Angry in the Great White North

A common thread has appear in the reaction of Liberals to the controversy over the Liberal Party posting a composite photo showing Stephen Harper being assassinated (as part of a contest where the winning image wins a Liberal Party mug).

That reaction seems to be: Stop talking about it already!

The implication is that this is an isolated incident.  It isn't.  Back in November 2008, former Liberal Party strategist Scott Reid had a column published in the Globe and Mail.

There is a curious note at the bottom:

Editor's note: The original version of this article has been amended since publication.

A quick tour of the Internet reveals the alteration.  The text in bold is what was removed from the originally published column:

Stephen Harper is the most dangerous animal lurking in the jungles of Parliament. He is a threat to the future viability of the Liberals. A blood simple opponent of the NDP and the only serious contemporary challenge to the Bloc Quebecois. Without him, his party is an unlikely combination of Reform Party leftovers, Harris refugees and Red Tory desperates. They don't matter or even exist without Mr. Harper. So before you think a moment longer, opposition leaders, think on that.

And if that's not compelling enough, remember: He doesn't play to win. He plays to conquer. Under his guidance, the public interest is always subjugated to his personal political advancement. And he poisons Parliament with an extreme, bare-fanged breed of partisanship that has no hope of repair until he is banished.

This becomes relevant because suddenly, he is weak. In fact, at this particular moment, he is almost unable to defend himself. Owing to a ridiculously ill-considered act of hubris, he has laid himself vulnerable to his opponents. Their imperative could not be more clear: kill him. Kill him dead. Do not, whatever you do, provide him with an opportunity to extend his hold on power. Because you can be damn certain he will never again be so reckless as to give you a chance to finish him off.

Later in the text, an addition is made.  The added word is italicized:

So don't get fancy. Don't get confused. And don't get weak in the knees. If you don't put Mr. Harper in his political grave, he'll put you in yours.

The original version of that column prompted this posting at Red Tory, with a picture of Stephen Harper being threatened by very real looking revolvers, under the title "Kill or Be Killed":

Kill or Be Killed

Scott Reid lays out the case for terminating the Harper government with extreme prejudice.

Fate tends to be grudging with gifts of this significance. To ignore it would be an error every bit as historic as the one Mr. Harper himself has made.

So don't get fancy. Don't get confused. And don't get weak in the knees. If you don't put Mr. Harper in his grave, he'll put you in yours.

Of course, it may be academic. The opposition may not even get the chance if, as has been rumored, Harper decides to prorogue parliament for the remainder of the year.

Update: The Tories' latest maneuver is to move up the date of the budget to Jan. 27th when parliament returns from holiday, but it's still unclear what, if any stimulus they're prepared to deliver.

Larry Moran, a professor at the University of Toronto, also blogged about the original article, and thought the murderous metaphor was appropriate.

Another example of the Liberals using the language of murder and death to express their political views. 

Sure it's a metaphor.  A sick and disgusting metaphor from a person who, ironically, expressed an unscripted opinion that Canadian parents aren't qualified to raise their own children.  Instead, "professionals" vetted by Liberals and paid for by your tax dollars are better suited to do the job.

Because, as you know, Canadian parents would spend money on beer and popcorn for themselves instead of on milk and bread for their children.  Canadian parents who aren't Liberals apparently lack the moral compass to know right from wrong.

This same person calls on politicians to metaphorically kill him dead.  Not to kill the government.  Kill Stephen Harper dead.

But the use of a metaphor, by a person who has Liberal Party credibility, adds legitimacy to the use of that sort of language. 

Kill him.  Kill him dead.

How long before someone starts taking that sort of thing seriously?

Oh wait, maybe someone already did.  Maybe it's the reason that people at Liberal Party HQ seem to think posting a picture of Stephen Harper being assassinated was not such a big deal.

It's just another metaphor, right?  Just another symbol used by progressives and their subtle shades of meaning?

It's a sickness, and it's spreading.

A pattern of apologies: Oh yes, Scott Reid apologized for insulting Canadian parents after the media frenzy started.  Just like the "Kill him dead" text was quickly removed once people started complaining.  Just like the Liberal Party apologized for posting a picture of Stephen Harper being murdered once the howls started to be heard.  First the mask slips, then the light is cast on them, then they scuttle away making apologies.

Hat Tip: A tip to Blue Like You and to others who remember Scott Reid's bizarre column.