Posted on 04/15/2004 1:39:09 PM PDT by victoryatallcosts
BURNABY, B.C. - Svend Robinson, Canada's first openly gay MP, said Thursday he's taking a leave from politics while he resolves legal and health issues.
Robinson fought back tears as he told a news conference he's been suffering from severe stress and emotional pain.
While attending a jewelry sale last Friday "I pocketed a piece of expensive jewelry," he said.
"Something just snapped."
After being unable to contact the owner of the jewelry, he returned the ring to the RCMP on Tuesday.
Robinson said he's taking an immediate medical leave.
"I'm also stepping down at this time as the federal New Democrat candidate for Burnaby-Douglas while these issues remain unresolved.
"As you can imagine this has been a nightmare. I cannot believe that it has happened, but I am human and I have failed."
Robinson said the theft is in the hands of the police and Crown counsel.
"I await the decision of Crown counsel and will not seek to in any way avoid full responsibility for my actions should charges be laid in these circumstances," he said.
Robinson said he is receiving professional medical help.
"I look forward to full healing and recovery with the excellent professional assistance I am receiving," he said.
Robinson didn't take any questions from reporters.
An outspoken figure on Parliament Hill, Robinson became Canada's first openly homosexual MP when he publicly declared his sexual orientation in 1988.
His aggressive stands on same-sex marriage, charter protection of gay rights and Palestinian autonomy -- among other issues -- have made Robinson a lightning rod for critics.
He's represented the Vancouver suburb of Burnaby since 1979, winning the last election in 2000 with just 37 per cent of the popular vote.
Last October, Robinson won the NDP nomination in Burnaby-Douglas for the coming federal election and told supporters he was "looking forward to continuing as your member of Parliament."
At the time, Layton lauded Robinson as someone whose "many contributions to Parliament and Canada are recognized, not only by the people of Burnaby-Douglas, but by people from coast to coast to coast."
But Robinson, with his flair for dramatic self-promotion and penchant for over-heated rhetoric, has ruffled feathers even within his own party.
He once tried to out gay MP Scott Brison by falsely stating at a news conference that Brison would second Robinson's private member's bill legalizing same-sex marriage. Brison's local newspaper, the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, ran the story on its front page, only to have Brison respond he had nothing to do with the bill and had never been contacted by Robinson.
In 2001, Robinson was ridiculed in the Commons after complaining that a police rubber bullet had torn his pants during demonstrations at the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City. Robinson later launched a lawsuit against the RCMP and the National Post newspaper over the incident and its public belittlement.
He was demoted from his international affairs critic's role two years ago after travelling to the West Bank, staging his own televised detention at an Israeli checkpoint as he attempted to visit PLO leader Yasser Arafat and then accusing the Israeli military of murder and torture.
"I plead guilty. Yes, I am taking sides," Robinson said then.
"I am taking the side of peace over war. I am taking the side of the oppressed over the oppressor."
Yes my precious, a ring. /gollum
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TRUTH WITHOUT INTERRUPTION DAY-- APRIL 21, 2004
( www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1106288/posts )
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