Did Corvin actually contact anyone at the NDP to ask if the speakers list was complete? Did anyone in the party respond to the lack of diversity? I assume the answer is no otherwise we would read about it in the OP.
See, that shouldn't be necessary for a credible organization. I guess it's more old boys politics.
First of all he says that 6 out of 7 speakers are male - i count 6 out of 8
No, its 6 out of 7 - and the 7th is a U.S. citizen. The 8th headshot is that of someone featured in the "Atlantic Canadians Showcase", not a featured speaker.
It is true that underrepresentation of racial minorities is a problem in the NDP caucus. The NDP has done very well with gender representation because it has had 2 women leaders of the federal NDP in a row and has a caucus that is about half women right now.
However, in terms of racial diversity, it is almost entirely white except for one or two MP's like Olivia Chow. The NDP needs to have MP's of Muslim, Indian, African, etc. background like the Liberals and Conservatives do in order to have more representatation from those communities.
Thank you for your propaganda disguised as considered and selfless advice based on 0 knowledge of what you're talking about.
In fact, the NDP has done well with gender representation because 25 years ago when Liberals and Conservatives were still debating whether "quotas" meant "reverse discrimination", the NDP implemented a very sensible policy that mandated a thorough candidate search including women and members of visible minorities and aboriginal people, but still left the final decision in the hands of the membership through nomination meetings. It also mandated that all party decision-making bodies had to be composed of at least 50% women. This created a pool of talent that over the years has risen to the top.
The Liberals ran more women candidates last time because they appointed most of them. On the other hand, I think I count about 15 *elected* Liberal women out of a caucus of 77, while the NDP elected 12/37 or so.
As to the diversity of the NDP's slate, if you look at candidates recruited for next-tier seats I think they did a pretty good job on that front. We just have to get some old Liberal deadwood out of the way before we can get them elected.
There was no propaganda in my post above - it was an objective analysis of the gender and racial composition of the federal parties. What I wrote could easily appear in a newspaper piece about the subject of racial composition in the House of Commons because it is accurate. You are always critical of what I say even when it is correct.
What I said about the composition of the NDP is a fact - the NDP has done well on gender representation (2 women leaders and a caucus of 50% women) but the NDP has not done well on racial diversity in its caucus. It is a fact that apart from an Asian-Canadian (Chow), there are no non-white MP's the way there are in the Liberals and Conservatives. There are no Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, or Black MP's in the NDP and that fact cannot be denied.
Rather than arguing a point which you cannot dispute, why not focus on trying to increase the racial diversity of NDP MP's? That is what is important. Try not to disagree just for the sake of disagreeing. Once in a while it won't kill you to say "You are right". 
Did Corvin actually contact anyone at the NDP to ask if the speakers list was complete? Did anyone in the party respond to the lack of diversity? I assume the answer is no otherwise we would read about it in the OP.
See, that shouldn't be necessary for a credible organization. I guess it's more old boys politics.
If someone fancies themself a journalist/blogger they should make some calls and investigate and ask for a response. No organization "credible" or otherwise can have telepathy and know in advance that someone is going to write a story with a scurrilous misleading title. Are you suggesting that Layton should have personally called Corvin the day before yesterday just in case if he might write an artcle accusing the NDP have having a "white fest" (sic.)?
Stockholm, if you really support the NDP, can we convince you to spend a week or two defending Iggy's political choices?
That's perfect unionist,. By-the-way, is that you in the first row?
No, I'm just to his left.
As OO says, there is still a month to work on the program.
Just as well:
Of eight headliners, only one from Quebec.
As noted already, only two women.
Only one from the labour movement.
No one from the home of Tommy Douglas, Saskatchewan.
No one under 30, and no one under 51 except the environmentalist hockey player novelty.
As noted already, no visible minority or aboriginal.
no one from Alberta and no one gay or lesbian either - what's the world coming to?
That's perfect unionist,. By -the-way, is that you in the first row?
No, I'm just to his left.
Is that a Rolex?
An observations:
1 Why has the Layton-led NDP not utilized Olivia more in election campaigns?
Is it because she has to spend almost all of her time in her own riding during election campaigns?
Is it because she is the Leader's wife, and our campaign organizers are worried she might overshadow or detract from Jack's presence?
Is the answer all of the above?
The reason I ask is that we have a huge Asian population in the Lower Mainland and I wish she was around here much more often during the election campaigns.
Actually I think this is one hell of a good thread.
Now, not during the election campaign, when it is important to remain united because of the regular circus created by the msm, but now is the very best time to hash out these glaring party shortcomings. I don't have any stats but it seems to me that a substantial part of the labour movement, and the NDP needs a major diversification program, similiar to the one that has been instituted for women within the NDP. What percent of Canadian society is Asian, and what percent is represented in the NDP caucus? What percent of Canadian society is First Nations, and what percent is represented in the NDP caucus? The NDP may never be 100% truly representative, but why not rise to the challenge here, instead of acting like a reactionary old party. And while we are at it, what about the NDP caucus representation of youth, and young adults.
Olivia actually spent quite a bit of time on the road with Jack and on a bit of a tour of her own in the 2004 campaign - and then got a lot of flak for it when she lost by 800 votes. Ever since she has stayed in the riding more.
I thought I heard Mulcair to say that Olivia had worked very hard in his riding during the by-election. And I know that she's spent a lot of time in Vancouver. I suppose it's possible you don't see her because you're following the english news, rather than the chinese-language news.
I thought I heard Mulcair to say that Olivia had worked very hard in his riding during the by-election.
I never saw her. And how's her French??
How about a headliner who is a young woman of 26, from a northern constituency 70% aboriginal, and for bonus points she is fluent in her mother's first language, Greek?
[img]http://tbn1.google.com/images?q=tbn:H8gJhNwC5AwvQM:http://profile.ak.fac...
I was told that (I'm not joking) Olivia personally telephoned every single household in Outremont during the byelection that had a Chinese family name.
I thought I heard Mulcair to say that Olivia had worked very hard in his riding during the by-election.I never saw her. And how's her French??
Don't know, sorry. As a footnote, Outremont was 3% Chinese visible minority in the 2006 census.
I was told that (I'm not joking) Olivia personally telephoned every single household in Outremont during the byelection that had a Chinese family name.
Well, my neighbour, Robert E. Li, swore she never called or left a message. He did vote for Mulcair, however.
I think it was during the time of the proposed Conservative immigration act changes, which since passed (with Liberal support), and Mulcair told our riding that he credited her work in the new Canadian communities with helping his campaign.
Although I hate to ruin a perfectly good snark when everyone has worked so hard to build it up.
How's her French? Serious question. You don't phone "new Canadian communities" in Outremont and address them in English. Trust me on that.
Formidable.
.....
One of the guys who was in Obama's inner circle (of about 50 people?) is coming to convention to speak. therefore he's on board. Therefore, by extension, Barack Obama is on board. Which means that, by extension, there is virtually no difference between Barack Obama and Jack Layton. In fact, Jack Layton is like Barack Obama. Actually, he is Canada's Barack Obama, bald head and moustache notwithstanding.
I once danced with a girl who danced with a boy who danced with a girl who danced with the Prince of Wales...
Seriously, the whiff of desperation is in the air... I take it that there may be a few seats without bums at convention...
Note to Federal NDP... Jack Layton is not, he's really not, he's definitely really not Barack Obama. Dennis Kuchinich maybe...
BTW, do you have a suggestion of some non-white speakers that could come? Other than Gary Coleman...
LOL
Seriously, I do find it very disturbing that they have taken up the Barack Obama brand and are attempting to associate it with the NDP. I can see why many might have done that when he first came to power but given his decisions since then I see no benefit to identifying with him.
I find it more than a little creepy. Stepford politics.
"Big Daddy", that NDP Federal Convention site presents the person from Obama's inner circle - she's not a guy, she's Anita Dunn, the only female speaker - as being from Obomba's four-person inner circle, not 50. Credit where credit is due - Jack may be angling for a vice-presidential slot in 1012... We get Iggy, they get him.
...... Credit where credit is due - Jack may be angling for a vice-presidential slot in 1012... We get Iggy, they get him.
Now that is a trade I would like to see. LOL
BTW, do you have a suggestion of some non-white speakers that could come?
AfroHealer! Hmmm, what rhymes with long dreads?...
How's her French? Serious question. You don't phone "new Canadian communities" in Outremont and address them in English. Trust me on that.
You also won't have much luck addressing Chinese-Canadians in Montreal in French. I think the idea was for her to speak to them in Cantonese.
"Big Daddy", that NDP Federal Convention site presents the person from Obama's inner circle - she's not a guy, she's Anita Dunn, the only female speaker - as being from Obomba's four-person inner circle, not 50. Credit where credit is due - Jack may be angling for a vice-presidential slot in 1012... We get Iggy, they get him.
Shit, sorry I screwed up on the gender thing. Still and all, whether it's a he or a she, they're trying to pretend like Jack is like Obama. Like I said before, maybe Dennis Kucinich, probably Chris Dodd, but he's not even remotely like Barack Obama. (He does have a kind of Michael dukakis air about him, maybe we should bring in a Dukakis advisor to speak, wait, nevermind, the NDP has been emulatind Dukakis or years...)
I wouldn't want Iggy for leader though I think he would make an excellent minister of external affairs. His take on foreign policy is spot on in all aspects in my opinion.
Still trading Jack for Iggy would be a fair trade if they could throw in the Khadr twins and a draft pick... sorry, I'm still going through hockey withdrawal...
I'm glad someone agrees with me on that! I mean, the NDP posts an interim list of speakers that doesn't include any visible minorities and the next thing we know we get a thread with a title that makes it sound like the convention in Halifax is going to consist of people in hoods burning crosses.
Where does it say that the list is "interim"?
Where does it say that the list is "interim"?
The simple fact that the list has been in flux since the website first went up should give you enough of a clue, particularly given that the convention is still a month away. Which I believe was referred to further up in the thread.
Don't you see that if the list has been "in flux" for that long and no POC or Canadian woman speaker has yet been announced, it's even worse?
(Are you working for Iggy too?...
)
Seriously, I do find it very disturbing that they have taken up the Barack Obama brand and are attempting to associate it with the NDP. I can see why many might have done that when he first came to power but given his decisions since then I see no benefit to identifying with him.
Especially if they were the ones involved with the gushing tributes and accolades regarding hope and change on this very board. Then there were the habitual cynics who unfortunately, continue to be proven correct.
I gotta tell you, seeing "NDP" and "white fest" together on the Actve Topics list pisses me off. "white fest" suggests white supremacy, the KKK, nazis, and skinheads, none of which has anything whatsoever to do with the NDP. Keep your f*cking thread title, I am so out of here.
I agree! By the way, when is JacKKK Layton speaking? 
Then again, it could refer to this
Long thread.
