Mr. Harper’s comments regarding the Morgentaler appointment can be seen as political. He has promised that his government will not attempt new legislation regarding abortion, although there are three Private Members Bills at various stages that do deal with aspects related to abortion. Harper’s position will have disappointed many in his political universe. By questioning the Morgentaler award he sends a sympathetic signal to his socially conservative base but without having to do anything about it. His base may demand more.
Bet they don't get it. For example, yesterday Jason Kenney went direct to LifeSite with his concerns over the appointment:
Today Conservative MP Jason Kenney, a Minister in the Department of Canadian Heritage, spoke with LifeSiteNews.com about his reaction to the nomination. "I'm deeply disturbed by this nomination," he said. "It violates profoundly the spirit of the Order of Canada which is a symbol that is supposed to unite Canadians. Instead, the advisory council has chosen to divide Canadians."
Kenney added that "those members of the council who made this deliberately contentious choice were more interested in using the Order as a vehicle for their own political views on a contentious issue rather than as a unifying symbol of great achievements which is what the Order was created for."
Harper has distanced his Government from the decision saying, "I have to say this clearly: This is not a decision of the government of Canada."
Kenney concurred, noting further: "There is a provision in the Order which requires the Council to consider rescinding the Order from individuals who after their appointments end up with criminal records or reprimands from their professions. When the constitution of the order was crafted, they didn't even bother to make that apply to prospective nominees because it was at the time probably unthinkable that they would seriously consider a nomination for someone with such a background as this."
...but so far he has been too scared to voice them to any mainstream publications.
9 comments:
"Kenney added that "those members of the council who made this deliberately contentious choice were more interested in using the Order as a vehicle for their own political views on a contentious issue rather than as a unifying symbol of great achievements which is what the Order was created for."
Hmmm... the council that made the decision is very small, and its members readily identifiable. Maybe they should sue for libel? ;)
How would that fat ugly toad know what the council was thinking, both with this decision and with past decisions?
What a spectacular liar.
For a slightly different take on this, how's this for a strategy.
Why do the Liberals - and the NDP - for that matter, allow the Conservatives free reign to surreptitiously send these little nuggets to their most far right supporters without calling them on it for all the mainstream media to report?
It doesn't have to be Jack Layton or Stephane Dion if they don't want them out front on smaller issues, but have someone else condemn Kenney's comments in a very public way.
Given the amount of press given this week on this matter, wouldn't you think the msm would give it some print and tv space?
Time and again I see the conservatives "stroking" their far-right elements and getting away with it.
The only time it HASN'T panned out as planned is when Charles McVety opened his big mouth on C-10 claiming he was the reason it was there and that it would end "unholy" movies from being made.
In retrospect, thank goodness he did open his mouth otherwise that might have sailed right through to law as well.
I commend you for pointing this out, but where are the national opposition parties on it?
They share the blame for the public not getting the full picture on some of these issues.
"Harper’s position will have disappointed many in his political universe. By questioning the Morgentaler award he sends a sympathetic signal to his socially conservative base but without having to do anything about it. His base may demand more."
I actually think his base is as pragmatic as he is. While they post on blog sites that the "majority" do not like this appointment, they fall curiously silent when urged to contact the CPC and demand they do more.
They mock us for suggesting Harper has a secret agenda, all the while they encourage that secret agenda.
Joseph - I agree it is time for all the opposition parties to call the CPC out on their mixed messaging.
Gayle,
Well they're doing this.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/04/morgentaler-order.html
"...but so far he has been too scared to voice them to any mainstream publications."
You guys really are into the kool-aid if you think the MSM will report unbiasedly on anything the CPC does or says.
Use lots of ice, helps it go down better.
You guys really are into the kool-aid if you think the MSM will report unbiasedly on anything the CPC does or says.
Yeah! Media are teh biast!
I'd really love to see everyone who sees this as an outrage asked if their silence last year when it was awarded to Rev. Brent Hawkes for his efforts to legalize marriage means they now feel that's was a unifying, positive contribution to Canada.
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