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August 26, 2004
Damned American Bastard Idiots
From the 'tell us how you really feel' department...
Updated 8:11 p.m. See CNN excerpt below:
It was damned bastards last year, "idiots" this year.
Canadian Member of Parliament Carolyn Parrish had said she hated "damned Americans" and called them bastards in the run-up to the Iraq war. She found a new moniker, idiots, on Wednesday in discussing the planned U.S. missile defence system. "We are not joining the coalition of the idiots. We are joining the coalition of the wise," the Liberal legislator told a small group of demonstrators. Parrish, who had to apologise for her "bastards" remarks last year, at first denied using the term idiots, and when reporters pointed out they had her remarks on tape, she said: "I don't mean Americans are idiots."
"The world respects Canada. If we were to join this then it will be giving credibility to what they're doing," she said. Parrish then begged reporters not to use the remarks: "Please guys don't put that on tape," she said. "I already got into trouble once.... Really, please, I've had enough trouble." Reuters[UK]
... and this excerpt from CNN, quoting Reuters:
Four hours later, however, she hardened her line.
"The last one was a really stupid thing to say," she told Reuters. "Bastards is an inappropriate word. Idiots is a term people use in everyday conversation,"
she told Reuters. "They tortured people in Iraq, they (the Iraqis) have no weapons of mass destruction. Could somebody explain to me whether you think they're idiots or
geniuses?" The top spokeswoman for former Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Francoise Ducros, had to resign in 2002 for calling President George W. Bush a moron.
Chretien's successor, Prime Minister Paul Martin, has pledged to put relations with Canada's largest trading partner on a warmer footing.
Martin said after Parrish's latest remarks that the debate about missile defense, intended to guard against attacks from what the United States calls rogue states,
was "very, very important."
"There is no room in this debate for that kind of language," he told reporters, waving his hand dismissively. "You're going to get very strongly held views but let me tell you those strongly held views have got to be expressed in language that is acceptable." But Parrish refused to back down. "That's Mr. Martin's opinion," she told Reuters. "No, I'm not going to apologize.
Cindy
Comments
I wonder if that quote is out of context - yes - I read the story in the Globe today - I remember she called Bush an idiot last year (most Canadians agreed with her and simply said - well he is - so what) I don't recall her calling Americans bastards - to that Canadians would not agree. And again with the idiot remark of yesterday - I think she means Bush's defence team - not Americans in general. She is a bit outspoken for sure - but I think she is anti-Bush, not anti-American. Hope her remarks don't get widely taken out of context. I'm disappointed in the Globe and Mail story.
Brain matter deposited by: Wendy on August 26, 2004 4:19 PM
Since we're all entitled to our opinion (positive or negative,) if her comments are about Bush, then I think you'd agree that she should be very clear about it.
Brain matter deposited by: Cindy on August 26, 2004 5:08 PM
Yah, I can see that being taken out of context, I highly doubt she meant Americans, many would agree with her about Bush and his coalition of the wise.
Brain matter deposited by: Paul on August 26, 2004 8:10 PM
It's the Northern F'ing Peril.
Cold, quiet and half French. Guilty? I'd _say_!
Don't trust 'em for a second, this is a war of cultures and it's us or them. Montreal, MINE! Just get over it.
Brain matter deposited by: Al on August 26, 2004 8:25 PM
Out of context or not, that's no way for someone in her position to speak. Outspoken? Sounds like unthinking to me, and she knew immediately when she asked the media not to report her words.
I also have a problem with the attitude of "well, she was talking about Bush, and we all know he's an idiot." Love him or hate him, if you're an American you should show respect to the office he holds. You can disagree without being disrespectful.
Brain matter deposited by: Ted on August 28, 2004 11:38 PM