Jack Layton's First Big Test

With President Obama talking tough with Israel this week, Harper and his new international bully John Baird, made it clear that they would be standing with Israel.

No surprises there.

The gist of Obama's remarks were that the United States should only respect the original boundaries of Israel, laid out in 1967, as they move toward a two-state solution to peace. I think many Canadians would agree.


But the real test here is for Jack Layton. Does he, as a social democrat, support the Democrat president, or stand with Stephen Harper?

If he really wants to present a clear choice to neoconservatism, this is a perfect opportunity. Maybe he'll wait for poll results, or maybe he'll simply remain quiet, given tensions within his own party on the subject.

That was his first test on the issue and he failed.

Today, Tuesday June 15, is a day the NDP‘s Jack Layton will face a leadership test. He is poised to make a decision to punish one of his MPs and it could stain his leadership for a long time to come.

As reported yesterday in the Vancouver Sun and other Canwest papers the party is in a state of near hysteria over what should have been a minor flap ... In this case Vancouver East MP Libby Davies got bushwacked by a pro-Israel activist posing as a neutral -- if not pro-Palestinian -- blogger. After a rally for the Palestinians criticizing Israel's deadly assault on the aid flotilla, a man approached Libby asking for an interview. As she always does, because she never hides her views, she complied. He immediately set her up with what he called a "background question." He asked when the occupation began, 1948 or 1967.

Libby hesitated then said 1948. She made the point that the date was not important -- that whatever the date the occupation was the longest in the world -- and far too long.

The next day the interview appeared on YouTube. But in 24 hours it had gone nowhere -- just 28 views. Then the most vociferous supporter of Israel in the NDP caucus, Thomas Mulcair, got wind of it and it escalated out of control. He went on a relentless campaign to punish Libby. The spin he helped create was that if Libby believed the occupation began in 1948 then she, ipso facto, believes that Israel has no right to exist. Libby has always gone to great lengths to make it clear that she supports Israel's right to exist and the two-state solution endorsed by the NDP. But suddenly Jack Layton was in full-panic mode. He apologized to the Israeli ambassador. He hung Libby out to dry. He forced her to issue a public apology.

She had absolutely nothing to apologize for, and yet he made her apologize anyway.

As leader of the official opposition, however, he will be expected to say something. Does he risk division by challenging Mulcair or take a strong stand against Israeli Apartheid?

Blustering about the Liberals now, would only make him appear weak and indecisive.

He could just issue a statement awash in ambiguity, enough to keep the media at bay, but it would not be enough to separate himself from Stephen Harper.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Libby Davies is not anti-Semitic. Has Jack Layton Gone Nuts?

I am so mad I could scream. Libby Davies is one of the most devoted and competent Members of Parliament and Canada is absolutely blessed to have her. The Conjob Nutjobs have been gunning for her for ages, but now her own caucus is turning on this woman? What in the hell is going on????

New Democratic Party deputy leader Libby Davies is in hot water in her own caucus over controversial comments she made this month at an anti-Israeli protest when she appeared to question the Jewish state's right to exist, while
also suggesting that she believes it should face a boycott and sanctions.

The remarks, made in Vancouver and captured on a video now circulating rapidly on the Internet, have provoked an angry backlash among members of the NDP caucus, including Leader Jack Layton — who quickly distanced himself from Davies.

"I have spoken to the (Israeli) ambassador (to Canada), to indicate very clearly that those comments were not the position of our party and Ms. Davies has sent a letter indicating that she made a very serious mistake," Layton said. "I told her it was a serious mistake."

For the record, the population of Israel is 75.4% Jewish, 20.3% Arab and 4.3% other. So if I say that Israel, the country, is guilty of the most horrendous war crimes, am I also anti-Arab or anti-'Other'? Get a grip people.

Jason Kenney is a moron, John Hagee is nuts and Charles McVety is pure evil. These three stooges from hell want Canada to host the End Times and ship all the Jews back to Israel where they will convert to Christianity or be slaughtered. In this new Orwellian world, they are "normal" and Libby Davies is anti-Semitic.

And what prompted this nonsense? She wasn't sure how long Israel had illegally occupied the West Bank, only that it was too long, a sentiment shared by many Canadians.

As Murray Dobbin points out:

The irony is that Libby is being punished for doing exactly what Jack Layton should be doing: defending the human rights of a people suffering under the oppression of an Apartheid regime.

Maybe it's a good thing that Tommy Douglas is gone, because he would not like what you're turning your party into Mr. Layton. He would not villify Libby but would lead a flotilla with relief for HUMAN SUFFERING! You should be ashamed.

So to Jason Kenney and your ilk, if you can read, read this. I am not anti-Semitic but I oppose the Israeli Apartheid. I do not dislike Jews but I'm not lovin' Israel much these days. I think the human suffering in Palestine, which includes many Christians (Maybe you guys are anti-Christian after all) is unforgivable. And I say these things because I AM CANADIAN!!!

Now come and get me you freaks.

Please Don't Tell Me That the NDP are Drinking from the Same Poisonous Trough as Jason Kenney

A rather disturbing story in the National Post today, and yes I'm aware that the National Post lacks any semblance of being a real newspaper; however, they do bring up an important issue.

The Israeli/Palestinian conflict.

Because we are not allowed to have debates on the issue, it's increasing tension in this country between supporters of both, especially those like myself, who want to hear both sides. And that animosity is trickling down to the House of Commons.

The NP is suggesting that the two deputy leaders of the NDP, Libby Davies and Thomas Mulcair; have joined in the fray and are on opposite sides of the debate. This could create a problem, since they will be expected to assume a lot of Jack Layton's duties as he fights prostate cancer.

According to the Harper Press:

In 2006, at the party's convention in Quebec City, a motion that was highly critical of Israel, and which called Hezbollah a "recognized political party," was brought forward and supported by nearly 90% of delegates. Judy Wasylycia-Leis, a Winnipeg MP, was roundly booed when she expressed her concern that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization. Ms. Davies, on the other hand, called it "a very fine resolution." The MP for Vancouver East is a passionate advocate for the Palestinian cause and has accused Israel of war crimes in the region. She visited Gaza last year, sending back eyewitness accounts that one of her colleagues said "set the party back a great deal in the eyes of moderate Canadians."

By contrast, Mr. Mulcair is a defender of Israel's right to defend itself. Not only is his wife Jewish but her parents are Holocaust survivors. He and other pro-Israel New Democrats such as Ms. Wasylycia-Leis and Pat Martin led a caucus revolt against Mr. Layton two years ago, after the NDP criticized the Conservative government for boycotting the United Nations Conference on Racism in Geneva, dubbed by its critics "Durban 2." At the time, one MP said the party was in danger of being "hijacked" by extremists.

Now the Durban conference should have been criticized because it was clearly a nightmare, but just how hot is this topic within the NDP?

Thomas Mulcair and Libby Davies are two of my favourite politicians, and I would hate to see this drive a wedge between them. However, I tend to think that this is jsut another attempt to stir up trouble.

While I'm still a Liberal supporter, and will continue to promote that party and Michael Ignatieff; my Canada has room for all progressive politicians and definitely has room for Davies and Mulcair.

I've given up hope on any of the Reform-Conservatives seeking a peaceful solution, but dammit, somebody has to. Israel must be stopped, it's that simple, and the wall must come down. But until we start sanctioning them, it's not going to happen.

And before Jason Kenney starts accusing me of a hate crime, or calling me anti-Semitic, there's another important story, this one from the U.S.: American Jews seriously rethinking their relationship with Israel

They are Jewish Jas ... settle down!

The evidence that American Jews are seriously rethinking their relationship with Israel is growing, as is weariness with what some critics have referred to as “McCarthyism” within the organized American Jewish community, which seeks to stifle any dissent.

“This year has seen a dramatic shift in American Jews’ attitudes toward Israel,” write Adam Horowitz and Philip Weiss in the Nov. 2, 2009 issue of The Nation. “In January many liberal Jews were shocked by the Gaza war, in which Israel used overwhelming force against a mostly defenseless civilian population unable to flee. Then came the rise to power of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, whose explicitly anti-Arab platform was at odds with an American Jewish electorate that had just voted 4-to-l for a minority president.

Throw in angry Israelis writing about the ‘rot in the Diaspora,’ and it’s little wonder young American Jews feel increasingly indifferent about a country that has been at the center of Jewish identity for four decades.”

'McCarthyism'. That's exactly what this feels like.

Now I'm sure that people can presents valid arguments on both sides, but that's the problem. We're not allowed to.

“There are signs Washington is feeling changes. Several members of Congress visited Gaza, and some dared to criticize Israel. After Democrats Brian Baird, Keith Ellison and Rush Holt returned, they had a press conference on Capitol Hill led by Daniel Levy...who has played a key role in the emergence of J Street. The congressmen called for Israel to lift the blockade. After first-term Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) visited Gaza and called for a vigorous debate about the conflict there, old-line lobbyists came out against her. But J Street rallied to her side, raising $30,000 for her in a show of support.”

'Dared to criticize Israel'. What distant and far off words. I remember when Canada was a democracy and we could dare to criticize many things. Ah, the good old days.

The efforts to stifle dissent and impose uniformity upon American Jewish life by those in the organized Jewish community are coming under increasing criticism. Columnist Jay Michaelson stirred controversy with a column in the Sept. 25 Forward entitled “How I’m Losing My Love for Israel.”

'Stifle Dissent'. Now those are two words I'm very familiar with, because they represent the new Canada. The Neoconservative Canada that does not allow anyone to object to anything our government is doing, especially when it comes to foreign policy.

If you oppose the war, you're Taliban. Oppose Israeli apartheid, your antisemitic. Oppose the merging of church and state, you're persecuting Christians.

I look forward to the day when we get rid of this government and can start being Canadian again.

Update on Libby Davies and Dimitri Soudas

After Dimitri Soudas's outrageous performance on Thursday, when describing the protest of our government's decision to challenge the survival of the safe injection facility, Insite; myself and several CAPP members decided to do something about it.

Soudas had taken a peaceful protest and turned it into a hostage crisis, when he learned that NDP Libby Davies was standing with the protesters.

From there it turned completely bizarre with accusations of threatening the lives of Chinese Canadians, veterans and children ... oh, and puppies. There were puppies. (no there weren't, though I'm sure if he saw a picture of a puppy on the wall, he would have included that)

It was pretty clear that Dimitri Soudas had really crossed the line of common decency with this one, and I was quite disappointed in the media who provided oxygen to this embarrassing display.

So on the advice of Christopher White, the man who started Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament; several of us emailed the Prime Minister to let him know that Dimitri's behaviour was unacceptable and in fact, had been for some time.

We also made sure to copy our emails to all opposition leaders.

But then after listening to the radio interviews with Evan Solomon, and reading of Davies hard work on this file; I thought an email to her, on behalf of Canadians was in order. She did nothing to deserve this, and since Soudas is after all, our employee, it was up to us to let her know that the majority of Canadians do not condone this.

And I was very surprised and pleased to get a personal email in reply. Along with the email was the press release from the NDP, who not only denounced his most recent hyperbolic fit, but also previous attacks on their party members, and also on Michael Ignatieff.

See this is what politics is supposed to be about. Respect for each other.

Maybe, since it would appear that Stephen Harper has little interest in reining in the ugly, it's up to us to try to restore some civility, to let all politicians know that we are paying attention.

And as Canadians, most of us are smart enough to know who the real victims are.

Libby's Email:

Hi Emily,

Thank you so much for your message and for letting me know members of CAPP are writing to the Prime Minister on Mr. Soudas' comments. It is very heartening to know that we can, in such non-partisan ways, focus on the need to abide by democratic values (such as not proroguing Parliament) and engage in respectful public discourse (which Mr. Soudas seems to have trouble doing!).

I've attached the press release we sent out today, which also includedes a reference to the attack on Mr. Ignatieff as well.

Thanks for writing, Emily!
Sincerely,
Libby

The NDP Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FEBRUARY 12, 2010
PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE MUST APOLOGIZE FOR ATTACKS VANCOUVER

Vancouver East MP Libby Davies is calling on the Prime Minister to apologize to her and retract the inflammatory and false statements made on Wednesday by his chief spokesperson Dimitri Soudas.

“Soudas’ comments misrepresented the actions of an elected Member of Parliament. This type of behaviour should be beneath the Prime Minister and his staff,” said Davies. “Soudas’ hot-headed statements undermined the integrity and dignity of the office of the Prime Minister.”

Davies attended a protest in Vancouver on Wednesday to show her support for InSite, Vancouver’s safe injection site, which the Harper Conservatives have been attempting to shut down despite scientific evidence that shows it is saving lives.

Soudas told the press that Davies organized the protest and that she encouraged “locking and chaining doors of buildings while seniors, veterans, and young children are gathered inside.”

All his charges are completely unfounded and untrue.

This isn’t the first time the Prime Minister’s communications staff have jumped to conclusions based on little or no facts.

In December, Soudas publicly berated environmentalist Stephen Guilbeault at the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, accusing him of creating an anti-Harper press release that another group later claimed responsibility for.

In October, the Government accused New Democrat Leader Jack Layton of being responsible for a protest in the public gallery in the House of Commons. Again, the charge was a fabrication.

And last July, the Prime Minister had to apologize after he attacked the Liberal leader based on false information provided to him by Soudas.

“At best the Prime Minister’s spokesperson is incompetent, and at worst malicious,” said Davies.

“However, we're giving the Prime Minister a chance to the do the right thing, apologize, and correct the misinformation that his chief spokesperson has distributed to the public.”

SEE THIS IS MY CANADA!

My Apologies to Libby Davies on Behalf of the Canadian People

Dear Ms Davies;

I hope that you will accept my apologies on behalf of the Canadian people, for the horrible verbal assault you endured, from one of our employees; Dimitri Soudas.

He often forgets that his job is to speak for the prime minister, on behalf of the Canadian taxpayer, and not to act as a hyper partisan bully for the Conservative Party of Canada.

I admire your courage, standing with your constituents, and other concerned citizens; despite the fact that the Insite project could be deemed by some, to be controversial.

I personally support this important service and would like to see similar projects adopted by all major cities in Canada. I feel that it is not our government's job to judge, only to heal.

But this is not about what brought you to the Chinese Cultural Centre in Vancouver, to stand with the protesters; but the unwarranted attack on your character and credibility.

For that I am truly sorry.

Members of CAPP have written to the prime minister expressing our displeasure with the conduct of Mr. Soudas, which sadly has become part of a pattern. We have copied our emails to all party leaders, so they are aware that we can no longer condone this kind of behaviour.

I will tell you up front, that I am a Liberal supporter, but I am a Canadian first, and it is as a Canadian that I am contacting you now.

Our local NDP candidate, Daniel Beals, has been a tireless worker in Kingston, on behalf of trying to save our prison farms; and what I especially like is that we also have people from the Green Party and Liberals, all working together on this important issue.

That to me is what politics is supposed to be about. Cooperation for the good of the country.

Thank you so much for everything you do to move this nation forward. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, I can assure you.

-----------------------
I just sent this as an email to Libby Davies, who did not deserve the horrendous actions of Dimitri Soudas. You can contact her too: Davies.L@parl.gc.ca

And be sure to copy it:

Stephen Harper: pm@pm.gc.ca

Michael Ignatieff: IgnatM@parl.gc.ca

Jack Layton: laytoj@parl.gc.caGilles

Gilles Duceppe: DucepG@parl.gc.ca

Elizabeth May: leader@greenparty.ca