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Bob Rae on the comments of NDP Deputy Leader Libby Davies on the State of Israel
June 15, 2010 - 2:13pm
Quote:
"The appropriate decision, given her stature and responsibilities with the NDP, is for Mr. Layton to ask for her resignation as Deputy Leader and for Ms. Davies to issue an apology to all Canadians. Nothing short of that will do." — Bob Rae, MP, 613-992-5234, 416-954-2222,
What a monster. It is rants like this which render clear how much this country needs Libby Davies. And any other federal parliamentarian with the courage to stand up against injustice and edge Canada towards the right side of history.
I wonder who provided him with his talking points...
What nouns and adjectives will we use when Jack Layton heeds this sage advice?
You mean, besides Tom Mulcair?
Grrrrrr.....
Oh, wait a minute - I know what happens next - Libby resigns as Deputy Leader, and Jack accepts her resignation with much regret but understanding why she had to do it!
I thought Jack was going to have to fire her, but that's a much neater solution, isn't it?
Her letter of apology to the Ottawa Citizen is what unfortunately triggered my thought that she is getting tired of holding up this banner alone.
Listen up: I posted a comment to her website last night, supporting her, saying she had nothing to apologize for, pleading with her to stand firm and carry on the good fight. The comments on her site are pre-moderated. My comment has not yet appeared. All we see are the same 7 frenzied Israel cheerleaders that were there last night.
That's why I'm afraid she's getting ready to bolt. Please, please, anyone who knows her or cares for her courageous actions, write to her, phone her, tell her she must continue! If Layton wants to fire her to suckhole to Harper and Rae, let him have to bear the sole responsibility for such a heinous act.
Layton defended her in the Commons during Question Period, and she was sitting right behind him in the camera shot clapping. For your information.
quote: "What nouns and adjectives will we use when Jack Layton heeds this sage advice?"
What could possibly be left in Robin Hood's quiver?
Why the histrionics?
So, OO and George, will we be supporting Libby against these attacks? Or cutting her loose? I think it's time for people to take a stand. Life presents us with critical moments like these. Talk about her, please, not about me. Thanks.
That is distressing - seriously.
See what I mean about censoring some sites - especially those of public figures - not being a good idea? At the very least they should have put the name of the poster and said that it was removed. That way at least you could see numbers.
I think it's time we didn't let ourselves get drawn in to these kinds of set-ups ... from either side.
Apparently the video blogger was interviewing people in an effort to trip them up ... what happened to Helen Thomas as well.
This is becoming a common tactic of the conservative movement, and will be employed heavily at the G8/G20 protests, I predict. They will have a keen market for their video with the new 'Fox North' Sun TV News channel, should it receive a licence from the CRTC, I'm betting as well.
You make it very difficult to avoid mention of yourself, U. Libby is of course the honest one. But can you honestly say, at this point, that she is not wishing she had not been drawn out on Israeli history?
No, you can't say that, because you don't know. So ease up on the histrionics. And enough of the bullshit attempts to demonize those who don't join your rant. That's schoolroom politics.
I see an overwhelmed staff, rather than censoring, in this Unionist. I imagine they also get some time off work, believe it or not. Maybe they slept last night!
I've just shot a letter off to Rae, Davies, Layton and Mulcair. I've also posted about this on my FB status - which is why I learned about Rae's drivel. And I've posted to Libby's fan page there - once you join, you can post freely. No moderation on the front end. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Libby-Davies/7154945923
Here's the letter I emailed. I encourage others to make contact, as Unionist suggests.
Addresses: Bob Rae and/or Jack Layton Libby Davies Thomas Mulcair
I (like Jack Layton) am supporting Libby.
Here is the letter I sent Bob Rae:
"Hon. Bob Rae,
Dear Sir,
I am not a big follower on the Middle East, but even I can tell that Libby Davis comments in no way questioned Israel existence or it's right to existence. Clearly she is referring to the Palestinian land that Israel has taken in addition to its own sovereign territory. For someone as knowledgeable on foreign affairs as yourself to make these comments makes me wonder about why you are willing to twist another persons words into such lies.
I do hope to see a public apology to Libby Davis in the very near future."
This is the same Bob Rae that some people still swoon over as some sort of interlocutor between the Liberals and the NDP. Anyone who knows him knows that he is the single greatest obstacle to any cooperation between the NDP and the Liberals because he has such a personal hatred of everyone in the NDP and the feeling is entirely mutual.
I think the left is going to have to prepare itself for this next onslaught, and stick together a bit better. The tiniest slip-up is going to get blown out of all proportion, and suck all the oxygen out of debate on issues we care about.
"Some people's" position on a merger / collaboration / coalition has nothing to do with this thread. Are you able to can the message-botism and actually participate in the thread's focus? Or stay out? Please?
Hey Stockholm, Bob Rae is writer's MP. He's mine too. That's icky but that's life. That's who we're writing to. Also, he's the doofus who made the asinine comment about Libby resigning which she should NOT.
And stay on topic, Stockholm.
George, calling the response of some babblers "histrionics" is not okay. Using that same word to describe Unionist specifically is also not okay. Stop. Debate the points, the issues, etc.
I'm being 100% on topic. I think Bob rae is an asshole. I've always thought he was an asshole. I think this is the latest example of how his first instinct to launch a histrionic, gratuitous attack on Libby davies because she's deputy leader of the party he hates with all his heart. If she were Liberal, he wouldn't give a hoot about what she said and wouldn't be trying to totally distort her comments in such a self-serving way.
I can think of a long list of reasons why Bob Rae should resign from Parliament and apologize to all Canadians for the damage he has personally wreaked on the Canadian body politic.
Thanks, Stockholm. This second post is on topic.
And thanks for publishing the text of your letter, writer. I see why they call you writer.
Anyway, this thread title has been way bypassed by history. Harper has demanded that Libby be fired. So have the Friends of Wiesenthal. Mulcair has demanded she "apologize" for supporting BDS (which she didn't actually even support in the interview).
Sorry to be a pessimist, but I'm expecting the "no longer an asset but a liability" thing to be heard next. I'm reading between the lines on this very discussion board. It's amazing how fast things happen.
I just spoke with Libby Davies' constituency office here in Vancouver. (No particularly close connection - she has been my MP, but I've since moved.) They, Libby and the staff, appreciate calls of support; apparently they've listened to some pretty unpleasant stuff over the last few hours.
Not sure if I can post telephone numbers. It's a public number, so I'll chance it, but please delete if inappropriate:
Telephone: 604 775 5800
BDS? "Bush Derangement Syndrome"?
Oh ..... "boycott, divestment and sanctions" campaign. Got it.
Much appreciated, Ripple. There's no problem with posting the publicized contact information of politicians, government offices, etc. Now I've got a call to make.
wrote to Layton demanding he stick up for Libby and to denounce 'Muc'lair, I hope to fuck he bolts...."wanna lose your women voters NDP", side with the wrong side and see what happens.
the fact that Muclair Rae and Harper on the same side in this indicates much.
Just sent more letters off.
The fact that Rae (the Liberals) and Harper (the Conservatives) are attacking on such a flimsy pretext suggests that both parties are desperate to change the channel. It also indicates that NDP polling is worry them very much, or they would not be targeting the 4th party in the House. My guess is that the NDP vote 'universe' is quite big for them to take this step.
So far Layton has struck the right tone, and the fact that Davies is front and centre in the camera frame, as Deputy Leader suggests he will continue to do so. If anyone should be asked to step aside it should be Rae who wouldn't know a principle if it bit him on the ass.
Thanks, Ripple, for posting the phone no. for the constituency office. I just called to express support. Phone calls and emails are running "about half and half", pro and con.
This morning I wrote to Layton and the NDP caucus to express my disgust and promise to give up my membership publicly. More people should simply quit in a public statement.
QUESTION: Does anyone know who the person who ambushed Ms Davies is? Could it be the latest zionist/right wing strategy to "go viral"?
We should probably go for the source and pillory and hound them into oblivion.
Just saw an irate Mr. Herpes berate Layton and demand Davies's resignation. He had the nerve to reference the Helen Thomas resignation as a good thing.
He is the one who should resign.
Is it the same Bob Rae that left the NDP to join the "None is too many" Party?
The difference of course is that Helen Thomas clearly said something pretty indefensible, while Libby Davies said something perfectly reasonable. I actually hope the full five minute video of her "interview" goes as "viral" as possible because i think that if people actually watch it - the vast majority of Canadians would nod their head in agreement and see the context in which she mentioned 1948 (though that was still a mistake and I'm glad she clarified her comments about that). To me it was akin to saying that the "occupation" of the Americas began in 1492 - which doesn't mean that Canada, the US and every other country in the western hemisphere is "illegitimate".