I've been reading the liberal blogosphere trying to get a sense of where people are and what's on people's minds. Apparently, the thing on a lot of blogger's minds is Gerard Kennedy. The other blog camps seem to be determined to throw mud at the Kennedy campaign. Now, to be sure there are negatives to Gerard. His French and his weakness in Quebec are problematic, but some of these attacks are funny in that they are so outrageous. The Canadian Republic has one of the funniest attack headlines: "Gerard Kennedy is a Univeristy Drop-Out!" Apparently, the author's been under a rock in a cave on Mars and didn't know that Kennedy abandoned his studies at the University of Alberta to run the food bank in Edmonton. I'll keep my out for other breaking news items from The Canadian Republic.
All the attacks from all corners of the blogosphere worry me. The Liberal Party of Canada went through thirteen years of civil war after the last competitive leadership race. The last thing this party needs is more in-fighting. Let's talk about how we can present a positive alternative vision of this country to Canadians. Let's talk about how we can reach out to all Canadians. Let's stop stabbing each other in the back. Save the daggers for Stephen Harper.
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9 comments:
I disagree. I think now is the time to criticise. When the leader is chosen we can rally around the leader. Pointing out Kennedy's education and language difficulties is important. People need to know who they are voting for. His web site implies he has two degrees. At least that is what I understood.
Like most non-Torontonians, I'm still discovering Kennedy.
Kennedy only got 1.7% of delegates in Quebec. His English speaking supporters need to know why. And there have been plenty of obsurd explanations in blogs about that.
Altavistagoogle,
You state: "His English speaking supporters need to know why. And there have been plenty of obsurd explanations in blogs about that."
I ask, how exactly are you doing that? You can't/don't even have the commonsense to check up on a statement such as "His web site implies he has two degrees. At least that is what I understood."
Alta vista smear worker,
Your blog has 0 credibility and you are making an idiot of yourself.
I guess you have successfully accomplished one thing: giving everyone another reason NOT to vote for Ignatieff.
AltaVista Google,
We love Kennedy out West. Don't know where you have been. His French is improving and he started late in Quebec. His popularity will only grow.
You are not providing anyone with legitimate information, you are just rude and bitter.
Go Kennedy!
he started no later in quebec than anywhere else. the organization gambit isn't working because it isn't true.
kennedy did not drop out of university to run a food bank. that's not quite a lie but a big stretch of the truth. his hockey scholarship ended (he dropped out of Trent earlier because the whole hockey program was dropped - quite the commitment to school). and after he dropped out he did not "run" the Edmonton food bank. he was just another volunteer.
now i don't know about you folk, but i managed two part time jobs when i got my undergrad and i know lots who had full time jobs plus family. so the "he had to drop out" in order to volunteer at food bank is pretty lame-o stretching of the truth.
and his bio says he was "educated at Trent and UoA". "educated". LOL. Again a little bit of truth stretched. not a lie.
just like his "bilingualism". "Fully bilingual" they all said. Barely passable it turned out. he's still not as good as harper was when he won the leadership for canadian alliance.
Anonymous at 11:46pm,
All of your remarks are inaccurate, but why should anyone be surprised, let me guess, an Ignatieff supporter? You must be best buddies with alta vista smear blogger.
Kennedy is bilingual and he never claimed he was fully fluent.
His campaign in Quebec did start later than others in the top 4.
Kennedy was executive director of the Edmonton Food Bank.
Non-degree education is education.
Keep insulting the overwhelming majority of Canadians that do have a degree by telling them they are not educated and you will help the Party that gets them out to vote-the Conservative Party.
hear hear, local grit.
Anon at 12:08 should have read
Keep insulting the overwhelming majority of Canadians that do NOT have a degree by telling them they are not educated and you will help the Party that gets them out to vote-the Conservative Party.
Neither is true about Kennedy. He dropped out because his scholarship ran out and then he "worked" for the food bank.
Do I care that he worked for the food bank - not in the least, he was paid for it.
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