Howard, don't blame Tory - Blame MSM

(Update at end of post)

Howard Hampton seems to be getting somewhat tired of jumping up and down and shouting, "Hey, I'm here too!"

Today he blew a fuse and started blaming reporters and John Tory for diverting attention from the really important issues such as the abysmal state of neglect in many Ontario nursing homes (CNews) - H/T National Newswatch:

With the election less than a week away, Hampton pleaded with voters of all stripes to elect more NDP candidates to the legislature so the Liberals don't end up with another majority government and a "blank cheque" to run the province.


He accused Progressive Conservative John Tory of letting down the province by ignoring the real issues and allowing the controversial debate over whether to provide public funding for faith-based schools dominate the campaign.

While I agree with Hampton that MSM has been guilty of stoking the fires of this emotional Faith-Based funding debate, the last person I would blame is John Tory. He had the idea - yes.

But Dalton McGuinty knew all he had to do was keep pounding at this issue and creating a firestorm of fear, and then it would be an easy slide to victory.

The media, ever hungry for whatever sells papers, hopped on board the bandwagon without a second thought.

Even Conservative bloggers were drawn into the debate, and expressed frustration and anger. I know. I bought into it briefly as well, until I realized how I was being manipulated.

John Tory has been clearly trying to bring forward other issues, but the media seems to want to dwell on just one (Globe):

He (Tory) said he tried to talk about other things but reporters wouldn't play along. "What am I going to say?" he argued. " 'I refuse to answer questions on that today?' How long do you think that strategy would work?"

So Howard, blame the media; blame the spin-masters; blame the electorate for giving into the fear-mongering; heck you can even blame me right now.

But don't blame John Tory for the media's insatiable appetite for the scent of blood.

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Update: Check out Lorrie Goldstein - Hamptons' telling the truth:

McGuinty, he said, "seems to have created his own ideal campaigning ground. You promise anything and everything, you let people down, you create cynicism and then you take advantage of the cynicism." Exactly.

Asked what he could have done to refocus the election on substantive issues, Hampton criticized himself.

"What can I say? I tried, I tried in the leaders' debate to get onto the real issues. I tried since day one to get onto the real issues -- it hasn't worked. So, I don't know what else I could do ... walk naked down Yonge St.?"

Oh, please Howard. At least wait until you're on Rick Mercer!

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Friday update - Star: 'Flatlined' Hampton strikes out at media. ("...Hojo is over...")

Globe - Schools issue has stolen debate, Hampton says.

Sun - Great letter here:

Re "Critics from all sides open fire on Conservative boss" (Oct. 2):

John Tory acted correctly in calling for a free vote on his proposal to allow Ontario's small minority of non-Catholic faith-based schools to join the public education system on terms similar to Catholic schools. Eliminating official religious discrimination that violates international human rights law is obviously necessary -- and the only politically viable way to fix the discrimination is to do so inclusively as Tory proposed.

But the Liberals have opportunistically exploited Tory's proposal for their own political advantage by fanning the flames of anti-religious bigotry and inflaming fears of the social breakdown that will supposedly occur if Ontario brings non-Catholic faith-based schools into the publicly funded and regulated school system. Tory's was a proper reaction, to allow the public debate to continue in a healthier way after the heat of the election subsides.

Michael Orr

Toronto

Very well said. I love that line "opportunistically exploited Tory's proposal...by fanning the flames of anti-religious bigotry..."

Excellent. And true.

Ontario Liberals - The Party of Intolerance

I wonder what Warren Kinsella is thinking this morning about the editorial from the national paper that frequently hosts his column?


Warren, how low can you go? Keep going buddy. Ontario will catch on.

* * * *

Lots more discussion on this topic, such as that from National Post Chairman David Asper, Sandy at Shotgun linking to a piece by Allan Cutler at Step to the Right, and Sandy again here. (That Sandy is one busy lady!)

This is worth a look too. The truth about evolution in Ontario curriculum.

* * * *

Update: I think I've found the solution to this faith-based funding problem - In order to help fund their private schools, all any minority religious group really need do is to ask for a little donation to set up cricket in the curriculum...

Now let's move on to bigger problems.

* * * *

Great post here by James Bow - Not exactly on our side, but something to think about.

Red Rag Op-Ed

This morning's misguided, misinformed Record editorial, "Signal to Whistleblowers" brings me one step closer to canceling my subscription. (Sorry, you'll have to hunt for the editorial because their links are pathetic.)

John Monaghan, a former temporary worker at Environment Canada, was arrested in his workplace Wednesday and led away in handcuffs while his co-workers looked on. Police alleged he had committed a breach of trust under the Criminal Code. He was released from custody a short time later.

Federal Environment Minister John Baird stated plainly that the arrest was meant to be a signal to other government employees that leaks of information will not be tolerated.

Well-meaning, conscientious whistleblowers, it would seem, are not welcome in our federal bureaucracy...

Conscientious? Well-meaning?? Pull-eeze!!!!


The writer not only gets the facts wrong with the reference to "John" Monaghan, instead of Jeffrey (sheesh!), but also glorifies his actions with the label "whistleblower".

The Record isn't the first to do this, but whistleblower conveys an almost martyr-like quality of integrity. It implies courage and risk to self in the face of obvious evil and corruption. Allan Cutler was such a whistleblower.

Jeffrey Monaghan allegedly violated the terms of his security clearance by leaking details of a secret government draft regarding proposed environmental legislation which he did not personally agree with.

"The complaint about the leak came from the department's deputy minister, Michael Horgan, said (Environment Canada spokeswoman Lynn) Brunette."

The information contained in the document would have been made public in due course in any event. This was not a case of brown envelopes of cash being handed over in restaurants. There was no cover-up.

Wikipedia defines Whistleblower as:

"...an employee, former employee, or member of an organization, especially a business or government agency, who reports misconduct to people or entities that have the power and presumed willingness to take corrective action. Generally the misconduct is a violation of law, rule, regulation and/or a direct threat to public interest — fraud, health, safety violations, and corruption are just a few examples..."

Even with the most generous of interpretations, it would be difficult to see the alleged actions of Jeffrey Monaghan as being an example of the above. The Government doesn't expect to achieve Kyoto targets on time? That is the crime? Does the Record seriously believe that the Liberals would actually be able to reach those targets in time without disrupting the whole Canadian economy?

By calling Jeffery Monaghan an alleged "Whistleblower", the Record does a disservice to the real heroes like Allan Cutler.


This editorial isn't just biased - It is an appalling example of irresponsible, shoddy journalism.

* * * *

Update: Meanwhile, Steve Janke asks, Didn't Jeff Monaghan admit to being an anarchist?

More from Ezra Levant, H/T National Newswatch.

Tuesday Update: Or was the problem the result of using temps?

Dion is good at running meetings

I just want to thank Lorrie Goldstein for his column this morning - What Did You Decide, Dion?

At first I thought he was going to talk about whether or not the opposition will attempt a motion of non-confidence since the recently-announced environmental policy is a "scam".

But no, Lorrie was referring to the Liberal ad where Dion is celebrated as having "led 182 countries to a long-term agreement to fight climate change."

The actual meeting results were a bit more sketchy according to Robert Henson's account in The Rough Guide to Climate Change. Goldstein does give credit to Dion for keeping the meeting process from falling apart. But what else did Stephane Dion accomplish as Environment Minister, other than running meetings with flair and watching "Canada's greenhouse gas emissions increase at almost twice the rate of the U.S."?

I can't think of a thing.

But that's not actually why I'm so grateful to Lorrie for this morning's editorial. The real reason is that he finally deciphered what Dion said in the end of the commercial as he triumphantly pounds his gavel on the desk to the thunderous applause of those around him. - "Decided".

I honestly thought he said "Silence". Silly me.

Thanks Lorrie.

Long live the mole

CTV reports that "according to insiders", Sudbury MP Diane Marleau cautioned the Liberal caucus yesterday in a closed-door meeting, against loose-lips and how this can adversely affect party polling results.

The elephant in the room, of course, is that a few members obviously didn't quite understand the substance of the message.

What does the LPC REALLY think about Liz?

From this morning's Globe (H/T National Newswatch):

“Environment is the only issue,” said one of the leader's key strategists, who asked not to be identified.

“It is exploding in the public's imagination. We need people to know Stéphane understands the issue … [now] the Green Party Leader says he should be prime minister. We are getting our shit together…part of it is Elizabeth May.”

Double heh.

* * * *

Update: Speaking of bathroom talk, check this out. And to think that I actually used to like Sheryl Crow. Sad.



Tuesday Update: We've been had, folks! Turns out little Sheryl made a funny.

I wonder if that was before or after she couldn't find a public washroom with toilet paper? H/T to Dust My Broom (All I wanna do is wipe my bum).

Thou Shalt Not Besmirch the Grits...

...anyone one else is fair game.

Today's National Post Editorial (Dear Stephane: Be a Man), highlights Stephane Dion's outraged hysteria over the Prime Minister daring to suggest that "the opposition seems to care more about the rights of Taliban detainees than the safety of our troops in Kandahar".

So Steffi then called Stephane Harper a 'bully'. The Post then goes on to outline other instances when the Liberals did their own 'bullying':

Since last fall, the Liberals have labelled Mr. Harper a Neanderthal over his government's cuts to the Status of Women Canada budget; implied he is racist for axing the $5-billion Kelowna agreement on native funding; claimed he is anti-democratic for "stacking" the committees that advise on judicial nominees; accused him of "undermining our Canadian values system" by eliminating funding to the left-leaning Court Challenges Program; and suggested he was homophobic for reviving the debate on same-sex marriage. They have called him a "control freak," "Bush-lite," "deceitful" and a practitioner of "Republican voodoo economics."

I might add to that that the Prime Minister of Canada has even been called a "Political Whore" by a sitting Liberal MP; albeit not in the House itself. I even asked Garth if he was planning to apologize. His response was:

Of course he (Harper) completely prostituted his Reform principles. That’s fact, not character assassination. He executed himself. — Garth

So, I suppose if the accuser believes the statement to be true, then no apology is required.


And yet, we now have Post columnist Jonathan Kay, the National Post itself, and others being served libel notices over Kay's piece about alleged Liberal backroom deals. Jonathan defended his position in the Post's Full Comment blog back on Feb. 28.

This morning I asked Mr. Kay if he was planning to comment about this latest development, but he replied that he has "been advised not to make any statement". However, he did thank me for my note.


The Big Red Liberal Machine is worried, folks. They are demoralized by their glaring mistake in electing a 'whimp' as a leader and by polls showing rising support for the CPC.


- And just like a cornered animal, the LPC is lashing out in anger and fear.

* * * *

Update: More at Backseat Blogger.
Halls of Macadamia - More CTV Bias (The Liberal MSM is getting a bit freaked out too).

The Stephen Taylor has a great post - The Code of the Centre Block Schoolyard.

And Jack has an awesome rant tonight! - "Wimpy Little Guy, isn't he?".

Things could get ugly

National Newswatch reports that several Liberal MP's including Gerard Kennedy are serving notice of libel against the National Post, Jonathan Kay and "John Doe".

Can a journalist be forced to reveal his source?

* * * *

More at Canadian Blue Lemons.

Jack's Newswatch - The Handwriting is on the Wall.

And an older link to the Navdeep Bains story, which is all intertwined (TDH).


Also, in the March 26 issue of Western Standard, there is a very interesting article titled "Stephane Dion's Turnaround on Terror", by Kevin Steel. He refers to Jonathan Kay's National Post op-ed "citing unnamed sources who claimed deals that played out at the Liberal convention were cut months in advance, and included support from Sikh, Tamil and Muslim organizations, in exchange for a promise to water down the ATA". The Liberals of course, denied all this.

But this is compelling:

"In a email to the Western Standard, Kay writes that he stands by his unnamed source, who he claims is a person very high up in the Liberal party." (pg.26)