PM invites Dion to distance himself from May's 'Nazi analogi
Patrick_Ross @ Tue May 01, 2007 3:56 pm
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/05/ ... nazis.html
$1:
PM invites Dion to distance himself from May's 'Nazi analogies'
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried Tuesday to draw Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion into the controversy over Green Party Leader Elizabeth May's comments comparing the government's approach to climate change to Britain's appeasement of the Nazis.
May, who has been studying to become an Anglican minister, told an Ontario church congregation on the weekend that addressing climate change is a "moral obligation" and that Harper's stand on the issue was "a grievance worse than Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of the Nazis."
During Question Period in the Commons Tuesday, Harper noted that May's remarks have drawn criticism from the Canadian Jewish Congress and referred to her as Dion's "colleague."
Dion and May recently agreed not to run candidates in each other's ridings during the next federal election.
"The leader of the Opposition hitched his wagon to this individual," Harper said. "I hope he will distance himself from those kinds of remarks."
When Dion declined to respond, Harper persisted, saying: "I think the leader of the Opposition should be able to say that he believes diminishing the Holocaust and using Nazi analogies are inappropriate, so I'd like to again give him the chance to distance himself from these remarks by his colleague, the leader of the Green Party."
However, Dion ignored the remarks, sticking instead to his opening line of questioning relating to alleged abuse of prisoners in Afghanistan.
On Monday, May defended her controversial comments, telling the National Post that she had borrowed the quote from British author George Monbiot, who made a weekend appearance with environmentalist David Suzuki.
She said the quote was an example of how the federal Conservatives are tarnishing Canada's reputation around the world.
In the buildup to the Second World War, Chamberlain — then the British prime minister — adopted a policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany, signing a non-aggression pact.
May spoke on Sunday to the congregation of the Wesley Knox United Church in Wortley Village at the invitation of Ontario Liberal MP Glen Pearson, who defeated her in a federal byelection in the riding last November.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper tried Tuesday to draw Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion into the controversy over Green Party Leader Elizabeth May's comments comparing the government's approach to climate change to Britain's appeasement of the Nazis.
May, who has been studying to become an Anglican minister, told an Ontario church congregation on the weekend that addressing climate change is a "moral obligation" and that Harper's stand on the issue was "a grievance worse than Neville Chamberlain's appeasement of the Nazis."
During Question Period in the Commons Tuesday, Harper noted that May's remarks have drawn criticism from the Canadian Jewish Congress and referred to her as Dion's "colleague."
Dion and May recently agreed not to run candidates in each other's ridings during the next federal election.
"The leader of the Opposition hitched his wagon to this individual," Harper said. "I hope he will distance himself from those kinds of remarks."
When Dion declined to respond, Harper persisted, saying: "I think the leader of the Opposition should be able to say that he believes diminishing the Holocaust and using Nazi analogies are inappropriate, so I'd like to again give him the chance to distance himself from these remarks by his colleague, the leader of the Green Party."
However, Dion ignored the remarks, sticking instead to his opening line of questioning relating to alleged abuse of prisoners in Afghanistan.
On Monday, May defended her controversial comments, telling the National Post that she had borrowed the quote from British author George Monbiot, who made a weekend appearance with environmentalist David Suzuki.
She said the quote was an example of how the federal Conservatives are tarnishing Canada's reputation around the world.
In the buildup to the Second World War, Chamberlain — then the British prime minister — adopted a policy of appeasement toward Nazi Germany, signing a non-aggression pact.
May spoke on Sunday to the congregation of the Wesley Knox United Church in Wortley Village at the invitation of Ontario Liberal MP Glen Pearson, who defeated her in a federal byelection in the riding last November.
Mr_Canada old @ Tue May 01, 2007 4:04 pm
Harper is a sneaky one.
Nazi Analogies?
Who hasn't used one of those... Even as insults... Hypocrite,t his isn't that bloody bad. If it actually lowers votes for the Liberals because The Liberals are friends with the Greens, I'll be annoyed.
Harper is treating this like "The Libs are friends of the greens, and the Greens made the comments, so all the friends completely agree and support it".
This is more political drama aswell. Who the hell cares? She said "Nazi". Oh fuckin' wah. If I was in office, I'd be cussing.
God, Politics get lamer and lamer everyday.
Patrick_Ross @ Tue May 01, 2007 4:17 pm
So, hold on, Mr.
May referred to Harper's climate change plan (still superior to the Liberals' climate change plan) to Chamberlain making a deal with Hitler. So, clearly, May wasn't comparing Harper to Hitler. She was comparing Harper to Chamberlain.
Now, who was May comparing to Hitler? Bush? Our industries (with whom Harper was actually honouring prior agreements -- made by Liberals)?
It hardly matters much. This is precisely what got Bob Rae into so much trouble during the Liberal party leadership convention. Rae tried to dissemble this away as well, and it didn't work out so well for him.
But the question remains: when you refer to Hitler in a comment regarding another politician's policies, what is it other than a Nazi analogy?
Personally, between this recent nonsense from May and the previous nonsense from Kevin Potvin, I'm reconsidering any future support for the Green Party at all. I think there's a good reason why they're nothing more than a fringe party, and it may have something to do with the fact that many of them are clearly retarded.