The Media Are Misrepresenting Harper’s Speech: Listen for Yourself

When the media tell you about how angry Stephen Harper is, they always point to his speech in response to Paul Martin’s address to the nation on April 21. That was the night Martin promised to call an election a month after Gomery reports.

The media don’t think you’ll listen to Harper’s actual words, so they feel free to make up any story they want — but we’ve posted the speech below so that you can decide for yourself.

Before you listen, here’s some examples of the stories the media are telling about Harper’s speech, taken from a panel of journalists on the Newsworld program Politics last Friday.

Chris Hall of CBC Radio News:

I don’t think there’s any question between the cause-effect here of his response, Stephen Harper’s response, to Paul Martin’s public plea…. It came out he was angry, he was bitter, he was dismissive … and as a result there’s a concern that he’s seen as a man who’s intolerant.

Jim Travers of the Toronto Star:

As Chris is saying, the reaction that came over television … was way too hot, way too intense, and it did him some damage.

Rob Russo of the Canadian Press:

What happened the night of the speech was he opted for the politics of rage.

Well, listen for yourself. Is the media giving you fair and accurate reporting or are they engaged in gross exaggeration? Is it an honest portrayal of Harper’s speech or an unfair, even slanderous interpretation?

Do you hear “rage” that’s “way too intense” from “a man who’s intolerant”? Or are the media not telling the truth?

The speech is split into four mp3 files to make downloading easier. Each is about a minute and a half long.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4