The Middle East has the ability to make politicians of all stripes act really, really stupid. Don Martin's column in today's Edmonton Journal explores the consequences of Harper's immensely stupid "all Liberal Leadership candidates are anti-Israel" crack. He argues (and I agree) that:
1) It got Iggy's earlier gaffe off the front pages, violating that age-old law of politics: when your opponent is self-destructing, just stand aside and let it happen.
2) It allowed Bob Rae to flaunt his Jewish creds and wax indignant:
"I can't imagine a comment that does less to unite the country and does more to create animosity and division where there doesn't need to be any," Rae fumed.
3) It has the potential to unite Liberals. If all Liberal leadership candidates are anti-Israel, what does that say about the party rank and file, or folks that traditionally vote Liberal even though they may not be party Members? Are they all anti-Israel, and if so, does this make them by implication (as some on the Right would have people believe) anti-Semitic?
So, Harper has arguably insinuated that a third of the nation is Anti-Semitic. In six months he'll be asking them for their vote. Smooth move, cheesehead.
4) Harper's statement is false. PMO officials could not produce one iota of proof to back up his statement.
So Iggy might want to shake Harper's hand again. Hell, after this, he might want to give him a big fat kiss. Now if only B'nai Brith would get off Iggy's case...
Whooee! BigCityFeller, I happen t' be right alongside Ivory Tower IggHead regardin' the war crimes. Both sides committed war crimes. Amnesty International sed so, too.
ReplyDeleteI gotta take issue with sumpin' you sed, though. When you sed -- "So, Harper has just called a third of the nation Anti-Semitic." -- you bought inta the Zionist line. From what I read, King Steve sed "anti-Israel" not "anti-Semitic." There's a good number o' Israelis who also think their country committed war crimes. They ain't anti-Semites; they are Semites.
When you buy inta the "anti-Israel" = "anti-Semitic," yer latchin' onta the framin' o' the Israeli war criminals. Don't let 'em frame it thataway. It's the same as sayin' anti-terrism is anti-Arab or anti-Harper is anti-Canadee or anti-IraqWar is anti-American.
Israel committed atrocities against innocent Lebanese citizens jest like the Hezballers committed atrocities against innocent Israelis. The onliest difference is Israel killed 'bout 10 times as many innocents.
JimBobby
Well, I don't see being anti-Israel as being anti-semitic. But Harper may be trying to get that message across.
ReplyDeleteAfter all, many right wing writers have claimed that Western Anti-Semitisim today "hides behind" criticism of Israel. We lefty's are really trying to slag Jewish people when we're criticising Israel. That's the story, anyway.
And it does seem to me that Harper is making a similar claim. Or insinuating it, at least.
Whooee! I take yer point, BigCity. I'm jest tryin' t' put up a warnin' sign 'bout how things get framed. I reckon Harpoon probbly did wanna try an' paint "virtually all" the Grits with the anti-Semitic brush but he din't say that.
ReplyDeleteFer my money, there ain't a damn thing wrong with criticizin' Israel fer usin' cluster bombs an' doin' collective punishment. Anybuddy who thinks Israel had every right t' "defend" itself by killin' hunnerts o' innocent civilians is a defender o' war crimes. I'm ashamed o' King Steve fer playin' that card.
Iggy (or as I seen sumbuddy call'm, the Nutty Professor) ain't got much cred in the war crimes department, sez I. With his support fer BushMan's Iraq invasion an' his support fer torturin', he ain't worthy o' representin' Canadee any more'n Harper.
With all o' them leadership candydates, you'd figger a real liberal'd stand out as an obvious choice. IgMan ain't any more liberal than PollyWolly Fartin' Martin. I seen sum Boogin' Tories who's more liberal-minded than either one o' them two.
JB
I was a Liberal ... until yesterday
ReplyDeleteRe: Israeli Envoy, Rae Attack Ignatieff's Remarks, Oct. 12.
I have been an active, involved and contributing member of the Liberal party until yesterday, when I decided to give up my membership because of the statements from Michael Ignatieff, given in French to a Quebec radio station.
I was hoping that with his background as a professor of human rights, Mr. Ignatieff would be able to make the distinction between the attackers and the attacked. I would remind Mr. Ignatieff that it was a Liberal government that placed Hezbollah on the international terrorist organizations list.
I feel it was not political savvy and wisdom that Mr. Ignatieff lacked in his address in Quebec. Rather, it was a lack of moral integrity, sacrificing the truth for personal political gains in the upcoming leadership election for the party.
I, and many of my friends, will no longer be there for that event.
Ariela Cotler, Montreal.
This was just published in teh National Post Today. This is the wife of Irwin Cotler.
Prime Ministewr harper's statement that most fiberal leadership candidates are anti-Israel is correct. Stop living in your fiberal dream world
Ti guy you are just so funny. You don't answer what I said, just launch a personal attack. The depth of your debating skills is about .025 angstroms.
ReplyDelete