Abandoned Stuff by Saskboy

I got a tip about this story, because I missed it before (obviously). It seems Tammy of News Talk Radio in Saskatchewan needed something controversial to write for her blog, so she picked on Amber Jones of the Saskatchewan Green Party (not a hard target given how many people are pro-nukes in this province). Many people have already smacked down her insults(including Kelly Patrick, Pres. Green Party of Sask.), and Tammy has offered no retraction after having a chance to rethink her prudish, and outdated opinion on breastfeeding (not to mention the apparent facts of the press conference format). Coupling that with her uninformed, and apparent burning need to slam the Sask Greens over non-policy issues, and it says something about her (and her organization) that isn’t flattering.

Posted April 23, 2008 - 10:54am by Tammy Robert

Amber Jones, what the hell are you trying to prove?

The 27-year old newly appointed leader of the Saskatchewan Green Party showed up at the Leg yesterday for a media appearance, with her six month old baby in tow.

Well aren’t you every woman.

After a quick breastfeed (presumably because no private rooms were available nearby, conveniently ensuring reporters were able to witness all the glorious nurturing), Jones was up for her announcement, and Baby was passed to Daddy so Mommy could shine.
[...]
Tammy Robert is the Executive Producer of ‘The John Gormley Live Show’ - listen live every weekday morning from 8.30am - 12.30pm on NewsTalk 650 or NewsTalk 980.

On April 23rd, 2008 Kelly Patrick says:

Dear Ms. Roberts,

As President of the Green Party of Saskatchewan and one who organized yesterday’s highly successful press conference, I don’t recall anyone from Rawlco Radio being present and I don’t know who you are quoting your information from.

Reading your blog as your own opinion but on your employer’s site, you seem to possess a degrading and backward view of where women belong in society.

At the Green Party of Saskatchewan Press Conference, Amber Jones did not hold her baby until after the press conference was over. As well, it was only because CTV asked Amber to hold Ainsley for a television shot did she oblige to do so. Your accusation that this was done intentionally is mean spirited and very hurtful. Amber Jones is one of the most sincere, honest, non-manipulative people I know and you really should extend an apology for your comments which are based on ignorance. If you do not, I have asked management at Rawlco to do so. The fact that you were not in the room begs me to wonder what other issues you have with this. May be you should think about this. I have to ask what possibly motivated you to put down the Leader of political party just because she breastfeeds her six month old child and do so on Rawlco Radio’s website.

I honestly hope Rawlco Radio, the Rawlinson family and others who represent a fair, equitable, open and tolerant society do not share your views which are archaic, outdated, misinformed and backward. As you chose to be critical of Amber Jones in her capacity of Green Party Leader of Saskatchewan, I would have hoped you kept it professional and criticized the policy position on Resource Royalty rates or the lack of government promotion of alternate uses of power, as opposed to criticizing the fact that this woman breastfeeds her six month old child.

As a 43 year old single mother with two exceptional teenagers and someone who has grown up in politics my whole life, I think it may have been more appropriate if you kept your personal issues to yourself. However, now that you opened a very ugly can of worms, I have to ask you what is wrong with women breastfeeding and possibly at a place of work? From what I know, you obviously feel it’s okay to get a tattoo at work, so what is so wrong with someone bringing their child to a momentous time in their life. Your personal views on this only outline your ignorance of the struggles women face in politics daily. If anything, you could learn to be more supportive. If not, I am saddened that you went out of your way to pass judgment on something that you have no knowledge of. So typical of an aspect of Saskatchewan some of us are trying to change.

I think I should introduce Tammy to “classy sean“. They ought to get along great - both set in their ways, and think a mother’s career comes before and to the exclusion of a child’s natural food security.

UPDATE:

Protests At News Talk Station
By Sarah Mills
Updated April 28, 2008 - 1:33pm

A group of angry breast feeding mothers protested in front of the News Talk Radio station in Saskatoon.

They were protesting a John Gormley Live producer Tammy Robert’s blog suggesting a politician used her baby as prop when she breast fed her baby before a news event.

Green Party president [sic] Amber Jones says she just wants to talk about the issues.

Jones has been invited to do a guest blog on Newstalk 650, and guest on one of our talk shows.

Opinions on blogs are one person’s opinion and not those of the the radio station.

also

Breast Feeding Mothers Protest News Talk Radio

By Mervin Brass
Updated April 28, 2008 - 1:45pm

About 35 breast feeding mothers brought their babies with them to protest a News Talk Radio blog site at the Saskatoon station.

Last week John Gormley Live’s producer Tammy Robert wrote about breast feeding politicians who use their babies as political props.

Green Party president [sic] Amber Jones had her baby at a news conference where she breast fed the child.

Jones has been invited to do a guest blog on News Talk Radio, and guest on one of our talk shows.

Opinions on blogs are one person’s opinion and not those of the the radio station.

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And here’s something completely unrelated to the topic before (aside from the Green Party connection). The other day I attended an eco-fair at Campbell Collegiate in Regina, and both the NDP and Green Parties had booths set up in the hallway. I would have had to laugh if they were facing each other, but two tables separated each from that awkward 8 hours. One of the people manning (is that a gender insensitive verb? I suppose so…) STAFFING the Green Party of Canada / Sask booth was Green Party of Canada candidate for a Moose Jaw riding, Larissa Shasko (link also unrelated). I introduced myself, and it turned out that Larissa had encountered my blog before and recognized who I was by my email address. I got a laugh out of that, and said I’d write something about meeting, so here it is…