Rae was angered by the generalization for which he says he sees no basis in fact.
-Toronto Star, Saturday May 10, 2008
That quote, and that link, refer to a story by Toronto Star reporter Tonda MacCharles today that suggests that Prime Minister Harper is wrongfully smearing the opposition with an anti-semitic brush. Rae’s charge is quite simply not true, which isn’t shocking to Ontarians who remember his expert opinions on the affairs of government nearly 20 years ago. However, Tonda MacCharles, a journalist, is not presenting a full picture of the situation in her write up and all it takes is a quick Google search to prove it. That’s right! Three MPs, including Bloc MP Giles Duceppe and Montreal Liberal Dennis Coderre marched alongside Hezbollah flags in downtown Montreal back in the summer of 2006 when the Israeli-Lebanon strike was going on those two years ago. The three MPs never publicly denounced their actions and as public representatives, ignored the due diligence that they are expected to practice as such office holders.
That is because Hezbollah is a radical and dangerous group that wants nothing more than they physical obliteration of Israel and all Jews in the world. That’s the sort of allies that the three MPs above-mentioned had on that summer day two years ago and that is why the Prime Minister is accurate in asserting
Canada, under this government, is never going to cater to that kind of opinion. You know, I am disturbed that there are some elements in our political system; there are even some members of Parliament – we saw during a confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah a couple of years back – some that were willing to cater to that kind of opinion.*
So in other words, the Montreal rally was exactly what the Prime Minister was referring to, lest the opposition now suggest that his “blanket statement” could imply other anti-semitic occasions that opposition members indulged in (a Freudian slip, if it comes?). It will come too though as the Montreal event was pretty cut and dry, something that even the most hardened partisan should see if they simply put the shoe on the other foot and tried to imagine Conservatives marching alongside someone holding a “God hates fags” sign…hey, even having an MP holding hands with somebody down the street would even be fair game I guess!
So are the Liberal and Bloc caucuses full of raving “drive ‘em into the sea” anti-semites? Hardly. Are their numbers, however, including those who give legitimacy to an organization that deserves to be destroyed and at the same time associating themselves with a toxic philosophy that the civilized world should not entertain? Absolutely!
*-emphasis added
ARCHIE wrote:
How about the Liberal leadership convention and the flyer that that was handed out “Don’t vote for Rae his wife’s jewish”
Posted on 10-May-08 at 11:38 am | Permalink
Greg Farries wrote:
As Archie mentioned, look no further than the recent Liberal convention and you’ll find antisemitism is alive in the Liberal Party of Canada,
Rae’s is just playing politics, I wouldn’t worry to much about it.
Posted on 10-May-08 at 1:31 pm | Permalink
bettie wrote:
I’m wondering if the following has any bearing on the topic:
In Hansard on Thursday 08 May, 2008, it is recorded that Mr. Pierre Paquette moved that the House pass a motion regarding the 60th anniversary of Israel. Here is his motion:
(from Hansard, Thursday, 08 May 2008)
Mr. Pierre Paquette:
Mr. Speaker, I seek the unanimous consent of the House to adopt the following motion: That the House acknowledge the 60th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel and highlight that this is an opportunity to celebrate Israel’s entry into the community of nations, its many cultural, economic and scientific achievements as a free, democratic society, and the special relationship between the governments of Canada and Israel; and that the House agree to reaffirm Canadians’ unwavering support for Israel’s right to live peacefully and safely within secure, recognized borders, for the peace efforts undertaken by the Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and for the creation of a future democratic Palestinian state living peacefully and safely next to its Israeli neighbour within secure, recognized borders.
[Table of Contents]
The Speaker:
Does the hon. member for Joliette have the unanimous consent of the House to move this motion?
Some hon. members: Agreed.
Some hon. members: No.
Why would any MP not agree to that motion? To me, it seemed an innocent enough motion. Does it not prove anti-Israeli sentiment in the House of Commons?
Would appreciate your thoughts on this as no one has has brought it up as far as I know.
Posted on 10-May-08 at 8:06 pm | Permalink
Matthew wrote:
Hi bettie,
While I was not aware of this and think this definately adds to the legitimacy of the Prime Minister’s concerns over the matter, I’d be more interested in hearing who the MPs were that shot down the motion. Unfortunately, when calls for unanimous motions are made, there isn’t the same detailed level of vote taking that happens with a bill or another type of motion. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that some Bloc and NDP members in particular were the source of those nos although the Liberal Party seems to be getting gradually more anti-semitic with time, as Archie and Greg pointed out.
Posted on 10-May-08 at 8:40 pm | Permalink
Powell Lucas wrote:
I wouldn’t put too much stock in anything that Tonda McCharles writes about the government. She has had a hate-on for the Conservatives ever since Harper dropped the hallway scrums as a means of setting government policy. She was on Mike Duffy’s show after Harper deniedthe press access to some function or other in a tirade against how this government is trampling on press freedoms. She was so wild she was literally spitting. She’s just another left wing nut with an agenda.
Posted on 10-May-08 at 10:32 pm | Permalink
Real Conservative wrote:
Rae is a jew so he knows what anti-semetic is.
Posted on 11-May-08 at 5:13 pm | Permalink
Abattoir wrote:
The real world is rarely as black-and-white as they seem, Matthew. The ‘peace efforts’ undertaken by Israel and the Palestinian Authority are not as universally accepted as being positive, and criticism of Israel does not equal antisemitism.
It is a troubled area of the world, and everyone carries some blame. Unwavering, unquestioning support for any side is not helpful.
For their part, Hezbollah, for all their faults, also does a great deal of good for the Palestinians. It might be popular to brand them a terrorist organization and refuse to deal with them, but that doesn’t help to solve the underlying problems.
Posted on 12-May-08 at 8:42 am | Permalink
philanthropist wrote:
“Bob Rae” - lol, lol, lol…..
Posted on 12-May-08 at 8:10 pm | Permalink
igloogirl wrote:
Hezbollah does a great deal of good for the Palestinians? You mean by strapping bombs onto mentally handicapped women and sending them out on homicide missions? Teaching their young to hate? Put the crack pipe down abbatoir.
Matthew, well done! Who the hell wants Rae back anyway after giving us his beloved Rae Days?
Posted on 13-May-08 at 7:36 pm | Permalink
Abattoir wrote:
@igloogirl,
Thanks for proving my point. Instead of actually looking into the issue at all, you simply dismiss what I’m saying and brand me a drug addict. Hezbollah hasn’t conducted suicide bombings in several years. You’re thinking of Hamas.
Actually, I was referring to the hospitals, schools, orphanages, food distribution centres, and other social services provided by Hezbollah. They serve many functions normally provided by a government. Only 4 countries in the world brand Hezbollah as a terrorist organization: Israel, USA, Canada, and the Netherlands. Still think it’s so black & white?
I should also correct myself; Hezbollah has helped the Lebanese - their involvement in Palestine is relatively limited.
Posted on 13-May-08 at 10:55 pm | Permalink
igloogirl wrote:
Bullcrap abbatoir! The money they “raise” gets funnelled into terrorist operations. The hospitals, schools, orphanages bs is just a flimsy front.
Posted on 14-May-08 at 5:22 pm | Permalink
Abattoir wrote:
Riiiight. You really sound like someone who’s taken the time to look into the issues thoroughly.
Posted on 15-May-08 at 8:42 am | Permalink
igloogirl wrote:
And just what do you know about Hezbollah mr. meatcutter? Who created Hezbollah smart ass? Ayatollah Khomeni, that’s who. For what purpose? To encourage radical Isamlists by terrorizing Israel. Hezbollah has been trained and armed by Iran since its creation. They gain all their support through creating chaos such as in Lebanon and by harrassing Israel.
Posted on 15-May-08 at 7:38 pm | Permalink
Abattoir wrote:
Yes, Iran created Hezbollah, and continued to support it. Hezbollah was created to defend the Shi’ite Muslims in Lebanon from Israeli occupation and the ‘West’, particularly Israel’s occupation of southern Lebanon.
They are an elected political party, and have engaged in significant reconstruction following the devastating war in Lebanon. Contrary to ‘creating chaos’ in Lebanon, they are performing many of the municipal services one would expect of a government.
I’m no big fan of Hezbollah’s foreign actions, particularly their attacks on Israel following their retreat. However, I can see that nothing is as black and white as you seem to think. All sides involved in the region are guilty. Including us.
Posted on 17-May-08 at 5:51 pm | Permalink
igloogirl wrote:
Atta’ boy Mr. Meatcutter, keep burying your head in the Arabic desert sand.
Posted on 19-May-08 at 6:44 pm | Permalink