Comment 61740

By highwater (registered) | Posted March 29, 2011 at 14:14:16 in reply to Comment 61733

I'm a liberal for the most part, but I had no trouble recognizing the colossal ethical failure of adscam, nor do I take it as a personal insult when political opponents bash the Liberals for their past failures.

From its secrecy, its undemocratic use of the prorogue option, its dramatic shifting of power and control to the PMO, its consultations with US Religious Right strategists, just to name a few, the Harper government has shown an unprecedented disregard for Canada's democratic institutions, and by extension the citizenry they represent. Pointing this out is only an insult to those conservative voters who are so blinded by party loyalty, that they see any criticism of their party's actions in power as a criticism of conservative principles in general.

'Contempt' is a strong word in ordinary conversation, I grant you that. However, since 'contempt' is also a parliamentary term for a certain type of action in government, I don't think it carries the same weight in the context of a political discussion, even when it is being used in a more general sense as it was here.

Also, while you may think it is outrageous for someone to suggest that the Conservatives are contemptuous of Canadians, I struggle to find another word to describe the view of women they revealed when they tried to exclude contraception and abortion from their g8 maternal health initiative. Obviously they would never try to pull a stunt like that at home as long as they are in a minority position, but the fact that they were willing to throw women in developing countries under the bus in order to send out an anti-abortion dog whistle to their base, is extremely disturbing. As a woman, that sure feels like contempt to me.

Comment edited by highwater on 2011-03-29 14:59:18

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