[knn]

Once again, Stephen Harper’s attempts to use political ruse has landed him in deep trouble.

He has unleashed a storm of protests from people and organizations all over the country. Harper, who wrote his own speech, was "so busy vetting his MPs speeches, that he forgot to check his own."

“A range of groups responded yesterday with fury, saying Harper went too far. A flurry of outraged news releases descended on media offices from the National Association of Japanese Canadians, the Chinese Canadian National Council, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, the Canadian Buddhists Civil Liberties Association, the World Sikh Organization, the British Columbia Unitarian Church and the Muslim Canadian Congress.”

"Pat Case, chairman of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, said it was "simply embarrassing" to see Harper try to score political points with the issue.

“A director of the National Association of Japanese Canadians said in a news release it was "wrong-headed" of Harper "to try to play politics...

Stephen Harper seems to be a political lightning rod for doing the wrong thing, saying the wrong thing, and stepping in more cow manure than he knows what to do with. Isn’t it time for Harper to quietly move aside?

HARPER STIRS OUTCRY!

[willy]

So what exactly did he say?

I found it.

Quote

"Let us not forget it was the Liberal party that said none is too many when it came to Jews fleeing from Hitler. It was the Liberal party that interned Japanese Canadians in camps on Canada's West Coast, an act Pierre Trudeau refused to apologize or make restitution for, leaving it to Brian Mulroney to see justice done," Harper said.

Do you see an inaccracy here? They were Liberal governments.

[Grantler]

Dear Liberals,

Might as well start digging for all the crap the Conservatives have done in the distant past then make an official statement on it.

What is the point? He is an idiot. Anyone with a brain and a care for Canada knows about those issues and also know that it was a different world back then.

[Shakeyhands]

did anyone really expect anything but something like this from Harper? The man is a buffoon.

[knn]

Quote

willy Posted: Feb 18 2005, 05:43 PM
So what exactly did he say? I found it.
"Let us not forget it was the Liberal party that said none is too many when it came to Jews fleeing from Hitler. It was the Liberal party that interned Japanese Canadians in camps on Canada's West Coast, an act Pierre Trudeau refused to apologize or make restitution for, leaving it to Brian Mulroney to see justice done," Harper said. 
Do you see an inaccracy here? They were Liberal governments.

This is what makes Harper, and others like him, such a timebomb for the Conservative party.

The huge outcry about Harper's speech is his playing minorities against each other, and digging up "ancient history" which has angered many organizations. Harper playing minorities for "political points" is certainly not winning any for him or his party:

"A director of the National Association of Japanese Canadians said in a news release it was "wrong-headed" of Harper "to try to play politics with an ancient historical wrong.

"By raising the issue of Japanese Canadian internment, Mr. Harper is resorting to cheap political shots ... rather than facing the inconsistency of his position on human rights," said Professor Audrey Kobayashi of Queen's University.

Pat Case, chairman of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation, said it was "simply embarrassing" to see Harper try to score political points with the issue."

HARPER STIRS OUTCRY

[knn]

Quote

Grantler Posted: Feb 18 2005, 06:07 PM 
What is the point? He is an idiot. Anyone with a brain and a care for Canada knows about those issues and also know that it was a different world back then.

One of Stephen Harper's big mistakes is demanding that he "approve" his MP's speeches, but he's neglected to have anyone "vet" his own speech!

[Newfie Canadian]

IF Harper can get to the policy Convention (in March?) without getting shot in the back by one of his MPs or shooting himself in the foot, he may do OK.
AS knn has alluded to, he hasn't been doing too well in the last few days in regards to bringing negative attention to himself.

[willy]

This is not a smoking gun.

In context, this statement is of little consequence.

Me thinks knn and a few others on this forum just really don't like us Conservatives. That's okay but hey we will make much bigger gaffs than this so please Chicken Little the sky is not falling yet.

My guess is that Harper will not take strong positions on many issues until after the membership has had a kick at the can in Montreal.

One last little thing, if you really think he is an idiot be careful because he might surprise you. This guy has navigated a party that was at 12% two years ago into 99 seats.

Don't hate us if you aint us.

[caesar]

Quote

Me thinks knn and a few others on this forum just really don't like us Conservatives. That's okay but hey we will make much bigger gaffs than this so please Chicken Little the sky is not falling yet.

Gee, so you think that you Conservatives will make even bigger "gaffs" Gee that is so reassuring. Thank goodness
; he is not our prime minister. He makes Martin look like a real intellect in comparison.

[willy]

Quote

He makes Martin look like a real intellect in comparison.

Be so bold to provide an example. Harper is an academic and a policy wank. He may not be camera friendly but he is strong on intellect.

Caesar, we all make mistakes. That was my only point and all the parties are not exempt. The questions is, are the Liberal mistakes criminal and is the whole NDP ideology a mistake.

[caesar]

Quote

Be so bold to provide an example. Harper is an academic and a policy wank. He may not be camera friendly but he is strong on intellect.

This latest speech and many more before. Let's not forget; he suddenly claimed to have backed Canada not joining the USA in the Iraqi invasion come election time. Perhaps he just has a bad memory problem.

[Grantler]

willy, on Feb 18 2005, 07:10 PM, said:

This is not a smoking gun.

In context, this statement is of little consequence.

Me thinks knn and a few others on this forum just really don't like us Conservatives. That's okay but hey we will make much bigger gaffs than this so please Chicken Little the sky is not falling yet.

My guess is that Harper will not take strong positions on many issues until after the membership has had a kick at the can in Montreal.

One last little thing, if you really think he is an idiot be careful because he might surprise you. This guy has navigated a party that was at 12% two years ago into 99 seats.

Don't hate us if you aint us.

Quote

One last little thing, if you really think he is an idiot be careful because he might surprise you. This guy has navigated a party that was at 12% two years ago into 99 seats.

- Ummm...is it just me or didn't two parties unite?

[willy]

Quote

Ummm...is it just me or didn't two parties unite?

What is your point?

[Grantler]

How the hell did he navigate anything?

Seems to me he just happened to use all of Peter McKay's legwork. I mean, McKay is the backstabber right?

Harper just giggled.