NewsTalkRadio host John Gormley has chosen to back up Peter MacKay [also a former Progressive Conservative] and called Belinda “flaky” while saying it’s not so important for Peter to say he’s sorry for for calling Belinda a “dog” in the House of Commons.
“…the controversy over what Conservative Peter McKay did or didn’t say in the House of Commons about his dog.”
He even seems to dispute that MacKay said what he did, by saying “did or didn’t say”.
“Saskatchewan’s Ralph Goodale, says the McKay comments were sexist, they reflect on the entire Conservative government and now even call into question the government of Canada’s ability to advocate for the rights of women in Afghanistan.
Note to Ralph Goodale: enough overkill on the hyperbole can make people wonder about your judgment.”
Note to Gormley: I know you’re in the entertainment business, so hyperbole is your bread and butter, but giving MacKay any leeway on this issue makes me wonder about your judgment. MacKay is the MP that told the female NDP leader to go back to “knitting”. He’s a sexist guy, so quit defending him. Sure it’s a “highschool” spat in the words of a female Conservative MP, but if a highschoolish slur is fit for Parliament, then that place has gone downhill faster than Jerry Springer’s show.
It’s not a requirement for something to be in Hansard for an MP to be in contempt of parliamentary behaviour. That Peter lied, speaks volumes about his character, and that the Conservatives are willing to cover up the sexist comment as if it didn’t happen, speaks some about theirs too. If Ralph Goodale gave Harper the finger while David Anderson is speaking, do you think that would be unparliamentary even though the act didn’t show up in the Hansard record? Duh, yeah right?
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Olaf | 23-Oct-06 at 9:43 pm | Permalink
Saskboyeee,
(note, I’ve copied and pasted this from a comment I left elsewhere, because so people are still bringing this up, as some how corroborating evidence that MacKay is sexist, and I can’t bring myself to retype it every time)
Why do people insist on bringing this up?
MacKay is the MP that told the female NDP leader to go back to “knitting”
MacKay told her to “stick to your knitting and win your own riding”. “That’s not a sexist reference is it?” McDonough, the veteran politician, shot right back. No, Alexa, it wasn’t. The term stick to your knitting is a not-so-common but sometimes used idiom meaning “mind your own business” or “stick to what you know”, which applies perfectly in the context, and far better than “you don’t know anything you’re just a girl… and win your own riding”(???)
Saskboy | 23-Oct-06 at 10:19 pm | Permalink
That idiom only really applies if he’s used it before in other situations. I don’t see him telling a male politician that, but if he ever has, then I take my remark back.
Olaf | 23-Oct-06 at 10:38 pm | Permalink
Does it apply if he used it in a private conversation (which some politicians have, on occassion) to which you were not privy? I mean, he was not debating a male politician from another riding chirping him about winning his riding, and wasn’t provided with the opportunity to use the phrase on a man.
Saskboy | 23-Oct-06 at 10:47 pm | Permalink
I meant we probably won’t know if he routinely uses the phrase when he feels someone isn’t minding their own bee’s wax. If he whipped out his knitting crack especially because Alexa is a woman, we probably can’t tell. And now that we know he’ll lie publicly if he can get away with it, we couldn’t trust him if we asked him which way it was.
wilson61 | 23-Oct-06 at 10:54 pm | Permalink
So is this MSM non-stop non-story about ’sexist’ remarks from Peter or punishing Belinda for embarrassing the Liberals?
Pretty obvious, now, why she quit the leadership race. bahbye to her leadership asperations, heh.
Saskboy | 23-Oct-06 at 11:17 pm | Permalink
The media is harping on it because the Conservatives/MacKay can’t admit he was wrong, and move on. People tend not to like unresolved romantic spats, that’s why soap operas are still on the air. The problem is, the House is not supposed to be a soap opera, it’s supposed to be a place of reason and debate, instead of posturing for the TV camera so that you get re-elected.
Adrian MacNair | 23-Oct-06 at 11:30 pm | Permalink
I like the issue because I find it amusing so many people are defending a women with less scruples than my computer desk.
Charlie Barnard | 24-Oct-06 at 12:01 am | Permalink
The comment about Goodale giving Harper the finger made me crack up.
Adrian what difference does it make how Belinda’s scruples are, does it change what Peter said? It was stupid for him to deny the comment. He though he could get away with it because it wasn’t in writing. He should have apologized right away, and now that it’s been caught on tape he should apologize for both the comment, and lieing about it afterwards.
mj | 24-Oct-06 at 12:24 am | Permalink
The media is harping on it because the Conservatives/MacKay can’t admit he was wrong, and move on. People tend not to like unresolved romantic spats, that’s why soap operas are still on the air. The problem is, the House is not supposed to be a soap opera, it’s supposed to be a place of reason and debate, instead of posturing for the TV camera so that you get re-elected.
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And this is why we never hear about the hair flipping…..I first heard about it on Mike Duffy (Taber) on friday….from what I am starting to understand now this has been going on for some time. Is there really a double standard?
Saskboy | 24-Oct-06 at 9:03 am | Permalink
Adrian, Belinda’s character is a red herring in this incident, since she wasn’t even there! It doesn’t change the situation. These are MPs, not high school kids.
Saskboy | 24-Oct-06 at 9:04 am | Permalink
MJ what are you talking about?
Adrian MacNair | 24-Oct-06 at 4:49 pm | Permalink
I know her character isn’t the point “persay”. I am merely pointing out the pettiness of dwelling on an issue so irrelevant. I am not without hypocrisy:
http://www.adrian.josephlavoie.com/2006/10/23/peter-mackays-dog-days-of-autumn/
I don’t understand this human need for an apology all the time. M.P.’s don’t have to like each other, or even respect each other. God knows I don’t respect most of the Conservatives, including MacKay or Stronach. I can barely tolerate the knowledge they live and breathe the same air as I do.
Maybe that’s why I’d never make a good politician.