Angry in the Great White North

Update: Stephane Dion is confronted with tenacious reporters about this story.  After repeatedly trying to lob the problem to Canadian Jewish Congress (because apparently it's their problem to solve -- no, I don't understand the logic either), Dion loses control of the situation and of the crowd.

When Liberal candidate Lesley Hughes got into trouble for her anti-Semitic theories about 9/11, the Liberal Party stood by their candidate, providing her with official channels to use to lash out at her critics:

From: Media@liberal.ca

Sent: Sep 25, 2008 6:51 PM
Subject: STATEMENT - DÉCLARATION [LE FRANÇAIS SUIT L'ANGLAIS]

For Immediate Release

September 25, 2008

Statement from Lesley Hughes, the Liberal candidate for Kildonan-St. Paul 

As a journalist I have spoken and written passionately about the Holocaust. I am a lifelong friend and supporter of the Jewish community in Winnipeg and I am deeply distressed by any suggestion to the contrary. I find any interpretation of my journalism as anti-Semitic personally offensive and I heartily apologize for that perception.

-30-

Contact:
Liberal Party of Canada Press Office
613-783-8888

The Conservative Party, on the other hand, was quite clear in its position, as outline in an official release dated the same day as Hughes' writings and theories:

News Release

Date: September 25, 2008 

Release: Immediate

DION LIBERAL 9/11 CONSPIRACY THEORIST MUST RESIGN FOR HER RADICAL VIEWS

Stéphane Dion Must Explain the Anti-Israel Rants of Extremist Lesley Hughes

Ottawa – The Conservative Party today called for the resignation of Stéphane Dion’s extremist Manitoba candidate Lesley Hughes for writing an essay accusing Israel and America of complicity in the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

“Canadians rightfully relegate 9/11 conspiracy theorists to the extreme ideological fringes of our society,” said Conservative candidate Rochelle Wilner.  “They are also repelled by those who intentionally target the world’s only Jewish nation as a target of suspicion and scorn.   These kind of extremist ramblings have no place in any mainstream political party and if Mr. Dion were any kind of leader, he would fire Lesley Hughes without delay.”

In the aftermath of the brutal terrorist attacks of September 11, self-styled journalist Lesley Hughes wrote an inflammatory article accusing the governments of the United States and Israel of having forewarning of, or being complicit in, the attacks that left 3,000 innocent people dead.

“Israeli businesses, which had offices in the Towers, vacated the premises a week before the attacks, breaking their lease to do it. About 3000 Americans working there were not so lucky,” Ms. Hughes wrote in one part of her essay.  (http://members.shaw.ca/mclachla/page3.htm)

“…a disturbing picture, which suggests CIA foreknowledge and complicity of highly placed officials in the U.S. government around the attacks on the World Trade Center Sept. 11. Many official sources are claiming to have warned the American intelligence community, which spends $30 billion a year gathering information, about the attacks on the twin towers on that heartbreaking day. German Intelligence (BND) claims to have warned the U.S. last June, the Israeli Mossad and Russian Intelligence in August,”  she wrote in another part of her essay. (http://members.shaw.ca/mclachla/page3.htm)

Ms. Hughes’ essay was not her first flirtation with the extremists of the so-called ‘9/11 Truth’ movement.  In fact, Ms. Hughes has, in the past, collaborated with notorious 9/11 conspiracy theorist Barry Zwicker. (http://canadawantsthetruth911.blogspot.com/2007/09/barrie-zwicker-and-lesley-hughes-to.html)

“Canada is a free country and Ms. Hughes is certainly entitled to her opinions however illogical, hateful or extreme they may be,” concluded Ms. Wilner.  “The more serious questions are those about the judgment of Mr. Dion.  He must fire Ms. Hughes immediately.  Otherwise Canadians will be right to conclude that the bizarre, incoherent fanaticism of the 9/11 truth movement has a welcome home within the Liberal Party of Canada.”

This has all the hallmarks of the Farhan Chak fiasco.  As you might recall, the Liberal candidate for Edmonton-Mill Woods-Beaumont had written some equally virulent material.  When the news broke, the Liberal Party stood silent, unwilling or unable to act.

It was only when Farhan Chak was outed as a liar for having claimed a PhD when in fact it had not yet been granted did the Liberal Party finally move against him.

I have to wonder what happened that prompted Stephane Dion to actually do something.  The Liberals were actively defending Hughes as recently as yesterday:

“And Ms. Hughes, a longtime journalist, a writer, was commenting on others’ opinions at that point in time” – Liberal spokesman and Dion’s former National Director of the Liberal Party, George Young (Mike Duffy Live Primetime, CTV Newsnet, September 25, 2008).

Right.  Well, if all she was doing was commenting on others' opinions, then there was no reason to dump her as a candidate, was there:

For Immediate Release

September 26, 2008

Statement from Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion

The Liberal Party's commitment to tolerance and multiculturalism is paramount.

I have reviewed the past comments of Lesley Hughes and it is clear they do not meet this standard.

While I appreciate her apology, I cannot condone those sentiments in any way.

I have therefore asked Ms. Hughes to step down as the Liberal Party candidate in Kildonan-St. Paul.

The comments could not be condoned in any way?  Yesterday the Liberals were condoning these sentiments because they were quotes of what other people said.  Funny how easily they get confused.  I guess it's hard to do research on candidates.  On the other hand, the Liberals weren't cutting the NDP any slack:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 25, 2008

NDP RUNNING CONSPIRACY THEORIST

Bev Collins Views Insulting to Victims of 9-11

Jack Layton must be held to account for approving the candidacy of Bev Collins, a high profile conspiracy theorist and former Canadian Action Party (CAP) President and NDP candidate in Cariboo-Prince George.

Sadly, it appears that the NDP didn’t do any research when they recruited this controversial candidate, who even speaks at “9/11truth conferences.” When confronted with the possibility by the Vancouver Sun yesterday, NDP campaign manager Gerry Scott was quoted as saying “I’m sure she doesn’t believe that” (Vancouver Sun, 24 September 2008)

QUESTIONS:

Was Jack Layton aware of Ms. Collins’ views prior to her becoming an NDP candidate?

If not, now that Jack Layton has this information, will he repudiate or endorse the extreme views of this candidate

Hey, just for fun, let's correct this Liberal release.  I see a typo in it:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 25, 2008

NDP Liberal Party RUNNING CONSPIRACY THEORIST

Bev Collins Lesley Hughes Views Insulting to Victims of 9-11

Jack Layton Stephane Dion must be held to account for approving the candidacy of Bev Collins Lesley Hughes, a high profile conspiracy theorist and former Canadian Action Party (CAP) President and NDP Liberal Party candidate in Cariboo-Prince George Kildonan-St. Paul.

Sadly, it appears that the NDP Liberal Party didn’t do any research when they recruited this controversial candidate, who even speaks at “9/11truth conferences.” When confronted with the possibility by the Vancouver Sun yesterday on Mike Duffy Live, NDP campaign manager Gerry Scott was quoted as saying “I’m sure she doesn’t believe that” Liberal Party spokesperson George Young  said she was just quoting other people.  (Vancouver Sun, 24 September 2008 CTV, 25 September 2008)

QUESTIONS:

Was Jack Layton Stephane Dion aware of Ms. Collins’ Ms. Hughes' views prior to her becoming an NDP Liberal Party candidate?

If not, now that Jack Layton Stephane Dion has this information, will he repudiate or endorse the extreme views of this candidate

There, that's better.

Unfortunately for the Liberals, pretending like nothing was wrong went too far, and they only pretended to call Hughes when Stephane Dion decided to fire her:

Hughes was informed of the decision to drop her by reporters in Winnipeg.

"It is completely stunning and unjust," Hughes said, reading a copy of the Liberal statement given to her by reporters. She said she had been campaigning all morning and had not been contacted by the party.

Yeah, there's that well oiled communications machine at work.  But then Liberals seem confused about this whole issue.  Jason Cherniak was adamant that something had to be done:

It's very simple. A person who supports the 9/11 Truth conspiracy theorists should not be a Liberal candidate. A former candidate who believes that Israelis or Jews knew about the 9/11 attacks in advance should be condemned by the leader of the Liberal Party.

But it wasn't so simple when Jason wasn't informed yet of the Liberal Party position.  While the Liberal Party waffled, Jason Cherniak's position was much more circumspect.  This is how his post read prior to the edit that suggested the situation was so very simple:

I'm looking into the Liberal candidate in Winnipeg.  I will replace this point with my thoughts once I have enough information. I do take the matter seriously and, as an active Liberal, I hope to move things in the right direction internally. I can say, though, that I believe the Liberal Party will react to this story with maturity.

Hope to move things in the right direction?  Was there any doubt that this would happen, given that the situation was so very simple?  Apparently this person should have been condemned outright.

You know, except for a day spent issuing official press releases, making appearances on television, and launching hypocritical attacks on other parties.