Divide and Conquer
Liberal leader says Tories’ personal attacks pit Canadian against each other
By Chinta Puxley – 2 hours ago
WINNIPEG — Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff is accusing the Tories of dividing Canadians through personal attacks on his patriotism and by dredging up controversial remarks about Ukrainians made 15 years ago.
During a stop in Winnipeg Thursday – part of an election-style tour of the west – Ignatieff told a friendly Liberal crowd that the Conservatives are undermining what makes Canada great by attacking his commitment to the country and multiculturalism.
By criticizing him in attack ads for living outside Canada for many years, Ignatieff said the Tories are insulting everyone who was born outside of Canada or works in another country.
“When they attack me, they are actually attacking the thing that makes us a great society – that hunger to succeed,” he said to applause.
“I’m proud to have been out of the country. I’m proud to measure myself against the best the world can offer and I’m proud to have come back to serve.”
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Raging Ranter Says:
Of course, we all know that only the Conservatives would stoop to this repugnant practice.Progressives (i.e. the rest of the parties) are uniters. They unite cosmopolitan Torontoians against the uncouth, uncultured, unwashed, cave-dwelling rural hordes. They unite urban Canada against rural firearm owners. They unite easterners against Alberta and the oil industry. And they unite various victims groups and the Charter-inspired grievance industry against society at large. Nothing but peace, love, happiness and unity for the progressive forces in this country. Only a knuckle-dragging Con-tard would argue with that.
Posted on July 2nd, 2009 at 11:33 pm
Cunctator Says:
I, too, am disgusted by the attack ads. Harpers behaviour in the House of Commons (where he noted that he has video of Ignatieff) and as leader of the Conservative Party (authorising the attack ads) really reveals what kind of leader he has become.
A conservative (small c) should be alarmed since it is fundamental and traditional principles that define us — political victory at the cost of those principles (and I would argue that decency and fairness are two basic principles) denudes conservativism of any purpose.
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 6:10 am
Crux of the Matter » Michael Ignatieff doth protest too much Says:
[...] Ignatieff is doing. Here, for example, is what the Canadian Press is reporting this morning (H/T Jack’s Newswatch): “During a stop in Winnipeg Thursday – part of an election-style tour of the west [...]
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 9:20 am
MaryT Says:
Not all canadians working and living outside of Canada wants to be PM. Does Iggy suggest that those canadians of convience, living in Lebanon and other states could be rescued, brought back here, and take over a political party and run for the PM’s office.
He was not working for Canada, or any canadian entity. He was not in the military, or the diplomatic field. His argument is full of holes. It is he that is trying to turn us against cdns living outside of our Country. I remember hearing about Pearson, before he was in politics but really, how many of us had ever heard of Iggy pre 2005.
The more he brings this up, the more people will be aware of his 34 year absent.
The last poll was done before his stmt, the west is french and will always be french.
He will not win the west.
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 10:04 am
beentheredonethat Says:
What a flippin crybaby. Grow up Iggy.
Attack ads? The MSM won’t do their job of informing the Canadian public about who their aspiring political leaders really are (unless they happen to be Conservative of course). Anybody claiming to be fit to lead this country had better be prepared to have his/her past closely scrutinized by Canadians and not cry foul when information is revealed that is not all huggy kissy and flattering. Background checks on a job applicant are common place in the wrokforce and politicians are not exempt, especially somebody claiming to be qualified to lead this nation. Canadians deserve to know and somebody has to do it. So just who do the so easily offended or (horrors) disgusted people think should? Heck, there is enough fabricating, misleading, and outright lying going on in politics that can be rightfully labelled disgusting, but informative and most importantly truthful ads sure don’t make the list.
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 10:10 am
Soccermom Says:
They are Truth Ads. They show his quotes, what he actually said. What’s “attack” about that? I love them!
There’s nothing wrong with a little education. Lord knows, the Canadian electorate doesn’t know this man at all, seeing as he’s been out of the country for most of his adult life.
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 12:57 pm
ward Says:
We saw what happens with Barrack Obama when the electorate knows nothing of the candidate they are electing.
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 1:31 pm
UV Says:
This is my favorite truth attack Iggy ad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BVoT-1B30s
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 1:39 pm
UV Says:
Also, the federal lieberals are hyprocrites when it comes to pitting Canadians against Canadians as they have done with their “Official Languages Act” which discriminates against unilingual anglophones as well as francophones in the federal civil service, crown agencies etc.
http://www.languagefairness.ca/
Even in Canada’s only official bilingual province (little Quebec) New Brunswick, Anglos fear they are being threaten by the minority francophone community since the province became bilingual.
http://www.asnb.ca/
LIEberals – still the great (language) dividers.
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 1:45 pm
Mac Says:
The reason I posted this wasn’t to offer criticism of political ads. Let’s face it… as long as there has been politics (the world’s second oldest profession which closely resembled the world’s oldest profession), such tactics existed in one form or another.
Consider the hypocrisy of Count Iggy on an “election-style tour” accusing the Conservatives of engaging in divisive politics. Would the Iggster like us to believe he is out there talking to Liberal supporters for the purpose of building bridges with the Conservatives? If he’s so proud of being abroad, of testing his wits and wings against the world, then why is he contrary to the Conservatives doing ads about his exploits? Liberal faux-outrage is getting a bit stale.
As soon as Count Iggy hits the “Eject” button connected to The Worm’s seat, I’ll believe he’s serious about doing politics differently. Otherwise, it’s just business as usual.
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Lane Says:
If Iggy were a Conservative his past in the U.S. would lead every mention of his name in the MSM.Because they are all in bed together the only way his past will get to people who don’t follow politics is by the use of “attack adds” funny how the truth bothers the left in this country
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 6:40 pm
stageleft Says:
Boy oh boy, ya can’t pull the wool over Iggy’s eye’s can ya? No sir-re-bob.
What an idiot, anybody with half a clue knows that the entire party system is designed to drive wedges between Canadians.
Take a walk on the left side and you see non-thinking hyper-partisans talking about the evil heartless CONservatives, wander over to the other side of the fence and there’s another bunch of non-thinking hyper-partisans decrying the socialist LIEbrils who want to destroy the very fabric of the country.
For the most part political statesmanship and discourse in Canada has been driven to new lows each and every year, and still consistantly strives to find new muddy ruts to crawl into at every opportunity.
It’s pathetic.
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 9:01 pm
Mac Says:
I thought I was cynical… then I met Cynapse… and stageleft… Now, I think I’m an optimist!!
Posted on July 3rd, 2009 at 11:52 pm
mike Says:
Doesn’t he sound somewhat like Stephan “it’s not fair” Dion. Or, “it iz not izzy to make priorities .” Iggy seems to make priorities but then reverses them.
What a sad lot we have to choose from.
mid island mike
Posted on July 4th, 2009 at 1:43 am