Thursday, January 31, 2008

Dion 'apologizes'

First it's NATO forces in Afghanistan; now it's 'extortion'.

And this guy wants to be Prime Minister?

Wudrick Blog - You think it's easy to make apologies?

Dion apologizes as PM's spokesman demands apology
- CBC

Hunter - Immunity, Immunity.

38 comments:

Anonymous said...

You're trying to compare Dion's "misspoke", using the wrong word, with Buckler's "misspoke", lying about the military not informing the government about detainees?

Dion, as usual, did the right thing quickly and corrected his wording. Unlike MacKay, who never did retract his lie that Dion wants to invade Pakistan!

You know how in blogging we hear about "Godwin's law" in which one can tell when somebody is losing the argument. I think a similar law could be stated to cover silly things like "A lawyer for Dimitri Soudas says he was defamed by Mr. Dion and insisted on a public apology no later than next Wednesday". Are they serious? Boo hoo hoo! Go home to your mommy, Mr. Soudas. And after all the recent moaning about freedom of speech too. Priceless!

Nice try.

Hahahahahaha!

Stephen Taylor said...

he hasn't apologized. He faces the choice of apologizing or being sued.

Anonymous said...

Once again, we are treated to yet another example of what Dion really meant when he screws up.

Look at what happened with Pakistan. How many more times would Dion, as PM, need to "clarify" Canada's position on any given matter on the world stage because he cannot seem to grasp the meaning of his own words?

Dion not being worth the risk is interesting to say as part of an ad campaign, however, it obviously is not anything close to resembling a joke. There is nothing compelling about Dion that would justify that kind of risk. Thank goodness he will never be PM for us to really have to worry about what that would mean.

Platty said...

But Mr. Dion added: "I will choose my words well this time: it appears like political interference."

Has this guy ever got it right the first time?

Too lame and too late with the apology this time Steffi....

Anonymous said...

Wow. Did you read the comments on that globe and mail story in your post? I can't believe there is so much vile hatred in this country for Harper based on absolutely nothing but liberal party propaganda. All those people actualy believe the Conservatives have been a complete and utter failure as a govt. and have done nothing but lie and cheat and steal. What a sad time for democracy we're living in. Can we even win this fight or is our country already lost?

TJS

Burton, Formerly Kingston said...

LS. Well I was no way impressed with Ms.Buckler's initial statement, do you not agree that there is a huge difference between trashing an org or dept and trashing a person. I personally believe there is a huge difference. If Mr.Dion had said the PMO was attempting extortion I would not be half as pissed off as when he said an individual was.
PS Friend, I still do not even see the extortion attempt, it was a meeting, no doubt like the ones we have every day when we are trying to mediate a problem with co-workers or sub-ordinates. I thought that was one of the reason govt officials published there office numbers and emails, so that we can communicate with them.

Anonymous said...

A lot of people are talking about lying, but isn't it just as bad to write an article in the paper and say "unnamed sources", or as Greg Weston has done today "highly placed sources". Unless they can name the source, then just maybe it is a lie too, but it makes good headlines.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

he hasn't apologized. He faces the choice of apologizing or being sued.

Stephen, I guess you mean that he needs to issue a public apology in a media scrum, as the lawyers have requested. I quite agree.

Platty said...

And after all the recent moaning about freedom of speech too. Priceless!

Nice try.

Hahahahahaha!


So, you are equating the publishing of a cartoon to misleading and defamatory statements?

I take it the laugh at the end is a manic one...


==

Gayle said...

I will believe he is going to sue when he actually files the statement of claim in court - which he won't. Kind of like Bains never filed anything after Poilievre stopped mouthing off about "extremists".

You people are really grasping at straws if you think the fact Dion used the term "extortion" is going to resonate with voters more than the fact Harper alleged Linda Keen was willing to risk people's lives because she was a liberal appointee, or alleging Bains had ties to terrorist organizations, or the numerous other remarks that came from a petty little man who cannot control himself when under fire.

In terms of public perspective, voters do not care if the statements are protected by parliamentary priviledge.

Nice try changing the channel though.

This party is desperate.

maryT said...

First Susan Delacourts said it, then Jim Travers said it (both on newman) and now Don Martin has written it. The press has declared war on the government.
That tells me that whatever they say or write will not be the truth.
Still no media outrage over Dion wanting to invade Pakistan, or his caucus leader saying the liberals plan to overthrow the governmemt, and now the word extortion.
Of course Don covers himself with the stmt that reporters do not write the headlines.
Wonder who Don's daughter is working for in Alberta.
In many organizations they have rules that no family members can work together, for conflict of interest. Wonder how many reporters would be out of a job if this applied to them. How many are married, related to, or involved with the liberal party in one way or another. Susan Delacourts husband is supposed to be a liberal strategist. Who writes her questions.

Anonymous said...

From the Don Martin column provided:
"The governing party went wildly vindictive, demanding her head, badmouthing her everywhere and seeking to profit from her mistake through a fundraising campaign so their filthy-rich party could build a CBC-fighting war chest."

It is rather the vindictiveness of the press corps that became very evident the minute Dimitri Soudas began asking reporters to put their name on a list to ask their questions during press conferences, instead of shouting out their questions.
Oh my, a little order equals suppression of the fourth estate.

Some of that same vindictiveness predates the Conservatives' winning of the election. I remember the derision and scorn heaped on Reform and Alliance members by the press all too well.

Some of the Press Gallery pundits on Newman's panel became openly hostile to this government soon after it won the election.
Don Martin, who has joined the panel as a regular, usually contributes little in the way of insight, except what he deems as humour, joining Susan Delacourt in occasional bouts of giggling.

Well, at least it turns Susan's usual frown upside down.

Anonymous said...

let's put ls out of his misery shall we? It's becoming very clear that liberal support depends on which side of the Paul Martin liberals you land, because I see a rift as divide among the party faithful as wide as the Grand Canyon - downside that to our Canadian equivalent.

Interesting that the Liberals tried to spin a little "greek" tragedy of their own...didn't work....and now the spinners and lems. are trying hard to spin their way out in translation.

Lib.Lem.Translation:

When Dion screws-up he "misspoke"
When Harper "misspeaks" it's all about lying.

We'll let that slip for now because anyone with intelligence will understand the cousins of Wiarton Willy will be reliving Groundhog day(and Dion's "misspeaks") for months..and you bet your boots that the Harper camp will help you relive these well into the next election campaign.

Platty said...

You people are really grasping at straws if you think the fact Dion used the term "extortion" is going to resonate with voters..

Oh, I think it will indeed resonate with voters Gayle, when added to the list below,
it will be heard loud and clear.


Telling Canadians, on national television, that you had nothing to do with a CBC reporter or questions that were written for you during an ethics inquiry.

Telling Canadians that, after speaking with President Hamid Karzai, the President said he would be fine with Canadian troops switching to a non combat role.

Telling the people in the riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River they are not capable of choosing for themselves.

Telling Canadians that you witnessed an MP looking at naked pictures of women in the HOC. (Or telling Canadians that you support this accusation)

etc, etc.....



===

Gayle said...

Oh platty. Yet another attempt at deflection.

However, since all those stories you referred to were on the front pages/lead stories for days...or was it seconds...or was it not at all...

Face it - outside the BT world those stories were barely a blip. One of them was not even about the liberals. One of them refers to Dion appointing candidates, when Harper removed a democratically elected candidate simply because that candidate wanted to discuss issues that were relevant to his constituents.

Contrast that with the hyper partisan Harper accusing Linda Keen of willing to let people die because she was a liberal appointee.

(Cue the "MSM liberal bias outrage...").

Anonymous said...

"a fundraising campaign so their filthy-rich party could build a CBC-fighting war chest."

Yeah, yet another cheque of mine is in the mail since yesterday. I am proud to say I am among the 44,000 or so supporters.

LS: Sent any to Dion lately?

Anonymous said...

"First Susan Delacourts said it, then Jim Travers said it (both on newman) and now Don Martin has written it. The press has declared war on the government"

Brian Lahgi and David Akin also confirmed it on MDL yesterday saying that the Dimitri S. situation is "payback" for his keeping the "list"

They said that even though there is no evidence and they really don't think anything improper was going on, they are going to keep it alive because drip,drip,drip.. it eventually resonates with voters.

So basically - the media can lie and make up stories and that is OK....

Real mature press we have in Ottawa.

Sort of shines a light on Gayle's statement

"Face it - outside the BT world those stories were barely a blip"

That is because if it is positive for the Tories - the press will either ignore it or twist and turn to turn it into a negative.

Anonymous said...

"That is because if it is positive for the Tories - the press will either ignore it or twist and turn to turn it into a negative."

Exactly!

As commenter Springer over at ChuckerCanuck's points out, why was this important op-ed by UN Sec. General Ban-Ki Moon not given more prominence?
http://tinyurl.com/2g8fzg (A Lorrie Goldstein column in The Torronto Sun)

If Canadians are indeed asking for an informed debate on Afghanistan, why was this opinion piece not given wider circulation by the media?

Anonymous said...

"Torronto"

Ooops! Toronto, of course.

Anonymous said...

"If Canadians are indeed asking for an informed debate on Afghanistan, why was this opinion piece not given wider circulation by the media?"

I agree!!

I have been making the point that the media is the biggest obstacle in trying to "explain" Afganistan to Canadians.

They do not want it "explained" because it would show that they have not done their job and they have kept hidden all the good that Canada and focusing on negative stories in order to keep up their on-going war with Harper.

And to think that these people are actually paid to lie to us!!!

Anonymous said...

all you have to do is look at the coverage of mckay alluding to stronach as a "dog" for 2 weeks straight...front page no less!!

And then the coverage of the mulroney ethics meetings...each day, everyday coverage, sometimes with special sections...until whispers of collusion between the libs and the CBC came up...and then coverage of the inquiry was all forgotten

but, nope, no bias AT ALL in the media

Anonymous said...

Did anyone see CBC news with Suhanna Marchant

"Gen Rick Hillier will be holding a press conference and we will be bringing it to you live."

cut to the General " I will not be speaking about Detainees etc..."

cut back to CBC Suhanna " Gen Hillier will not be speaking about Detainees etc... so we will not cover his live conference. He may be asked questions about Detainees etc... and we will cover that."

I as a Canadian would have liked to hear what Gen Hillier had to say

Biased reporting I think so.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I as a Canadian would have liked to hear what Gen Hillier had to say

Not enough government-bashing potential for them, I suppose.

Anonymous said...

I would love to hear Gen Hillier say that he was going to sue the papers for using their "sources" to say that he and the PM had a big fight.

Anonymous said...

My apologies for mispelling of Suhana Meharchand

Platty said...

However, since all those stories you referred to were on the front pages/lead stories for days...or was it seconds...or was it not at all...

So your defence of the events I listed is that they are irrelevant because they were not given front page coverage for days on end?

One of them refers to Dion appointing candidates, when Harper removed a democratically elected candidate simply because that candidate wanted to discuss issues that were relevant to his constituents.

Try telling that to the people in the riding of Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, oh wait, Dion already did try telling them that, and do you remember what they said Gayle? That's right, they told Steffi and Ralph to stuff it.

I am amazed at how you can predict, with such confidence, that nothing Dion says will be remembered by Canadians come election day.

I guess all I can say is, great!!

Dion and his supporters remaining confident that he can do and say no wrong, is the best thing that could ever happen to the Conservatives.

I would bet Prime Minister Harper is counting on it.


===

Gayle said...

What I said was that this particular statement from Dion is not worse than what Harper said. In response to that you ignored the things I listed about Harper and instead went on about a bunch of other things about Dion, most of which can easily be countered with "Harper did it too" (or did you forget about the conservative executive in NS that Harper decertified because they would not do what he wanted).

These little scandals of yours will get no traction. Harper is the last person who wants to point fingers at Dion about the term "extortion" given what Dion can throw back at him.

Anonymous said...

"These little scandals of yours will get no traction. Harper is the last person who wants to point fingers at Dion about the term "extortion" given what Dion can throw back at him."

Gayle - you cannot make blanket statements insinuating that the Tories have been involved in "extortion" without providing examples.

I await your response.

Anonymous said...

Gayle - you cannot make blanket statements insinuating that the Tories have been involved in "extortion" without providing examples.

I thought Dion was the one who supposedly has a bad command of English. Gayle was clearly referring to the brouhaha about misusing the word "extortion". Dion has apologized for this misuse. I know you think he should resign as Liberal leader, resign his seat, and be publicly whipped for this heinous crime. Tough. Since he has apologized, you can no longer harp on the statement as somehow defaming anyone. You can certainly say he's "not a leader, not worth the risk" because he misspoke, though as Mr. Van Loan has pointed out, the Commons would be empty if everyone was thrown out who ever misspoke. But you can't claim anyone is being accused of extortion.

You are now trying to make it sound like no such apology occurred, and that there continue to be insinuations of the Criminal Code offense called "extortion". That is simply untrue.

What is true though, is that Mackay's statement that Dion wants to invade Pakistan continues to stand, not retracted, and not apologized for.

maryT said...

Gayle, are you referring to Dion when you mention petty little man who can't handle himself under fire. And, yes the liberal party is desperate. As for voters remembering Dion's misspeak, yes they will. How long ago did Iggy say, We didn't get it done> When was the ad, Not a leader, or not worth the risk air. Still talking about them. Extortion will probably be used in some ad re carbon credits, extorting money from taxpayers. How often have you read, overthrowing the govt, and that stmt was made when and by who.
Yes, those examples will be remembered. And Dion did say invade Pakistan, no matter what your eyes and ears want to hear and see.
The more the press tries to use payback, the more they belittle themselves.
For years the cbc knew viewership was very limited so what they said was not known. Now, with the net, they are learning that they and journalists are becoming aware of their bias. If the message could just get thru to Toronto, this country could really become great.

Anonymous said...

And Dion did say invade Pakistan, no matter what your eyes and ears want to hear and see.
Prove it.

Möbius said...

I think a similar law could be stated to cover silly things like "A lawyer for Dimitri Soudas says he was defamed by Mr. Dion and insisted on a public apology no later than next Wednesday". Are they serious? Boo hoo hoo!

Apparently, Dion (or his lawyer) agrees that he may have defamed him, or he wouldn't have apologized. Good on him for admitting a mistake.

Freedom of speech does not allow for you to defame someone, if proven.

Möbius said...

I know you think he should resign as Liberal leader, resign his seat, and be publicly whipped for this heinous crime.

I don't think so, as much as you'd like that. He should do what he did, apologize, and move one.

Ok, maybe the public whipping.

Möbius said...

The "e" in "move on" is silent, of course.

:)

Joanne (True Blue) said...

The "e" in "move on" is silent, of course.

lol!

Ok, maybe the public whipping.

Let's whip him in an election. ;)

Anonymous said...

Apparently, Dion (or his lawyer) agrees that he may have defamed him, or he wouldn't have apologized. Good on him for admitting a mistake.
Yes. Though from the article, it seemed the apology including the statement that he used the wrong word wasn't enough. More satisfaction was demanded.

Freedom of speech does not allow for you to defame someone, if proven.
It's a little trickier with a public person. You have to demonstrate malice as well. Note the quote from the lawyer's letter claimed "Your defamatory statement was calculated to maliciously disparage our client as a person and as a public official".

In some cases you even have to prove the person was actually defamed. Since the man is already a politician, no court would ever consider anything to have lowered his esteem in anyone's view!

Anonymous said...

Ok, maybe the public whipping.
If we're going for ye olde style remedies, I think the apology would be withdrawn and they'd go for pistols at dawn.

Möbius said...

Let's whip him in an election. ;)

In my non-partisan opinion, that's a given, the sooner the better. And I actually like the guy.

He's still the gift that keeps on giving.