong (remember Ipperwash).
S.O. - Really? Where are you now. Funny you still keep your handle.
S.O... I don't blame the police...
Like you, I also realise that all the investigating that they do can be ripped to shreds.
Thanks for the link,joanne.
Sorry for the confusion bluetech, just many people on the right seem to be blaming the police along with the politicians on this matter.
I moved where there are jobs a while back, but kept the name as kind of an inside joke. Well.. inside joke for me, mispelling and all because I'm originally from a small 'hick' town, although you really wouldn't guess it.
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