Yesterday's Canadian election confirmed what polls and pundits had been reporting: Millions of voters strongly favored the Conservatives and were disgusted by the Liberal's stumbling social policies and massive corruption.
But The Washington Post apparently couldn't locate any of those voters. At least, none were quoted in its post-election story, "Canadians Move Right, Elect New Leadership."
The Post only quoted one person who even claimed to have voted Conservative. And it told its readers said she did so “reluctantly:”
"I think we have to give it a try. But I am very afraid that it will be too far right," said Florence Koven, 72, emerging from the polls after voting -- reluctantly, she said -- for the Conservative Party. "The unknown always concerns you. Mr. Harper (the Conservative leader) says he is a changed man; we'll see how much he has changed."Yes indeed, all of us on both sides of the border need to be sooo careful about voting for Conservatives. And if they win, we must always hope they change once in office.
The Post's management continues to insist the paper doesn't have a liberal bias. What's more, the editors tell us that when covering an election, their reporters find out what voters are saying and tell us.
Well, if that's the case, how did The Post miss all the Canadians who would have been happy to tell its reporters: "We're sick and tired of the Liberals and glad the Conservatives are going in?"
22 comments:
Amen
As a Canadian that volunteered long hours during the campaign, donated money to the party and helped Conservative's win on Monday I agree with you entirely.
This is a change I've been waiting a long time for.
This is one Canadian extremely happy the Conservatives have gotten in. Perhpas the Post did not want to wander out of it's own timezone as you will find the most of us Conservatives in the west.And most of the fools still blind to Liberal corruption in the east, or as Toronto prefers to be referred to, The Center of the Universe.
The Liberals lost due to a classic corruption scandal, arguably the biggest scandal in Canadian political history. They did not lose due to "stumbling social policies."
The Conservatives fell far short of a majoriyty government precisely because they are way out of the Canadian mainstream on social issues, and indeed many who did cast a conservative ballot did so 'reluctantly.'
Gay marriage, gun control, decriminalizing marijuana, pro-choice, strong environmental regulation...all supported by more than half of Canadians, but not the Conservatives.
anonymous above doesn't know what they're talking about.
Most Canadians who voted for the Conservatives, voted that way because they *really wanted a Conservative government*.
The Conservatives will win even more seats next time.
Two reasons for the Wadhington Post's slanted interviews:
1) l(L)iberal bias... a disease of the mainstream media.. infectious and chronic.. perhaps fatal in some instances.
2) A case of lazy syndrome. Most foreign (To Canada) Newspapers have their bureaus in large urban areas and like the Red/Blue state divide in the USA, Canada seems to be getting a larger and larger Big Urban/suburban, rural divide that splits us as well. I suspect that the Washington Post would not drive the hundred miles to a rural area outside of Toronto to ask why the locals voted Conservative. Gasp!
Just outside of the Capital of Ottawa is the riding of Renfrew-Pembroke-Nippising that went solidly conservative and the local MP was attacked by the media for being pro life... it back fired but Washington Post like the others won't clue in to this.
I'm not the same Anon as above by the way.
At least you guys have Fox News down there. Up here, all three major networks are Liberal lapdogs. Many execs and managers actually take leave of absence from their jobs with the networks to volunteer for the Liberals.
I will say though, that your newspapers are even worse than ours. We have the Globe & Mail and the Toronto Star, which are sickenly Liberal, but we also have the National Post, and the various local Sun Media tabloids, which are decidedly NOT Liberal.
A rhetorical question indeed. And coming from a province that sent all 4 Liberal MP's back to Ottawa, I've had to learn not to be shy about my conservatism. The "Fear Factor", aided and abetted by overwhelmingly Liberal-biased local and national media coverage, did the trick here as did a misplaced loyalty borne out of many voters' gratitude for good old-fashioned pork.
36% of Canadians voted Conservatives. 64% voted against the Conservatives. HAlf of those that voted for the Conservatives did it because they flet a change of government would be preferred. I think the Washington Post had it right. Roughly 18% of Canadians wanted a change to the Conservatives. That is not much of a movemnet.
Hey, come on out to my neighbourhood and ask the question.
They were probably in eastern
Canada where they are very red,
follow the money type of people
that Ottawa has spoiled.
Here where I am, we are thrilled
and trust Prime Harper regarding
behavior of the conservatives.
He is presenting a bill to
tighten up on any crafty little
treats the liberals gave us while
stealing our money. There will
be a close watch on any spending
and it is time, past time for
this.
Go to the west and ask.
"36% of Canadians voted Conservatives. 64% voted against the Conservatives."-Anonymous
That sounds like propaganda to me.
The way you presented it, it appears that the majority were against the conservative win. So, how did you end up with a conservative Prime Minister? Could it just be that out of the 64% that didn't vote Harper, even fewer voted Martin? Sounds to me like Canada wanted a change. Considering the length of time the gangsters were in power and all the votes they bought in that time, it would appear that a sea change has taken place. An entire turning of the tide is,despite your naysaying, quite a monumental movement.
Gangsters? Maybe, but no worse than Tom Delay down there. Same sh*t different story. Canada sent a message, the message being, give it a shot Mr. Harper. I think a minority government could be the only way things will work. Canada shifted to the the right mostly because they wanted someone new, not because they believe in the policies set forth by the Tories. Check out west? From what I've seen, Alberta was all conservative, but BC Sask and Manitoba wasn't.
Being from southwestern Ontario, I am also happy that the pendulum is finally moving back (slowly). Many rural, farming areas voted conservative', but the cities are still overwhelmingly liberal. Part of our problem is having too many parties to split the vote. And there is still that unspoken taboo against discussing politics. I am 30 and have a young family and we are hoping the government will make many positive changes for the common good, for families and society in general. It all comes down to whether people are self=centred or are willing to make sacrifices for the good of their families and communities etc. We want our Canadian heritage intact!
All these Canadians!
How did you guys find out local favorite blog down here in North Carolina?
_AC
Your favourite blog now has a temporary link on a Cdn news blog - nealenews.com
Harper got to be Prime Minister with only 36 per cent of the vote because our first-past-the-post system is based on how many constituencies (electoral districts) one wins, not how many votes one gets. Rather like the electoral college.
Most Conservative voters in Western Canada did vote for Harper, but many Conservative voters in central and eastern Canada voted for him as the lesser of two evils. Those would be former Liberal voters. Other former Liberal voters stayed home or voted for either the New Democrats or the Greens.
It explains how Harper got such an anemic minority.
I don't know how Tom Delay got in this, but so far, nobody has shown a law has been broken. As near as I can tell he is accused of changing the method of operation regarding campaign contributions in order to comply with the new law.
After reading the indictment against him, he seems to be accused of obeying the law to the letter. This Prosecuting Attorney has made a practice of indicting politicians of the other party, to date he has not achieved a conviction in any of the cases, though it is surmised he may have affected the outcome of some of the races for office. He had to try 5 or 6 times to get a true bill on Delay. The previous grand juries turned him down time after time regarding these charges against Delay.
I don't know much about Delay,except that he is held in very low esteem by a man who does know him and a man whose opinion I value. However being accused of obeying the law is not really prosecutable.
Now, how is that pertinent to Martin being turned out of office?
Or was that just a Nyah, nyah,nyah,nyah, you too, you too?
Dear straightarrow,
Some people here call you "straightarrow;" others say "straight."
Do you have a preference? If not, I'll use "straight." It's shorter.
You sure have a lot of information and you use it to good effect.
Thanks for commenting.
John
"36% of Canadians voted Conservatives. 64% voted against the Conservatives."-Anonymous
That sounds like propaganda to me.
Of course it does, because you're not Canadian and know nothing about our political system.
It is a fact that only 18% of the votes were actually in favour of Conservatives. The rest just voted Con to slap the Liberals.
I suspect that the reporter from the WP merely called up a few people on a phone list conveniently provided by The Torona Star.
Ay?
Ah, parlimentary system + electoral college. Good lord.
So, question, if the Libs had gotten "an anemic majority" would there be the same gnashing and wailing?
-AC
That never would have happened. After 12 years of Liberal rule. BTW, Liberal in canada DOES NOT mean the same as it does in the US. Anyways, after 12 years and more importantly, at least a year of scandal after scandal, if there were enough votes, a squirrel could have beaten the Liberals. People in canada were so pissed off they would have voted for anyone, point in case.
JinC,"straight" will work, if it is easier. Anyway, last time I had occassion to check, I still was.
Thank you for your kind words. Didn't know if I would be welcome after my first post.
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