Posted on 04/28/2005 10:42:17 AM PDT by GMMAC
TORONTO SUN
Thurs, Apr 28, 2005
Confirm or deny, Mr. Martin
Prime Minister Paul Martin, a straight answer, please.
Did you or did you not lead the Liberal caucus in a standing ovation for Jean Chretien on Feb. 9, the day after Chretien appeared before Judge John Gomery to testify about AdScam?
According to what you told the CBC's Rex Murphy on Sunday and the Globe Monday, you now say you didn't. You now say the caucus cheered and you were an innocent bystander.
Really? So does that mean all of the following media accounts of that caucus meeting that appeared Feb. 10 were wrong?
From the Toronto Sun: "Liberal caucus chair Andy Savoy said Martin applauded his predecessor's appearance, provoking a standing ovation from his caucus. '(Martin) put Chretien on a pedestal and I think the entire caucus is really proud of Chretien,' Savoy said yesterday. 'Chretien was a small-town guy that opened a big-town can of whoop-ass on his detractors.'"
From the National Post: "Prime Minister Paul Martin ... garnered a standing ovation from his caucus yesterday for heaping praise on Jean Chretien's performance at the Gomery inquiry this week ... Liberal caucus chairman Andy Savoy told reporters after the caucus meeting that Mr. Martin expressed how 'proud' he was of Mr. Chretien for his powerful testimony ..."
From the Toronto Star: "Martin led a standing ovation for Chretien at the Liberal caucus meeting yesterday, saying that the former prime minister's show-stopping performance at the inquiry ... was 'one of the proudest moments' for Liberals ... "Martin reportedly devoted about a third of his weekly address to caucus in tribute to Chretien ... 'It was very generous,' said one MP who was on the Chretien side through the years of division with the Martin ranks. 'A real-team building exercise,' said another, more Martin-friendly MP.
"At the end of his speech, Martin told his caucus that instead of applauding for him as they usually do, they should applaud Chretien. The approximately 150 MPs and senators then rose to their feet and cheered for the former prime minister."
From the Globe and Mail: "Prime Minister Paul Martin led a rousing ovation at caucus yesterday for Jean Chretrien's controversial performance at the Gomery inquiry, punching his fist in the air and saying that the former prime minister did a 'tremendous job for Canada and for the Liberal party he led.'
"Mr. Martin praised what critics, including some Liberals, saw as a performance by Mr. Chretien that made a mockery of the very inquiry that Mr. Martin set up and the judge he chose to lead it ... Mr. Martin told his caucus that he 'liked virtually all' of Chretien's testimony, according to sources.
"As he wrapped up his caucus summary, a source said, Mr. Martin praised Mr. Chretien. 'I got to tell you, it was just great seeing former prime minister Chretien yesterday and what he did at the Gomery commission' ... said the source, paraphrasing Mr. Martin."
This is key, Prime Minister, because it speaks to your real attitude toward the Gomery inquiry, which you say you hold in such high esteem. Did you praise Chretien's testimony? Did you lead the cheers? Confirm, or deny.
Liberal Self-destruction PING!
J'Accuse!
Chuckles ping...
Throw the bums out!!!
Tomorrow's Headline: Liberals Win In A Landslide!
Actually no. Tomorrow's headline: "Harper wins in dramatically polarized vote" (dominating west of the Ottawa River, except in the Toronto area and Vancouver)
Please let me know if you want on or off the Adscam ping list
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