More Criticism of Harper Government But Does it Even Matter Now?

Another small opinion piece on the Star site yesterday, raised further concerns about the impact of Harper smear campaigns, but will any of this really make a difference?

He's been systematically tearing down all safeguards that protect Canadian citizens from tyranny, and with those no longer in place; he can pretty much do what he wants, because we're powerless to stop him.

He controls the media, the message, public servants, soon the senate, and us. He's alienated the international community, essentially making Canada an island, and is allowing the Religious Right to dictate foreign policy, most of which is based on a biblical prophesy.

Where will this end? Who knows. The only thing I know is that it better end soon.

Shabby Tory smears
December 20, 2009

Is everyone who disagrees with Prime Minister Stephen Harper a Taliban stooge, a raving anti-Semite or a loony-left extremist?

You'd think so, to hear the shabby low blows Harper and his cabinet are forever aiming at any and all who dare to criticize federal policy.

In Jerusalem this past week, Citizenship Minister Jason Kenney took aim at a Christian aid agency, KAIROS, in a speech that lauded Harper's support for Israel and railed against "anti-Semitic despots, terrorists and fanatics."

KAIROS's sin, in Kenney's view, was its "leadership role in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign" against Israel. That's why the Tories "defunded" the agency, Kenney explained. (KAIROS denies favouring a boycott or disinvestment.)

Kenney's attack, sadly, was anything but an exception.

All through the Afghan detainee affair, the Conservatives have sought to brand Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff and other critics as unpatriotic, hostile to Canada's troops, and Taliban dupes. Yet everyone from the U.S. government to our diplomats to the Red Cross had warned that Ottawa was taking a risk detainees might be tortured.

And it hardly ends there. Last month the Conservatives circulated flyers in opposition ridings with lots of Jewish voters implying that the Liberals are anti-Semites who back Hamas and Hezbollah. That led Liberal MP Irwin Cotler, a Jew, to accuse them of "false, misleading, prejudicial and pernicious slander."

Last year, they scrapped a $4.7 million travel program to promote Canadian culture abroad because past recipients, including journalists Gwynne Dyer and Avi Lewis, were "left wing" and "radical."

And a year before that, the Tories defamed then Liberal leader Stéphane Dion with attack ads implying he was a "sellout" or "traitor" to Quebec's interests, not to mention a criminal.

The Conservatives invite contempt with these endless, over-the-top smears. They discredit their party and its policies.