Harper And Kenney Want To Win The Ethnic Vote
PM Stephen Harper wants to win the ethnic vote in the next election. In the January 6th Globe and Mail, journalist Campbell Clarke writes, "Stephen Harper's Conservatives hope to redraw the political map by softening the Liberal Party's traditional hold on ethnic communities with the appointment of a new junior minister and recruitment of a Liberal defector meant as symbols of the drive."
Traditionally seen as Liberal turf, ethnic communities have generally shunned the Conservatives (whether they called themselves the PC or CPC). Former Conservative MP, Garth Turner said of the recent cabinet shuffle; "Jason Kenney, Harper’s man-in-waiting, goes from Parliamentary secretary to junior cabmin, in charge of multiculturalism - a role he’s been doing in reality for almost a year, building Tory support in unTory places. This guy is PMSH’s secret electoral weapon, and you would not believe who he’s been talking to!"
Turner Report
So Jason Kenney is Harper’s secret electoral weapon in the fight to win the ethnic vote. Well isn’t that interesting.
It should be stated for the record that both Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney were major players as well as elected Member’s of Parliament for the old Reform Party of Canada.
Now those not familiar with the Reform Party, suffice it to say that it was riddled and plagued with racist elements during its entire history. "There is no room for racists in the Reform Party of Canada," said Preston Manning, leader of the Reform Party, on February 28, 1992. This statement came after reports that at least four members of the Heritage Front, and possibly up to twenty neo-Nazis, were involved with Reform riding associations in Toronto. On March 11, 1992, [ four] Heritage Front members (all of whom had gone to Libya in 1989), were expelled from the Beaches-Woodbine Reform Party riding association."
In June of 1992, Michael Lublin, an Orthodox Jew who was the director of community relations in Ontario for the Reform Party, resigned, alleging widespread racism and anti-Semitism within the Party. He also claimed that he had alerted the Party leaders of the Heritage Front infiltrators in August 1991, and that these claims were not investigated until the story broke in the press in February of the following year.
The Reform Party's stance against 'hyphenated Canadianism', federal funding of multiculturalism, and changes to the RCMP dress code (e.g. allowing turbans), in part explains the attraction of groups like the Heritage Front to the Party. Although Droege condemns David Duke's attempts to be accepted in mainstream politics, his involvement with the Reform Party points to a similar search for credibility, one which has led him from radical groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Western Guard to the Heritage Front. Droege's attempt to make a space for the Heritage Front in the Reform Party was a bid to make his views more acceptable through their exposure in a mainstream arena." The Nizkor Project
So let’e review. Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney were previously elected Members of Parliament with the Reform Party of Canada which had a number of image problems with regard to multiculturalism, immigration and ethnic minority rights in Canada. Now Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney are ‘Conservatives’ and they want to win the ethnic vote!?
Go figure.
tag stephen harper
VOTE
Traditionally seen as Liberal turf, ethnic communities have generally shunned the Conservatives (whether they called themselves the PC or CPC). Former Conservative MP, Garth Turner said of the recent cabinet shuffle; "Jason Kenney, Harper’s man-in-waiting, goes from Parliamentary secretary to junior cabmin, in charge of multiculturalism - a role he’s been doing in reality for almost a year, building Tory support in unTory places. This guy is PMSH’s secret electoral weapon, and you would not believe who he’s been talking to!"
Turner Report
So Jason Kenney is Harper’s secret electoral weapon in the fight to win the ethnic vote. Well isn’t that interesting.
It should be stated for the record that both Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney were major players as well as elected Member’s of Parliament for the old Reform Party of Canada.
Now those not familiar with the Reform Party, suffice it to say that it was riddled and plagued with racist elements during its entire history. "There is no room for racists in the Reform Party of Canada," said Preston Manning, leader of the Reform Party, on February 28, 1992. This statement came after reports that at least four members of the Heritage Front, and possibly up to twenty neo-Nazis, were involved with Reform riding associations in Toronto. On March 11, 1992, [ four] Heritage Front members (all of whom had gone to Libya in 1989), were expelled from the Beaches-Woodbine Reform Party riding association."
In June of 1992, Michael Lublin, an Orthodox Jew who was the director of community relations in Ontario for the Reform Party, resigned, alleging widespread racism and anti-Semitism within the Party. He also claimed that he had alerted the Party leaders of the Heritage Front infiltrators in August 1991, and that these claims were not investigated until the story broke in the press in February of the following year.
The Reform Party's stance against 'hyphenated Canadianism', federal funding of multiculturalism, and changes to the RCMP dress code (e.g. allowing turbans), in part explains the attraction of groups like the Heritage Front to the Party. Although Droege condemns David Duke's attempts to be accepted in mainstream politics, his involvement with the Reform Party points to a similar search for credibility, one which has led him from radical groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and the Western Guard to the Heritage Front. Droege's attempt to make a space for the Heritage Front in the Reform Party was a bid to make his views more acceptable through their exposure in a mainstream arena." The Nizkor Project
So let’e review. Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney were previously elected Members of Parliament with the Reform Party of Canada which had a number of image problems with regard to multiculturalism, immigration and ethnic minority rights in Canada. Now Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney are ‘Conservatives’ and they want to win the ethnic vote!?
Go figure.
tag stephen harper
VOTE
Buck,
So let’e review. Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney were previously elected Members of Parliament with the Reform Party of Canada which had a number of image problems with regard to multiculturalism, immigration and ethnic minority rights in Canada. Now Stephen Harper and Jason Kenney are ‘Conservatives’ and they want to win the ethnic vote!?
You're reaching here, big time. I don't even really see your point. If any body in an organization holds certain views, than everyone in that organization must hold the same views, or what?
I mean, are you trying to associate Stephen Harper or Jason Kenney with racism? What is your point here, other than subliminal messaging?
Posted by
Olaf |
12:39 pm, January 06, 2007
Read the last sentence of my post - I said, "multiculturalism, immigration and ethnic minority rights in Canada." You said racism.
Ollie - my dear old mother always taught me that I may be judged in life by the company I keep; that one should always be aware that you may be judged by the company that you keep.
Why are you ALWAYS so quick to come to the aid of Harper, Kenney and other assorted former REFORMERS? (A crew that had to keep changing the name of their party so that they could finally get elected).
Posted by
leftdog |
12:53 pm, January 06, 2007
Buck,
Well, my mother told me that you should never judge a person exclusively based on the company that keeps them (she actually never told me this, but I'm sure she thinks it).
I mean, it's not like you have evidence that Harper or Kenney ever hung out with the neo-nazis or anything. It's difficult to screen all potential party members for repugnant personal beliefs. The connection is spurious at best.
Which brings me back to my question: what is your point? What are you saying, other than that there were some racists in the old Reform party (just as, I assure you, there are/were some racists in the NDP and Liberal parties, even if they're less explicit about it)?
Spell out for me what you're getting at, if you don't mind.
Why are you ALWAYS so quick to come to the aid of Harper, Kenney and other assorted former REFORMERS?
I don't know, probably because they don't always get the most balanced shake here at Buckdog. Although never a member of the party myself, they're not the bigoted, hateful group that they're made out to be, and actually are quite an honourable bunch all told, even if you may disagree with their social conservative views.
Plus, I take umbrage at the idea that because Harper was involved with a party that may have had nefarious elements in it, he should somehow be considered in this light. If I thought you had a legitimate point here, other than to try to some how associate Harper with racism (otherwise, why tell the stories of the neo-nazis, widespread racism and anti-semitism, and the like?) than I may have let it slide.
But instead, you'll feel the brunt of my mild dissatisfaction!!! Arggghh!!!
Posted by
Olaf |
2:20 pm, January 06, 2007
So ... Harper and Kenney come from a political tradition that is opposed to multiculturalism - have been in political parites with known 'racism' problems BUT NOW MAGICALLY they are the best political friends that ethnic Canadians have ever had????
I don't think so (and neither will Canada's vibrant multicultural segment)!
You guys are toast - the sooner these Reformer/Alliance/Conservative scum are thrown out of power, the better.
Posted by
leftdog |
3:02 pm, January 06, 2007
I read the whole Campbell Clarke article today and what struck me most was how openly the Harpies were about Kenney basically using his new role to be a CPC salesman. This is cabinet, not party headquarters, not the Western Standard, yet Jason Kenney's job, by the admission of his own people is to push the Conservative brand to new Canadians. This post has nothing to do with programs or anything, it's just salesmanship.
Posted by
Dan |
9:42 pm, January 06, 2007
And to think I've always viewed our neighbor to the north as a safe sanctuary for those of us who will have to flee Jesusland when Bush names himself emperor for life.
Posted by
Anonymous |
11:16 pm, January 06, 2007
Buck we know why immigrants vote Liberal. Because Judges like Steve Ellis tell them they need to or get deported.
Posted by
trustonlymulder |
8:56 pm, January 23, 2007