Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Liberalism: Do You Agree We've Had Enough of It? -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lorne who wrote (416)	11/18/2004 1:37:06 PM
From: Ann Corrigan	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 224648

lorne, hopefully this is not your MP: CanWest News Service November 18, 2004 CREDIT: This Hour Has 22 Minutes/CBC Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish tosses a George W. Bush doll on the floor and then grinds it in with her boot in an episode of CBC-TV's satirical This Hour Has 22 Minutes. Conservative and some Liberal MPs have denounced the prank as "bizarre and stupid." Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish appears on This Hour Has 22 Minutes. OTTAWA - Renegade Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish has once again enraged members of the opposition and her own caucus after tossing a George W. Bush doll on the floor and grinding it under her heel on a satirical television show. Incensed Conservative MPs demanded that Ms. Parrish -- who last year referred to Americans as "bastards" and more recently likened the U.S. war effort in Iraq to "a coalition of the idiots" -- be banished from the Liberal caucus for her anti-American outburst. Tory House leader John Reynolds said the incident sets the wrong example, particularly for children, and suggested "somebody like that needs some real help." He also said Prime Minister Paul Martin should "kick her out and make her sit as an independent. Sometimes integrity should win over minority government." But the outrage did not emanate only from the opposition benches. Ontario Liberal MP Roger Gallaway called the stunt "bizarre and stupid," and lamented Ms. Parrish's theatrics as "a rather perverse joke." "It's a pathetic spectacle that someone would behave in this fashion. I would expect more from infants. It's rotten timing ... and I would hope that she would consider mending her ways," said Mr. Gallaway, who nonetheless argued against bouncing Ms. Parrish, a four-term MP who represents the Toronto-area constituency of Mississauga-Erindale. "I have a fundamental problem with removing someone from caucus because they're being bizarre and stupid. This place allows all kinds of bizarre and stupid behaviour. Stupidity is a defence here," he said. Liberal caucus chairman Andy Savoy said he spoke to Ms. Parrish yesterday when she said she appeared on the program as a lark and thought the item was funny. Mr. Savoy, for his part, said he disagreed with her view of Americans and felt that stomping on an effigy of the U.S. President was "irresponsible." The kerfuffle surrounds an excerpt from the CBC program This Hour Has 22 Minutes, which features a host handing a Bush action figure to a gleeful Ms. Parrish, who then drops it on the ground and stomps on it as the camera zooms in. The camera then pulls back to show a beaming Ms. Parrish. A senior adviser to Mr. Martin said simply the Prime Minister "doesn't share [Ms. Parrish's] sense of humour." White House spokesman Sean McCormack was diplomatic when asked whether the President had any concerns about criticisms leveled at him by some Liberal members of Parliament. "The President and his team have the highest respect for the Canadian people and members of the Canadian Parliament. Freedom of expression is a great tradition in our democracies," Mr. McCormack said. He said details of Mr. Bush's visit to Ottawa are still being worked out and it is not yet clear whether the President will address Parliament. Conservative leader Stephen Harper said all MPs should behave "like adults" during Mr. Bush's visit, and those who disagree with his views should do so politely. He added that Mr. Martin's refusal to discipline Ms. Parrish suggests the Liberals are happy to pander to anti-Bush feelings, which polls show most Canadians hold.