Posted on 05/18/2005 5:56:09 PM PDT by Nicholas Conradin
Sexism cited in reaction to Stronach move
Last Updated Wed, 18 May 2005 19:04:14 EDT
CBC News
EDMONTON - Liberal MPs denounced some of the Conservative reaction to the defection of Belinda Stronach, calling it offensive and sexist.
"The comments that have been made about our colleague – that are nothing more than simply sexist and misogynist. It is unbelievable and unacceptable, " said Deputy Prime Minister Anne McLellan.
Belinda Stronach at her first Liberal caucus meeting, Wednesday.
"She was called a whore, she was called a prostitute, she was called a dipstick. I mean these are inappropriate No man would be called that. This is not a gender issue," said Manitoba MP Anita Neville.
After Prime Minister Paul Martin announced Tuesday that Stronach was switching parties and joining his cabinet, veteran Ontario Conservative Bob Runciman called her "a dipstick – an attractive one, but still a dipstick."
Saskatchewan Conservative MP Maurice Vellacott said "people prostitute themselves for different costs or different prices."
Alberta Conservative Tony Abbott jumped into the debate by saying Stronach had "whored herself out for power." On Wednesday, Abbott said he regretted his comments.
"You get home and think about your day and that's when I realized what I said was wrong. Then the reaction this morning just confirmed it was the wrong thing to say. I apologize."
FROM MAY 17, 2005: Conservative Stronach joins Liberals
Linda Trimble, a political scientist who has studied the media's treatment of Stronach said the comments are the latest in a series of political lows, starting when Stronach made her bid for the leadership of the Conservative party in early 2004.
"The overall suggestion was that she was this bikini-clad blonde fronting for these backroom boys seeking power," the political scientist said of how the national media covered the wealthy businesswoman-turned-politician.
Trimble said the candidate's aspirations were often ridiculed, her qualifications trivialized, and her youth and looks the subject of vulgar and excessive obsession.
She found it troubling but not surprising that some of the same themes were reflected in Conservative reaction to the 39-year-old MP jumping ship.
FROM MAY 17, 2005: Tories will support 1 of 2 budget votes
"When she's being called a whore and a dipstick – well, that's intensely personal, and it goes to her integrity. Those are not the kinds of comments made when male politicians cross the floor."
Trimble said the worst of the Conservative comments following Stronach's defection will do little to shore up support for the party as it seeks power on the national stage.
She IS a political whore, and the other coment was that she was a dipstick. since when is a "dipstick" sexist?
What we see is leftist media taking something very lame and using it to cover up and avoid discussing what that skank did.
She always was a liberal, good riddence. This is going to be a very short political carreer for her.
Pretty much the way we felt when Jeffords jumped ship.
She's a Hot Dipstick though.......
The term "dipstick" is now sexist? Geez, and I thought that one used the term in mixed company when you really wanted to say the other word that started with dip and ended with manure.
Not sexist, we call our male politicians whores all the time, because they are. They're dipsticks too. Isn't dipstick a sexist slur against men? What about "jerk?" "Di--?" Why don't men protest this sexism?
"I hope she has as much success as Jim Jeffords."
Regardless of which party defected from or to, it is a betrayal of the voters' trust to switch parties.
.Just in case any Canadian Freepers have not read it, or possibly Americans, I recomend todays National Post. Andrew Coyne has on his comment titled "Proof there are no more rules" the quote from Scott Fitzgerald's, The Great Gatsby.
"They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money...."
Yes, we of the great unwashed, can only look with awe at the machinations of the cleverest people on the face of Canada's earth- the Liberal back room boys. Too bad the very few conservatives bad mouthed Belinda. It gave the utterly corrupt Liberals their little opening- Johnny Cochrane you were a simple child compared.
Carolyn Parish, who insulted Americans and was bounced from the Liberal caucus, is now an Independent. She(Stronach) is prettier than you Carolyn- now go vote for your old, ahem er' people of the evening. LOL
She's one of Bubba's Bimbos.
She learned how to be a political whore and a dipstick from the master.
CTV Canada T/V news. A Conservative member of Parliament name of Grewal, alleged and with a taped recording, appears to have been offered a bribe by Liberals. This was to come on side with the Liberals.
Bad as I feel for Peter McKay and his betrayal by this woman, I know he is indeed better off without her. Sort of remember the classic English mothers advice to a love lorn and abandoned son. "One day you will meet a nice sensible girl."
Liberal socialist spouse and I just had our first row over my comments. I had remarked that the Liberals had a taste for willowy blonds. Judy Sgro, Jane Stewart, and now Belinda. I join the ranks of sexists tonight.
http://andrewcoyne.com/2005/05/proof-there-are-no-more-rules.php
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