It seems the Executive Vice-President of the Liberal Party of Canada Mike Klander thought it would be hilarious to post a picture of Olivia with a Pekinese dog and claim they're "Separated at Birth"

He took down his whole blog once the media got a hold of it but you can view the google cache here.

And here's a Liberal you can write to [email protected] demanding that Mr. Klander immediately resign.

I'd CC Olivia Chow's campaign as well, and forward them any responses: [email protected]

For the record - these are the people who strategic voting protects.

EDITED to fix errors.

[ 24 December 2005: Message edited by: TCD ]

Pay no heed to this small, small man.

quote:

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Originally posted by nevermind:
silly silly man, not worth taking seriously...

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quote:

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Jack Layton...A-hole of the Week

I'm going away for a couple of days so I thought I would find something smart and witty to put up on my blog before I left. Unfortunatley I couldn't think of anything so I just want to say that I think Jack Layton is an asshole... for no reason other than it makes me feel good to say it...and because he is.

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It looks like there was a call from HQ ordering this dimwit to take down his blog.

[ 24 December 2005: Message edited by: Albireo ]

quote:

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Originally posted by nevermind:
silly silly man, not worth taking seriously...

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Edit: this was cross-posted with spiffy above. Note that he is the provincial Lib riding ass. president. They've been losing there to Marilyn Churley of the NDP for years.

[ 24 December 2005: Message edited by: Albireo ]

"This is an election campaign. This dork just shot himself an albatross; time to hang it around his neck while it putrefies. If being a racist scumbucket prick is so important to this a-hole that he can't stop doing it in public in the middle of an election campaign, he deserves to personally and as representative of the political party he holds a very high position in have it rammed down his throat. Let's see what the Chinese Canadian voters think about top-rank Liberals acting like this, or about the fact that nobody in the party restrained him. I say publicize the hell out of it, especially in the ethnic presses and radio stations and in Olivia's riding."

Who is reading his blog? Obviously it is only intended for Liberals.

Clearly he has no respect for the civilized discussion of what is needed to meet the challenges facing us right now. It is shocking and sad that these people are the "leaders".

[ 24 December 2005: Message edited by: a citizen of winnipeg ]

I don't think racism should be "ignored" and anyone who thinks this guy's idea of humour is accepatble should be ashamed of themselves. This is something I'd expect to find on a Heritage Front website.

I won't be satisfied with any less than his resignation.

[ 24 December 2005: Message edited by: TCD ]

Pathetic, desperate, disgusting. What is particularly amazing is that such a petty and shockingly shallow thinker could be the Executive Vice-President of the Liberal Party of Canada!

quote:

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Originally posted by spiffy:

for clarity's sake, he's executive vp of the liberal party of canada (ontario), not the whole federal party.

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quote:

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As a senior political organizer Mike played a significant role in building Paul Martin's Leadership organization in Ontario. Prior to joining Martin's team, Mike helped build a national organization for Brian Tobin and also served as his Campaign Manager in Ontario.

As Executive Director of the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario) Mike was responsible for managing the day to day affairs of the Federal Liberal Party in Ontario. In that capacity he served as Ontario Campaign Director during the 2000 Federal Election Campaign. In his eight years with the organization he held several other positions including Field Organizer, and Director of Field Operations.

An organizer in every federal and provincial election campaign since 1988 Mike has developed a comprehensive understanding of the political process and how government operates. Building on that experience, he established Klander and Associates; an independent government relations practice representing clients both in Ottawa and at Queen's Park.

Mike has served and continues to assist numerous clients including Research in Motion, Inco, BFI Canada, Imperial Tobacco Canada, The Greater Toronto Home Builders Association, the International Union of Operating Engineers and the Air Canada Pilots Association.

As a volunteer Mike sits on the Board of the Ontario Special Olympics and Rose Cherry's Home for Kids. He is also Executive Vice-President of the Liberal Party of Canada (Ontario).

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[ 24 December 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

1. Being dragged out to a Liberal rally, lied to so I'm there 30 minutes early, and then forced to stand in a hot room that's way too small to give the appearance that everyone wants to be there.

2. The terms "culture of entitlement", "adscam" or "whistleblower"...blow this!

3. Harper being flanked by the sexy Rona Ambrose at every opportunity

4. Harper being flanked by the ethnic Rahim Jaffer at every opportunity

5. Anyone who tells me that the only poll that counts is the one on election day

6. The media's overuse of the terms "vote-rich", "seat-rich" or "battleground" Ontario

7. Candidates who tell me that their "dedicated" and "committed" - yeah so what! So was Stalin

8. The 10 day break during Christmas...I celebrate Christmas for two, maybe three days, it not like we're fasting in the desert or something

9. Talk of a Liberal "breakthrough" in BC...I've heard it before

10. Olivia Chow”

11. Being busted in the MSM as an example of the arrogance and ignorance of the Liberal Party and having people all across Canada ask that I resign, that is, get off of the Liberal’s, self-described, “big comfy fur rug”.

quote:

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Originally posted by spiffy:
for clarity's sake, he's executive vp of the liberal party of canada (ontario), not the whole federal party.

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Evidently being paralyzed from the neck down is hilarious. In this post he mocks Steven Fletcher.

quote:

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Quadriplegic Conservative MP invites health minister to "take this outside" ... This is funny so stop pretending that its not...stop being so politically correct will you?

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quote:

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Originally posted by Hephaestion:
Has anyone forwarded this thread to Paul Wells, Warren Kinsella, CBC, CTV, Globe & Mail, etc. etc. yet? This should be publicized all to hell.

BTW... where's Maxx to give us the "official Liberal spin" on this?

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Good question, Heph. But I must admit to being puzzled as to how you judge Maxx an obvious Liberal troll but not RealityBites.

quote:

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posted by Hephaestion: Nevertheless, he seems pretty well connected ...

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I wonder if any of the other LPC-Ontario executive members have blogs?

quote:

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Elected to the LPC(O) executive were: Elaine Flis, re-elected as Vice-President (Communications); Howard Stevenson (Treasurer); Vice-President (Policy) Kim Doran; and Georgina Bencsik (Multiculturalism – the first time LPC(O) has elected that position.). Newly elected Eastern Region Vice-President Neil Kudrinko succeeds long-serving V-P Norma Lamont.

Acclaimed to their positions were: Executive Vice-President Mike Klander, a former Executive Director of LPC(O); Secretary Rob Jamieson, previously Executive Vice-President and recently a candidate for the Party in Renfrew – Nipissing – Pembroke, and all of the other regional Vice-Presidents, mostly incumbents. Mike Crawley continues his term as LPC(O) President.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Kevin_Laddle:
That is so rude and downright disrespecful. The Liberal Party is turning into a disgrace.

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In fact I found the one I just posted to be much more offensive.

Just in case you're wondering where I found it, look near the bottom of this thread. Sorry but I don't know how to link to a particular post on a thread.

[ 25 December 2005: Message edited by: abnormal ]

[ 25 December 2005: Message edited by: Makwa ]

[ 25 December 2005: Message edited by: Makwa ]

quote:

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Originally posted by abnormal:
In fact I found the one I just posted to be much more offensive.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Maxx:Olivia's last name always makes me think of chow chow...

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quote:

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Originally posted by abnormal:
By the way, I do like the blog.

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Sometimes I don't have any idea what I am doing here. I really don't. I think I am just irritating everyone, who is in some kind of special club with special rules that I don't understand. Then again, I feel like that everywhere.

[ 25 December 2005: Message edited by: Makwa ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Maxx:
Olivia's last name always makes me think of chow chow...

Klander's post is a bit silly, but I don't see how it's racist.

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You don't see it because you are a blithering idiot.

quote:

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Originally posted by fern hill:

You don't see it because you are a blithering idiot.

p.s. I'm sending an email to Michelle on this.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Maxx:
Olivia's last name always makes me think of chow chow...

Klander's post is a bit silly, but I don't see how it's racist.

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You know Maxx, this thread is a prime example of one where a Liberal apologist should, if he can't bring himself to condemn ANYTHING the party does, should have the grain of common sense required to SHUT THE FUCK UP.

quote:

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Which blood vessels would Susan Murray and John Duffy be popping if they'd discovered a Conservative moron comparing an Asian-Canadian candidate to a dog?

Fortunately it wasn't a Conservative at all. And until just now I didn't think the guy in question was a moron. It was Mike Klander, a senior executive in the Liberal Party of Canada; Paul Martin's senior leadership organizer in Ontario; the muscle the Grits sent in to roll over Sheila Copps in Hamilton in '04; and riding-association president to Tony Ianno, who's running against Olivia Chow, whom Klander smears here.

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quote:

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Originally posted by S1m0n:
Betcha he was drunk.

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quote:

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It just seems immature and nasty.

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Immature? Yes. Nasty? Yes.

To be truly honest the first thought that came to mind when I saw the other thread title was that it was a comment on Olivia's appearance. (I know, I'm a sexist pig - my wife tells me that daily. ) Would anyone have titled a thread that way if it had been Lindsay Lohan for example?

But more to the point, everyone seemed to feel the post comparing Ms. Rice to a monkey was okay but somehow got offended when someone made a not so witty pun on Olivia's last name. While I'm not a fan of either individual I think the comment re Ms. Rice is an order of magnitude worse than the Chow Chow remark.

[ 25 December 2005: Message edited by: abnormal ]

quote:

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Originally posted by abnormal:

...I think the comment re Ms. Rice is an order of magnitude worse than the Chow Chow remark.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Hephaestion:
I in no way intended it to be a racial stereotype, and if anyone took it that way, I regret it and apologize *most* sincerely. 'kay?

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quote:

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Originally posted by fern hill:
You don't see it because you are a blithering idiot.

p.s. I'm sending an email to Michelle on this.

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Yeah, Maxx, y'know, if you can't see the problem with comparing Olivia Chow to a Chow Chow, then I don't know what to tell you, except that your comment goes past Liberal apologist (which is fine - there's no rule saying you have to be NDP on babble) and into offensiveness. Watch it.

I don't think you're a racist but I do think that there seems to be a serious double standard on Babble. I chuckled when I saw your original Separated at Birth post and would have been very surprised if anyone took offense. However, when people went ballistic about an admittedly tasteless pun on Olivia's name I felt obligated to dig it up. Is it okay to pick on Ms. Rice because she's a Republican but unacceptable to pick on Olivia because she's NDP? Why is one okay and the other isn't? Especially since the Condoleeza post is actually much more offensive than the Olivia post?

quote:

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Originally posted by abnormal:

Is it okay to pick on Ms. Rice because she's a Republican but unacceptable to pick on Olivia because she's NDP? Why is one okay and the other isn't? Especially since the Condoleeza post is actually much more offensive than the Olivia post?

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[ 25 December 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

quote:

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Originally posted by The Baboon:
I don't see calling Olivia Chow is any different from calling George Bush a chimp.

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And if anyone should know, it's a baboon.

I think the difference between what Heph posted and what this guy posted was that Heph posted a picture of both Bush AND Rice which turned into chimps. It's true that comparing black people to apes has been an age-old racist stereotype, but it might not have been so readily apparent in a picture with both Bush (a white person who is constantly being compared to a chimp not because of his race but because of his troglodyte views) and Rice. I think it would have been immediately apparent in a picture with just Rice in it, if she were compared to an ape, due to the traditional racist slur that would invoke.

Calling Bush a chimp isn't racist if you ask me - there is no racist stereotyping involved. Calling Rice a chimp is, because she is black, and that is a traditional stereotype of black people. The picture of them together being compared to chimps - well, I think that probably the first association white people will make is the usual (non-racist) Bush=chimp because of his political views and extend that to Rice in that particular picture.

On the other hand, a person of colour who looks at that picture might just see Rice=chimp first due to the racism they deal with on a regular basis, and immediately see a racial slur in it - which is why I understand why people would really dislike that picture, and why it's probably a really bad idea to post it.

(Just so you know, I never saw that picture before it was mentioned in this thread.

As for black people calling other black people "house niggers" - I'm so far from qualified to talk about that, that I wouldn't dream of commenting on it. I think it would make an interesting discussion though. I wouldn't condemn a person of colour for saying that. I don't think I'd use the term myself, though - it's a much different thing coming from a white person.

[ 25 December 2005: Message edited by: Michelle ]

quote:

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Originally posted by abnormal:

I guess that means it's okay to use racial epithets if you disagree with somebody's opinion?

Now who here was doing that?

How about this one. Seems a black government senator, who happens to have his own radio show, disagreed with one of his black callers and proceeded to call them a "house nigger". Where do you draw the line?

Y'know what? That's exactly the phrase used by Wari to describe the Log Cabin Republicans. "House Niggers". I rather dislike that word myself, but used in a phrase such as that, it carries very definite conotations, much as "Uncle Tom" does. And I fully understood why he used the phrase. Personally, I wouldn't use that phrase, but I'm not about to get shirty with Wari for using it.

Where do you draw the line? Well, I guess it's a line we all have to draw for ourselves. Some people here don't like me referring to LGBT people as "queers", some people get offended when others use the words "dykes" or "fags" (even if the person using those words is homosexual). I'd say it's not a hard-and-fast rule, and the person's intent must be taken into account. Funny, though, I don't think Klander was meaning anything but a derogatory slur, based on ethnicity, with his posting.

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[ 25 December 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

[ 25 December 2005: Message edited by: Tommy_Paine ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Michelle:
Bush (a white person who is constantly being compared to a chimp not because of his race but because of his troglodyte views)

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quote:

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his individual facial configuration

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I do remember that during a previous election campaign, someone ran an ad with a picture of Chretien and a caption to the effect "I this the face of the man you want to be your Prime Minister?" There was an incredible uproar because it was deemed to be an attack on the handicapped.

Fast forward to the last election. I saw similar things about Belinda (generally that she was a pretty face). Sexist crap at best. But no outcry. Here or elsewhere.

Mocking a Chinese last name is offensive. Let's be honest, if a kid with the name Chow was called a Chow Chow as an insult, by a playground bully, they'd get a real talking-to about racism.

Besides, when the blog is so filled with hate for Jack Layton and Olivia - I don't see how you can square Klander comparing a woman politician to a dog. It was done hatefully and misogynistically in my opinion.

Not to mention the homophobic comments about politicians looking "too gay."

I encourage everyone to email the Ianno campaign and call for a Liberal apology on these comments. To clarify - Klander is obviously not just a provincial Liberal. He is the executive vice-president of the Ontario branch of the Federal party - this is the Martin Liberals, separate from the McGuinty liberals.

quote:

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Mocking a Chinese last name is offensive.

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quote:

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Originally posted by abnormal:

The defense seems to be that it's okay to use racial slurs if the individual in question holds offensive views. Yeah. Right.

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quote:

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Originally posted by abnormal:
I do remember that during a previous election campaign, someone ran an ad with a picture of Chretien and a caption to the effect "I this the face of the man you want to be your Prime Minister?" There was an incredible uproar because it was deemed to be an attack on the handicapped.

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Comparing Bush to a monkey is different than making fun of someone with Bell's palsy. BTW, the PCs were the *someone* who ran the ad. I don't believe the Democratic Party has made ads making fun of Bush for looking like a monkey.

quote:

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I saw similar things about Belinda (generally that she was a pretty face).

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What exactly? Were there ads?

[ 26 December 2005: Message edited by: knuckles ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Tommy_Paine:
Appology? Screw that. Call him out as a coward, a bully, a big bag of shit, and give him a little chin music.

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I think I agree - just don't know what chin music is.

quote:

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Originally posted by a citizen of winnipeg:
9. Talk of a Liberal "breakthrough" in BC...I've heard it before

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I think he's more or less ensured that won't happen. Wait til the BC Asian media responds to these slurs. Say goodbye to a few Liberal seats.

quote:

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Originally posted by pencil-skirt:
Mocking a Chinese last name is offensive.

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How?

Mocking a person of Chinese ancestry for being of that ancestry, that's racism.

But making a very unfunny pun on someone's name?

Is Mul-Ruin-Eh -- taken straight from a PS union campaign from the second Mulroney term -- anti-Irish?

Crouton or Cretin -- is that anti-French?

[ 26 December 2005: Message edited by: Kinetix ]

quote:

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Originally posted by pebbles:
Mocking a person of Chinese ancestry for being of that ancestry, that's racism.

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That's what this 'joke' is doing. He's comparing her to this dog because of her epicanthal folds and her name being similar to this breed's name.

He got the dog picture from here, btw.

[ 26 December 2005: Message edited by: knuckles ]

quote:

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Bull. Shit. There was *nothing* racial intended, and I have plainly stated as much, as well as apologizing if *anyone* took it that way.

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I don't think you meant anything racial by your Separated at Birth post. I simply dug it up because people are taking offense over the Olivia post and I just pointed out that if you're going to take offense at one you've got to take offense at the other.

Others have said that the Rice post was okay because her views are repulsive. The comment you're responding to was actually a comment re the use of terms such as "house nigger" to describe people who's views you disagree with [if it's okay when someone holds repulsive views please define what's repulsive for me?]

posted by pebbles:

quote:

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Mocking a person of Chinese ancestry for being of that ancestry, that's racism.

But making a very unfunny pun on someone's name?
...
Crouton or Cretin -- is that anti-French?

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In the first place, Klander was clearly referring also to some imagined facial resemblance as well as mocking a name that is, to him, foreign. And then he mocks a quadriplegic for being a quadriplegic.

It doesn't matter what anyone else has done. Someone else's sins don't get Klander off the hook for being, clearly, a foul-mouthed, smart-mouthed, vulgar racist, and I'm really shocked that abnormal in particular is working so hard to do that.

As Michelle says, the double photo of Bush and Rice might be more ambiguous to white people but let's not do it again, eh?

I personally have long crusaded against animal metaphors for the evildoers among us. To me, that is always unfair to the animals. No way I admire either Bush or Rice as much as I admire your average chimp. And toads and pigs are great wee critters. Watch it, everybody. Or I will complain to the moderators on behalf of the critters.

quote:

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Originally posted by Ghost of the Navigator:
While I'm disgusted by Klander's slur against paralysed people in general, it's hard for me to feel much sympathy for Fletcher himself, given that the man is an avowed atheist with a history or making slurs against religious people and agnostics and of supporting homophobic policies. (Pretty odd for a Tory, but I suppose a bigot has no business being in the NDP and no rational quadripalegic would want to be in the party of Marc Garneau...)

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When or where did Fletcher claim to be atheist? It's usually the other way around, in that religious people make unkind comments about gays.

What do you mean by stating "no rational quadriplegic would want to be in the party of Marc Garneau? Do you know anyone with a spinal cord injury? Perhaps you should stop making such assumptions and stereotypes. If a person sustains a SCI, s/he is unlikely to change their political
views because of that. In other words, if they were a Tory or Liberal before the SCI occured, chances are they will stay a member of the party
they belonged to. It's an outrageous statement you have made about 'rational quadraplegics'.

[ 26 December 2005: Message edited by: white rabbit ]

quote:

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Originally posted by Vansterdam Kid:
Also, coming from a person who condemend an NDP candidate with the old guilt by association trick, isn't this comment about not taking the Liberal man seriously a little hypocritical? I mean jeesh, executive vice president of the Liberal Party. It's really quite disgusting that a person like that would be in such a position.

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Ah nothing like the tow the party line, paint the messenger to be a hypocrtic/racist and whatever else you can do to hide the issue...as Paul Wells has pointed out this is generally a trick by the Maritinites and perhaps the Layton's are just as good at it...

The man who made the comment was silly...I don't know if he was being, racist, sexist, nasty or trying(and failing) at being humorous or all of the above...his days as a power brokers in the Grits are done...and everyone from all parties sees him as a moron...

Difference is Sid is taking the endorsation of a man who thinks Tom Wappel is the perfect politico...

I am as left as anyone on this forum...but the hypocrisy of the left has always made me sick...it's not generally the working class left that are hypocrits...but rather the silver spoon ones, who have their own pet causes...

Thing I love about this site is seeing all of the sanctiminous, holier than thou posters turning one someone for having the audicity to hold a none tow the line opinion...and then showing elitism on critism someone not for their thoughts but for spelling or perceived gramatical errors....

Now we have NDP candidate Olivia Chow being compared to a dog and not in an idiomatic sence 'she's a dog (ugly)' but actually comparing her to a dog. I know that many people are dog lovers but in some cultures to call someone a dog is a real insult. I tool the picture as a way of saying that Olivia Chow is a b--ch.

quote:

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Originally posted by nevermind:
Thing I love about this site is seeing all of the sanctiminous, holier than thou posters turning one someone for having the audicity to hold a none tow the line opinion...and then showing elitism on critism someone not for their thoughts but for spelling or perceived gramatical errors....

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quote:

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Originally posted by eire1:
Recently we had Liberak 'Star' Candidate Marc Garneau being quoted as saying handicapped people are a waist of space

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What he said was bad enough without you pretending he said something worse.

Furthermore, considering some people sub-human is hardly unique to the Liberal Party. What the fuck do you think NDP "star" candidate Ed Schreyer meant when he called gay people an affliction?

At least Garneau had the brains to offer a half-hearted apology. More than can be said for Schreyer.

[ 26 December 2005: Message edited by: RealityBites ]

I think the racial slur may have been accidental on the way to something else.
It is clearly a sexist comment comparing a woman to a dog-- he just picked the breed that had a similar name in order to make the claim that it was "humour".

What is wierd that in all the huff taken about whether or not the racial slur was meant or not or is serious or not, there is no possible doubt about the intended sexist underpinning of the post. Why is he being let away with this -- the part that is so clearly the intended pupose???

Why would any person who finds sexism offensive ever want to vote Liberal -- it seems the party has no gone much past -- bum-patters-are-us....

I find the Rice morph to be racist too, because of the history of calling black's apes.

quote:

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Originally posted by eire1:
Recently we had Liberak 'Star' Candidate Marc Garneau being quoted as saying handicapped people are a waist of space

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Apparently his comments were made two decades ago. I'm sure many people of all political backgrounds held such views 20 years ago.

quote:

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Originally posted by RealityBites:

I think I agree - just don't know what chin music is.

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It's either a Mickey Spillaneism or Framk Millerism for repeated application of the fists to someone's chin.

You can finesse, extrapolate, wax phillosophic over some issues, but once and a while you have to ask yourself:

quote:

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... just don't know what chin music is.

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"Chin music" is an expression used in baseball -- as in, brushing someone back from the plate by throwing a high hard inside pitch that comes close to hitting the batter.

[ 26 December 2005: Message edited by: Sharon ]

While still trashing Klander, of course.

I love watching the players at the major league level -- although I don't always approve of them, of course.

And one of my favourite days of the winter is always the day -- sometime deep in February -- when I happily announce, "Spring training's opened!"

You can knit and listen to baseball. You can proofread and listen to baseball. You can throw a party and listen to baseball. You can even sleep, on and off, and listen to baseball.

quote:

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Originally posted by skdadl:

You can knit... proofread... throw a party... even sleep, on and off, and listen to baseball.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Michelle:

If you dislike the posters here so much, then leave. Making nasty generalizations about everyone in a community because some of them disagree with you is not acceptable.

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quote:

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Originally posted by RealityBites:
Furthermore, considering some people sub-human is hardly unique to the Liberal Party. What the fuck do you think NDP "star" candidate Ed Schreyer meant when he called gay people an affliction?

---

Personally I am finding this rather tiresome. If you have an actual quote and source, fine, why not just produce it. But making these kind of slanted and biased claims is, I suggest to you, intentionally misleading.

You seem to have a major personal need for a list of people to hate, and Schreyer can be fitted onto that list just as easily as any other non-Liberal politician, so why not, eh? That's about the depth of your thinking and of your personal committment on this issue.

It's not something you're really serious about, it's just a play-pen thing, a gimmick, a cocktail party chattering point which is something every well trained sophisticate in either Toronto or Vancouver simply must have.

As you know I did, at Heph's direction, look at the Craig Oliver interview. And as you also well know, it completely and totally repudiates absolutely everything you're saying.

I think that you and Maxx are going to have to do some pretty hard-assed posting over the next four weeks because the Liberals are $35 million in debt and they're going to need all the help you two can give them. You might want to get some of that Lee Valley Tools balm that Shania Twain endorses because you're going to have some really sore fingers.

[ 26 December 2005: Message edited by: MasterDebator ]

quote:

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Originally posted by fern hill:
For gawd's sake, people, don't you remember the vile crap that was posted about Olivia on the Dark Side during the last election? Among the hateful, racist, misogynist, you-name-it shit, was 'Chow-Chow' and 'Jack's comfort woman'. I think this asshole reads FD, thought it was funny and revived it in his own nasty way.

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quote:

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Originally posted by retread:

As for comparing Bush and the chimp (besides prefering chimps to GWB), in honesty I'd have to say that for the most part its making fun of a physical defect - his face

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quote:

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Originally posted by nevermind:

Ah nothing like the tow the party line, paint the messenger to be a hypocrtic/racist and whatever else you can do to hide the issue...as Paul Wells has pointed out this is generally a trick by the Maritinites and perhaps the Layton's are just as good at it...

The man who made the comment was silly...I don't know if he was being, racist, sexist, nasty or trying(and failing) at being humorous or all of the above...his days as a power brokers in the Grits are done...and everyone from all parties sees him as a moron...

Difference is Sid is taking the endorsation of a man who thinks Tom Wappel is the perfect politico...

I am as left as anyone on this forum...but the hypocrisy of the left has always made me sick...it's not generally the working class left that are hypocrits...but rather the silver spoon ones, who have their own pet causes...

---

You know, it's really quite sanctimonious to go and preach about pet causes and how your annoyed with ideological purity, about people you don't even know btw, when you did that yourself.

Just so you know, the diffrences in this case are rather obvious and I'll simply explain them to you. Klander did the objectionable action himself. And those who are most effected, people of colour, have said he was being racist. Whereas Ryan wasn't being accused of being a homophobe by any G or L or B or T posters. He was by you, and no one else really agreed that he was worthy of witholding support from because of it. Ryan wasn't condemned by the old guilt by association thing which was what your entire argument was based on. Whereas Klander was condemed because the objectionable action was committed by himself. And while I don't think this is the most horrible thing ever, and *grrr* we must organize a protest, its clearly racist. Intentionally, or unintentionally I don’t know since I can't read his mind. I would assume someone in his position wouldn’t be so uninformed, but perhaps it was intentional judging by the rest of his blog.

quote:

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Originally posted by MasterDebator:
Personally I am finding this rather tiresome. If you have an actual quote and source, fine, why not just produce it. But making these kind of slanted and biased claims is, I suggest to you, intentionally misleading.

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here's one:

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I personally have long crusaded against animal metaphors for the evildoers among us. To me, that is always unfair to the animals. No way I admire either Bush or Rice as much as I admire your average chimp.

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Turning to the comparison that got everyone so upset that means ...

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CP is quoting a long-suffering Liberal spokesman to the effect that Klander was "a volunteer" who had no official role in the current campaign. This rather understates the guy's significance. He delivered Tony Dionisio to the Martin camp in '02, and together, they delivered Ontario. When Sheila Copps got uppity, Klander was dispatched to take proper care of her in Hamilton in '04. I fondly recall the first place I ever saw the guy: in the union-hall basement where Paul Martin announced to a breathless world in 2002 that he wasn't sure he could work with Jean Chrétien any more. That whole event was a Klander/Dionisio special. But they were just volunteers, you understand.

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Originally posted by Contrarian:
Score another for the power of the Internet?

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Originally posted by fern hill:
MasterDebator, what is the point of quoting someone (most recently moi) and then not addressing that quotation? You simply repeat that the Liberals are (or seem to be, consider the timing of this) getting away with something the Cons wouldn't. You have anything to add here?

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Originally posted by knuckles:

here's one:

"In my opinion, if allowed to become too visible in society, it cannot help but have a negative and detrimental effect on the younger generation," Mr. Schreyer said.

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I don't have a Globe subscription but I take your word for it, since, unlike Maxx and RB I am not aware of your being a Liberal spokesperson.

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Originally posted by MasterDebator:

I don't have a Globe subscription but I take your word for it, since, unlike Maxx and RB I am not aware of your being a Liberal spokesperson.

Maxx makes no pretense at being anything other than a Liberal supporter. RB has specifically denied it, and described himself as an "independent". I have no cause to doubt him, and neither do you.

The quote indicates a quite unenlightened attitude, but it was made 18 or 19 years ago, and says nothing about civil rights, only personal attitudes or morals. It's no different than someone who is personally opposed to abortion being pro-choice as a legislator.

You just *can't* stop making excuses for this bigot, can you? Rather than derailing this thread, see my comments over here.

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[ 26 December 2005: Message edited by: Hephaestion ]

Moreover, while it was made 18 years ago, he's steadfastly refused to apologize and is furious that anyone even thinks he should.

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since, unlike Maxx and RB I am not aware of your being a Liberal spokesperson.

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Now on to your accusation of me being a Liberal spokesperson. Michelle has warned you not to do that again. I will ask her not to take any action though - provided you will give me your word that you will never, ever again reply to any one of my posts, never again send me a PM and never mention me in any of your posts. And I will give you my word that I will do the same for you.

Mike Klander, executive vice-president of the federal Liberal party's Ontario wing, stepped down after photographs of Chow, the NDP candidate for the Toronto riding of Trinity-Spadina, and a chow chow dog were posted on his blog dated Dec. 9 under the heading "Separated at Birth."

The blog also contained an offensive reference to Layton.

"I'm going away for a couple of days so I thought I would find something smart and witty to put up on my blog before I left," the blog said, dated Nov. 23.

"Unfortunatley (sic) I couldn't think of anything so I just want to say that I think Jack Layton is an asshole . . . for no reason other than it makes me feel good to say it . . . and because he is."

The site also had a Top 10 list of things that would "piss me off" during the federal election campaign.

They included:

-"Being dragged out to a Liberal rally, lied to so I'm there 30 minutes early, and then forced to stand in a hot room that's way too small to give the appearance that everyone wants to be there."

-"Harper being flanked by the sexy Rona Ambrose at every opportunity."

-"Harper being flanked by the ethnic Rahim Jaffer at every opportunity."

The blog has since been taken offline.

Klander's blog was personal and did not reflect the view of the federal Liberals, said Stephen Heckbert, a spokesman for the Liberal campaign in Ontario.

"I think he recognized that there's some things that are outside the bounds of good taste," Heckbert said. "And I think then it came to a decision that it would be better for the party and for him if he were to step down."

Klander was a volunteer and did not play an official role for the Liberals during this campaign, Heckbert said, adding he's apologized to Chow.

"Obviously, this is something the Liberal Party of Canada doesn't condone. It's our view that partisan rhetoric has its limits."

But Ian Capstick, a spokesman for the NDP campaign, said the postings reflect Liberal mud-slinging.

"We were shocked, disappointed and offended," Capstick said from Ottawa. "This has become indicative of the way Liberals are seeing this election. They couldn't find basis for attack on Ms. Chow's community record, her activism, so they chose instead to focus on one thing."

Klander's resignation was a positive step, but he needs to make further amends, Capstick added.

"He needs to take a good long hard look at some of the postings he made on that website and realize the impact that they had on a variety of different communities."

Though Klander's comments were regretful, it's not uncommon for political blogs of all stripes to cross certain boundaries, Heckbert said.

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Originally posted by Hephaestion:

Maxx makes no pretense at being anything other than a Liberal supporter. RB has specifically denied it, and described himself as an "independent". I have no cause to doubt him, and neither do you.

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I have been instructed not to make any references that would constitute a specific reply to this.

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Originally posted by RealityBites:
Fuck you, you psychotic stalker.

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Originally posted by HeywoodFloyd:
God bless us everyone.

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