Chamber of commerce says NDP ads, anti-star wars rally hurt Canada's image
Just when Americans were beginning to forget that a senior Canadian official once called their president a "moron," the Canadian Chamber of Commerce (news - web sites) says NDP Leader Jack Layton has stirred up anti-U.S. sentiment.Thursday's anti-star-wars rally and the rhetoric in the party's TV ads, which lambaste the Liberals and Conservatives for being too cosy with Washington, are fodder for right-wing talk show hosts south of the border, said Nancy Hughes Anthony, president of the chamber.
Have you ever listened to American right wing talk radio, Ms Hughes Anthony? The only way to please people like Michael Savage would be to make racist statements so vicious they would probably violate our hate laws. The only way we're going to impress Rush Limbaugh is to condone torture and compare it to fraternity hazings. We're in the process of deciding who's going to govern our country for the next four years. We're trying to decide what's right for Canada. Watching everything we say because it might offend people who wouldn't be happy unless we declared martial law and arrested all the Muslims is not an option. (No, I'm not talking about all Americans. Do you know what Michael Savage is like?)
But thanks for confirming that profit is more important to you than democracy, Ms Hughes Anthony. Thanks for confirming that as far as the business community is concerned, Canadians shouldn't exercise their right to peacefully demonstrate in support of their beliefs because it might hurt your image. Believe it or not, when it comes to our political convictions we don't all check with marketing consultants before deciding where we stand.
"People in Washington watch what goes on in Canada very closely," she said in an interview from Ottawa. "We don't like it when American politicians make unkind remarks about Canada."
Speak for yourself. Depending on the particular politician and the particular remark, I'm sometimes quite proud to be insulted.
Hughes Anthony admitted she hadn't seen the television spots, which were unveiled Thursday and expected to run nationally over the next few days.
That hissing sound you hear is the air leaking out of your credibility. You're the president of a national organization and you're going in front of the media to criticize ads you haven't even seen? You're intellectually dishonest. Either that or you're an idiot.
While the ads don't take direct shots at the Americans, Hughes Anthony said there is implied criticism and it comes just when fences are being mended.Combined with the anti-star wars rally in Toronto, she said, she worries Canada's already suspect image with Americans will be tarnished further.
Oooooh. Implied criticism. I read Americans every day who say far more critical things about their own country than anything Jack Layton would likely say even in private. The US of A is the land of free speech. They can take it. There are adults down there. George Bush notwithstanding. (I expect I'll now be the subject of Ms Hughes Anthony's next interview.)
"We were just getting past the anti-American comments of some Liberals," the chamber president said. "If Mr. Layton wants to lead this country, he can't go around insulting our biggest trading partner. People in the business community know you have to be respectful."
Respectful? Shall I list all the ways that businesses can be disrespectful of their customers? Can I start with the recording industry? How about misleading advertising?
How about if I tell you that I'm personally offended at your attempt to prevent a legimate political party from expressing itself. Your attempt to stifle debate is not appreciated. So how about you shut up, sit down, and let us hear what the candidates have to say so we can try and make an informed decision.
Thanks in advance.
Idiot.
(If she hadn't admitted that she hadn't even seen the ads in question, I might have kept my mouth shut. Nah, I would have yelled at her anyway. All this "don't talk about the Americans during an election" is getting on my nerves. Now if she wants to express herself as a private citizen it's an entirely different matter. But then she wouldn't command the attention of the media, would she?)
Right on!!
The Chamber would happily have our troops getting shot at in Iraq so trucks could maybe possibly shave five minutes off a three-hour wait at the border.
The assumption that making anyone in the US mad at us will cause them to close their borders is assinine. There was a little pre-911 incident a couple of years ago where a Chinese fighter plane and a US maritime patrol plane collided, killing the Chinese pilot. The US crew & plane were impounded and a diplomatic brou-ha ha ensued. Trade between the US and China? Continues to go up and up. Relative importance? China is big, but our trading relationship is (for now) bigger. If they can almost shoot at each other without interrupting their trade relationship, I think we're safe. No need to walk on eggshells.
Enraging right-wing US commentators does little to our economy. It does, however, embarass our large expatriate community of neo-Cons who have fled south of the border for greener pastures. Many of these emigrants probably write and do research for the aforementioned Limbaugh, Savage, Hannity, etc anyway, thus encouraging further mentions.
Yeah, like David Frum -- Barbara must be revolving rapidly.
The US is our own 400-lb-gorilla, so I guess I can understand that CofC types have to keep an eye on it. But criticizing the NDP ads when they haven't even seen them? Sounds more like just good old anti-NDP rhetoric from the good old business community.
Just another example of the COC's dedication to continued support for the "Big Idea" of deep integration.
Pushing for drops in labour, pollution standards, etc., under cover of "securing trade". Seems like its business as usual for them.
I wonder if I can sick the BBB on the CoC.
I'm wondering why she's worried about anything the NDP has to say. It's not like they stand a chance in this election..... seems like there are a lot better things for her to freak out about than a couple of commercials.
I think it's just a kneejerk reaction. She saw a chance to dump on the party that's least sympathetic to the corporate agenda and she took it. Maybe she's concerned that in a minority government situation, the NDP might have some influence on policy. I'll bet the CoC would prefer either a Conservative or a Liberal majority to a situation where Layton might be able to block certain moves.
Interestingly, AUSTRALIA is getting the same treatment. The election is due sometime around August, but Bush has already conveyed that if the Labor Party get into power it will have dire effects on the alliance. The Labor party wants to recall Australian troops home from Iraq (Canada, thou art wise!) The US ambassador has criticised the Labor Party (in Opposition) saying that -they promise support but are being choosy about how and when. their approach is 'if youre not totally on board on the war on terror, we have to seriously rethink our approach to you'. Theres a not-so-subtle provocation happening and many Australians are wondering about the future of the ANZUS alliance. What you need to know is that we have only 250 personnel over in Iraq, and the US ambassador is hinting that a labor government would sigificantly damage ties to the US. Its bloody infuriating and arrogant. On a more positive note, take a look at http://www.brainsnap.com for a chuckle. the Reagan article cheered me up today. Someone's sane in the world.
kris:
It isn't the 250 personnel the Americans are concerned about. It's the political fallout back home that might result from losing another coalition member.
As for the ambassador, he should be sent home. I regularly criticize Paul Cellucci, the American ambassador to Canada, for overstepping his bounds but even he wouldn't be that openly partisan. If he was I suspect there'd be an overwhelming campaign by Canadians to send him back to Massachusetts. (Though the people I've met online from Massachusetts don't want him back.)
Hey you Stupid Canuks! Shut up and listen. This is America speaking, and telling you how you WILL vote. You don't have a real voice in your fake democracy, anyway.
Vote: Paul Martin. Better the Devil You Know.
Frankly, we don't give a sh*t, but it's easier for us if you don't change anything. Now, you can all go back to sleep. The USA will defend you, without cost to you, just like before.
Thanks, America. I mean, Mike. What are you defending us from? Just curious.
Yourselves. You can't exist, and pay for anything, without our subsidies.
We're defending you from people like Mike.
Oh, and we'll take Cellucci back, but only if you take Romney in trade.
One Massachusetts governor for another. Seems fair. (I love google. I had no idea who you were talking about.)
Oh, to be so blissfully ignorant of Romney...
What I find so funny is that her position is counter productive. Americans only understand force. Behaving all weak and compliant just gets you a sore bottom.
Hey, look at softwood lumber. We are standing our ground and we are winning.
Remember Americans only understand force. You *have to* stand up to them to get anything accomplished.