Posted on 03/27/2003 4:05:25 AM PST by saluki_in_ohio
Liberal senator: 'Screw the Americans' Laurier LaPierre ready to quit over disputed quotation in Senate transcript
By Jack Aubry and Robert Benzie The Ottawa Citizen
Thursday, March 27, 2003
A Liberal senator has been thrown into the firestorm of shaky U.S.-Canada relations after the Senate's Debates quoted him shouting "Screw the Americans" during a Senate sitting this week.
The quote was attributed to outspoken Senator Laurier LaPierre, who has expressed anti-American sentiments in the past, in the official transcript of Tuesday's Senate sitting. Opposition MPs and senators were quick to jump on the quote as another example of the Liberal government's strong anti-Americanism.
Mr. LaPierre told the Senate yesterday that he had been misquoted in the transcript and that he had in fact shouted: "So did the Americans." But his attempt to correct the Debates, which requires unanimous consent, was blocked by opposition members who said they wanted to listen to a tape of the sitting first.
A shaken Mr. LaPierre said he would offer his resignation to Prime Minister Jean Chretien since "his honour" was being challenged by the opposition members.
This latest Liberal caucus controversy came a day after U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci delivered a stern rebuke to the Canadian government, saying his country was disappointed that Canada had not joined the "coalition of the willing" to fight the war in Iraq.
The Bush administration has been irked by remarks by Carolyn Parrish, a Toronto-area Liberal MP, who said she hated American "bastards," and Natural Resources Minister Herb Dhaliwal, who said President George W. Bush's decision to go to war shows he is "not a statesman."
Mr. Cellucci said there is a "growing perception" among Americans that Canada, like France, is a source of knee-jerk objections to U.S. foreign policy.
Answering questions about Mr. LaPierre's apparent quote, Mr. Chretien said if the senator actually said it, "it is completely reprehensible."
"I was not aware of it and if it was said, I reprimand that. I do not think that is acceptable to use language like that," said Mr. Chretien.
Mr. LaPierre, a former broadcaster, acknowledged he has used excessive language in the past, but he has always apologized when he has gone too far.
His voice cracking with emotion, he told the Senate that he has a son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter living in the United States and he would not have used the expression "screw," since it is not part of his vocabulary.
"I do not use that kind of language that way. I use other kinds of language, but not this one," said the senator tearfully.
When he was interrupted by some opposition senators across the floor, Mr. LaPierre became indignant and said: "I don't have anything more to say, since obviously I have no honour and I will have to speak to the prime minister to determine whether I should resign or not."
In Toronto, Ontario Premier Ernie Eves inserted himself yesterday into the diplomatic crisis surrounding Mr. Cellucci's remarks by writing a letter to the U.S. ambassador condemning the federal government and supporting Washington on Iraq.
Taking his lead from Alberta Premier Ralph Klein, Mr. Eves wrote Mr. Cellucci to say he agrees with the criticism of Canadian neutrality.
"This morning at our cabinet meeting, members of our executive council were unanimous in our support for you and your fellow Americans," Mr. Eves wrote.
"We believe it is important to support our good American neighbours to the South as you have been our allies and our friends for many decades now," he continued.
Speaking to reporters in Brampton, Mr. Eves denied he was intervening to deflect attention from his administration's many domestic problems.
"It is how I happen to feel. I phoned Ambassador Cellucci (Tuesday) afternoon after his remarks to make sure that he understood ... exactly how I felt," said the premier, who has advocated Canada's participation in the Iraq invasion for a week.
In Ottawa, Senate Speaker Dan Hays said he would rule later on Mr. LaPierre's point of order to change the Debates, the Senate's Hansard.
-With files from Rick Mofina and Mark Kennedy
I like the world being polarized like it is .
A shaken Mr. LaPierre said he would offer his resignation to Prime Minister Jean Chretien since "his honour" was being challenged by the opposition members
1. Why would listening to the tapes, to make the desired corrrection --- push Mr. LaPierre to offer his resignation.
2. To claim that playing the tape --- "challenged his honor", is a specious argument.. We have all learned that the French and French Canadians have no honor..
They have shown themselves to be whores to the terrorists, and their word is worth less than their feces smeared on toilet paper...
Yes, I meant to insult the French and French Canadians..
There appears to be a genetic tendency to be lying, lazy, untrustworthy, back stabbing bastards...
I shall continue to insult them, and to think of them as enemies in all future interaction.....
I can think of NOTHING that will change my mind in my lifetime --- NOTHING!
Semper Fi
Reprimanding the language, not the content. Screw Canada! Like the French, they survive at the expense of a host. A parasite... a leech...
I live 30 minutes from Canada here in the Detroit area. I have had no desire to go there for any reason in at least 15 years.
If that is the case...
There should be no objection by a "man of honor" to have the tape replayed for EVERYONE to hear....
Many Americans, myself included --- have heard and seen MORE THAT ENOUGH to have formed an opinion on the current Canadian government and the majority of Canadians that elected them....
That is NOT our problem....That is your and their problem...
Point is, we have been "listening up" and observing.....
My position remains the same, and my deep anger will be long lived......
Semper Fi
That's part of the problem. A majority did not elect them.
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