Posted on 12/13/2005 5:42:26 PM PST by Brilliant
OTTAWA/SURREY, British Columbia (Reuters) - The United States made an unprecedented foray into Canada's election campaign on Tuesday, warning politicians not to bash Washington in their bid to win the January 23 election.
But an unapologetic Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin responded immediately by saying "c'est la vie" -- that's life -- if the United States did not like his remarks, and he would not accept anyone telling him he cannot defend his country.
In a hard-hitting speech in Ottawa, U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins lamented what he called relentless and incessant criticism of his country, which he speculated might begin to sow doubt about the strength of the binational relationship.
"Canada never has to tear the United States down to build itself up," Wilkins said.
"It may be smart election politics to thump your chest and constantly criticize your friend and your No. 1 trading partner. But it's a slippery slope and all of us should hope it doesn't have a long-term impact on our relationship."
Wilkins did not name the prime minister directly, but he specifically targeted a comment made last week at the Montreal climate change conference in which Martin called on the United States to heed a "global conscience" and join efforts to combat global warming.
That remark -- on top of criticism of U.S. policy on lumber, guns, passports and Iraq -- appeared to have riled the White House the most, particularly since Canada has a proportionally worse record than the United States on reining in greenhouse gas emissions.
"I would respectfully submit to you that when it comes to a 'global conscience' the United States is walking the walk," Wilkins said, addressing the Canadian Club of Ottawa.
"And when it comes to climate change, we are making significant progress, greater progress than many of those who have been most critical of the U.S."
In the campaign for the June 2004 election Martin regularly said Canada did not want U.S.-style health care, fiscal deficits, taxes or attack ads.
But in the last several months, particularly in frustration over U.S. refusal to eliminate duties on Canadian softwood, he has made more direct attacks on U.S. policy, and continued to do so during the election campaign.
Martin refused to back down on Tuesday in Surrey, British Columbia.
"That our friends do not like what we say -- well, c'est la vie. I'm going to defend Canada and I'm right on softwood lumber and I'm right on climate change and I won't let anybody tell me that I should not defend my country," he said.
He also dismissed the idea that he was trying to single out Washington as part of his election campaign.
"I have not made the United States or any country a target in this campaign," he said, noting that he had outlined Canada's stand on softwood lumber and climate change long before the election was called.
Martin, whose minority government was brought down on November 28 after an official report detailed Liberal kickbacks which were used in election campaigns, currently leads Conservative leader Stephen Harper in the polls but not by enough to regain a majority in Parliament.
If the average Canadian citizen is a little tired of bashing the U.S. then that's good news -- they can vote for a new team. And if, on the other hand, it makes them feel good to bash the U.S., then tell them to go ahead -- it'll help us figure out who our friends really are.
I think we're in a win-win situation here in the U.S. with the Canadian elections. If Harper should win, fine, we've got a PM who is at least friendlier towards us. If the corrupt moron, Martin, wins again even in the face of all the scandals, then the momentum towards Quebec and Alberta separation starts rolling on.
Either way Canada may not look the same five years from now.
"I'm not sure why we tell the Canadians not to "bash" America"
I think it's madcap hilarity that we'd even make such a whine to world class whiners. If we really cared if Canada "bashed" the US, we'd shut down the border for, say, 48 hours...just to screw with them....no explanation.
That would give the politicians something to argue about.
If we really wanted to mess with them, we'd insist on 100% checks all the time at the border. Make it impossible to cross......all those Canadian businesses would have to move their operations to the US if they wanted to do business here.
But of course, we don't really care if Canada "bashes" the U.S. - that's why we sent a "diplomatic" message. They're in the middle of a political campaign, and they get a little wacky in the process. So what?
At the government level and among well read conservatives in the USA, there are similar feelings for Canada and France.
Don Cherry for PM!
One of the other posters pointed out that if you read the article, the comments made by the American ambassador really did not support the reporter's spin. We did not "warn" Canada of anything.
It's a point well taken.
Canada is responsible for Global Warning?
It's a fraud. Nothing more than The Big Lie.
Your mother-in-law could be having an evolving infarction right now and could be in need of thrombolytics but.....hey......the medical care is FREE!!!!!
Canadian politicians don't have to put up with this travesty as they get immediate care at Canadian military hospital without having to take a number on a waiting list.
The dirty little secret that Canadian Government bean-counters won't tell you is that they know that a dead Canadian costs the Canadian Government far less than a a Canadian that is diagnosed promptly and treated appropriately.
By contrast, today at our Tumor Board, we discussed a patient who presented with a breast lump on a Thursday morning, had her mammogram and ultrasound in the early afternoon on the same day, had her biopsy in the late afternoon on the same day, had a pathological diagnosis by Monday morning and had her surgery that same day.
They don't want U.S. health care north of the border?
Fine.
That is why I have Canadian patients come to me when they want a timely diagnosis.
I actually agree with the title in the context of the whole article. Granted, the "warning" is one of consequences to our "long-term relationship" in the diplomatic sense.
We are whining, but I suppose that's what we pay our ambassador to Canada to do.
Of COURSE the politicians are going to sieze on that.....Martin gets to posture as standing up against the "bully" which plays well to the home audience.
We don't really care. We have an ambassador that pretends to care, but that's about it.
We have a winner! I'm not so sure about Vancouver though...
Wrong..... you have to tear down the USA to deflect critism of your own incompetence. And believe me, the Canadian goverment is proving itself very liberal and incompetent.
The Press in Canada is hoping to create a backlash in order to prop up the Liberal Party. What better way to herd the voters back to the liberal pen than create a US vs Canada story.
Martin is a scumbag. The election will simply tell us if the majority of Canadian voters are also scumbags.
"We are definately getting very tired of the bashing though."
As are we. Throwing garbage over your neighbors fence never struck me as productive.
Beaver Fever
You're correct. I keep getting my kunuck compass mixed up.
"Relations may be bad, but at least it occurs at a time when we don't have to worry about the Canuck military."
Of course you don't. They're all in Afghanistan fighting side by side with Americans and taking casualties as we speak.
But you already knew that.
"They would never get any decent action if a northern wall went up."
If you take up with Canadian women you're the one getting the action. Heh Heh.
Where do you think Playboy does all its recruiting.
Flame Girls Rule.
And besides if we annexed Canada it would be like having one giant blue state to the north. The Republicans would never win again.
I would hope the Dims haven't read this. Their formula for defeating us red staters. They and their MSM allys would begin a major campaign for annexation. We don't want to put ideas in their heads for heavens sake.
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