Time to Fight Back

For those of us that have been listening to Liberal cabinet ministers squack in QP “I won’t comment on an ongoing investigation,” for years, this may come as something of a suprise:

The Liberal Party leaked to the media yesterday news that Immigration Minister Joe Volpe sought a police investigation of a pair of Conservative MPs…Mr. Volpe confirmed the probe to reporters, even though it is unusual for politicians to comment on continuing police investigations.

Actually, no it doesn’t. Volpe jumped at the opportunity to not only sic the cops on two Tory members, but also to publicize that fact to the media a few days before an election writ is dropped. But let’s be rheotorical, shall we:

• Does anyone really believe that the Liberal Party, which has wielded its power over Canada’s recently-immigrated population like a club for decades, does not have scores of members who have acted improperly in this regard?
• Does anyone believe that there is any merit whatsoever to these claims, coming as they are from the most partisan and tainted cabinet minister among the bunch a few days before an election campaign begins?

Worse yet, the Conservatives have not dealt with this the way they should have. Here’s what the two of them should have said at a press conference, among other bits:

“We stand before you today two Canadians who also happen to be members of ethnic minorities, immigrants who add to the great multicultural mosaic of Canada. We want to tell Mr. Volpe that we are not more susceptible to criminal activities than is anyone else simply because we immigrated to Canada from Asia. We came to Canada to build a future for our families; we ran for Parliament to give back to this great country. And what do we get in return? Unfounded accusations against us because of the colour of our skin. Is Volpe saying that Asians are more likely to lend favours to friends? Is he saying that recent immigrants are more likely to commit crimes? Mr. Volpe clearly has racist sentiments toward Asian immigrants, and as Canadians we find that despicable and are appalled that the government would appoint a racist to the position of immigration minister.”

…blah blah blah.

Cynical? Yes. Ridiculous? Abso-lutely. But the Liberals have taught us that if there’s one thing that the lazy (in these cases) media loves to report on and Canadians are receptive to, it is charges of racism. Accusing a politician of racism in Canada nowadays is the equivalent of having Senator McCarthy accuse him or her of Communist sympathies back int hose days; there’s no escape, no was to clear yourself. An apology is an admission of guilt, fighting back is construed at an attempt to silence those that are attempting to eradicate a social ill.

Volpe knows this very well. Obhrai and Grewal should have thrown it in their faces, and shed a few tears too. I swear, if we’re going to beat these slimeballs, we have to lose our earnestness and get a bit more ruthless and cynical. Alcock was the first Liberal in a long time to feel this type of sting; Volpe should get it too.

Crossposted to Rempelia Prime