Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Charlatan
I am thinking this sort of kicking the corpse while it's down is a good thing for the party. Look what it did for the Reform party.
LINK |
Maybe this Liberal senator can come out of her land of milk and honey and show us her leadership skills. She might even be fast tracked because of her attitude. Yeesh,...someones got issues. Sorry, couldn't resist
OTTAWA (CP) - The federal Liberals are distancing themselves from a senator's harsh criticism of the United States in a letter she sent defending the Canadian seal hunt.
Senator Celine Hervieux-Payette replied recently to a letter from a U.S. family which called the hunt "horrible" and "inhumane." Hervieux-Payette responded what she found horrible is "the daily massacre of innocent people in Iraq, the execution of prisoners - mainly blacks - in American prisons, the massive sale of handguns to Americans, the destabilization of the entire world by the American government's aggressive foreign policy, etc."
Opposition Leader Bill Graham issued a statement Friday saying those words "reflect her personal opinions and not those of the Liberal Party of Canada."
"The Liberal Party of Canada values the friendship and commitment to democratic principles that Canada shares with the United States."
The Liberals are sensitive about perceived anti-Americanism within the party in the wake of past controversial comments by several MPs.
Scotty Greenwood, executive director of the Canadian American Business Council in Washington, said the remarks would be noticed in the U.S capital, where legislators might not easily distinguish between Liberals and the Conservative government.
"It's really unfortunate and not what we need in the relationship right now," said Greenwood.
"Instead of taking those concerns and dealing with them, she attacks the policies of the United States."
U.S. officials have been clearly relieved at the prospect of improving relations strained under the Liberals.
Former prime minister Paul Martin banished Carolyn Parrish from the Liberal caucus after she made harsh comments about U.S. President George W. Bush. But she was a sitting MP in a government party while Hervieux-Payette is an unelected senator from the Opposition.
There was no suggestion Hervieux-Payette's comments might bring disciplinary action from her caucus.
The Quebec senator was unavailable for comment.
The letter from the U.S. family was sent to all senators but Hervieux-Payette was apparently the only one who replied.
The senator's remarks drew a sharp rebuke from Rebecca Aldworth of the Humane Society of the United States, who said Hervieux-Payette was out of line.
"Her statements were inflammatory and offence to Americans, who have the absolute right to speak up on the seal hunt regardless of U.S. foreign policy," Aldworth said.
"Her comments weren't at all appropriate or relevant."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cpress/20060..._cda_seal_hunt