Native group blasts Stephen Harper over (bizarre) gaffe - CTV Cdn Politics

[Screaming Lord Byron]

note - Stephen Harper is the current leader of the opposition in Canada. Sadly.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1077832280101_73241480/?hub=Canada


Conservative Party leadership candidate Stephen Harper had some apologizing to do after wishing an Ontario aboriginal organization a happy India Republic Day.

"This is 2004, Mr. Harper, not 1492 -- the last time a man got lost looking for India," said Rick Lobzun, president of the Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, in a letter dated Wednesday.

"Look what has happened to the aboriginal population ... since then."

India Republic is celebrated each Jan. 26 to mark the when India's constitution took effect, making it fully independent from British rule.

In India, it is an occasion used to celebrate the achievements of Mahatma Gandhi and other nation-builders.

There is no connection to First Nations peoples in Canada.

"As you partake in cultural festivities and events, which honour your ancestors and celebrate your heritage, I am pleased to pay tribute to the members of the Indian community in Canada. I salute you for your important and long-standing contributions to the economic and cultural vitality of our wonderful country, and offer you my best wishes for the year ahead," Harper wrote Jan. 26 on House of Commons letterhead.

[HEyHEY]

1. What a dumb shit

That's fucking hilarious

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Oh yeah. He wants to be Prime Minister.

[freeforall]

2. LOL!

It appears that Canada, too, has her uninformed politicians.

Still doesn't beat the Chimp though!

[Melsky]

4. I'm very amused

[Screaming Lord Byron]

5. kick - too good to sink just yet.

[Minstrel Boy]

6. Apparently last night CTV News

led with this Harper-looks-like-an-ass story, then ran a piece about the NDP buying time during the Oscars to run an ad, and played a good chunk of it. Not bad coverage, from a conservative network.

And how about those Conservative radio ads. Have you heard them? Even their leadership candidates are distancing themselves from the mess. And the fake accent, suggesting the Caribbean means corruption. Yeesh. Makes my skin crawl. I'm not crazy about the NDP spots - let Jack talk, for goodness sake! (though he does in the French ad) - but they're a good counterpoint to the Conservatives' attack ads.

NDP ads here:
http://www.ndp.ca/audiovideo/?language=english
(The French QuickTime and Windows Player versions have buggered file names. Substitute "NPD" for "NDP." Correctly named on the French page.)

[Screaming Lord Byron]

7. The Tory ads are a big mistake. Ours? Well, could be worse.

The still photos are not the best way to introduce Jack to the populace, but the Tory ads come across as elitist, racist and (worst sin of all) they sound American. One rule of politics is that you do not go negative until the last two or three weeks of a campaign. The Tories should be setting out their stall just now. It's easy to attack, but what do they offer as an alternative? Maybe that's the real reason for the ads. They will offer a product very similar to the Liberal one, a product that can only be differentiated through negativity.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. Barbadian-Canadians have called the Tories on the ads.

Apparently the accent is way off.
http://www.cbc.ca/stories/2004/02/26/canada/conservative_ad040226