Harper Flattered By Opponents' Attacks Calling Him 'anti-Canadian'

What I find interesting is all that stuff about a "positive, pro-Canadian" campaign that "protects our social services" is practically flat-out stolen from the NDP's public statements and campaign focus so far. The difference--the Liberals have a very bad track record on protecting those social services, while the NDP has on that point been fairly consistent. (Yes, on this I'm biased being an NDP candidate now.)

---
Now call it extreme if you like, but I propose we hit it hard, and we hit it fast, with a major, and I mean major, leaflet campaign.--Rimmer, Red Dwarf

The Liberals define anyone who doesn't vote for them as anti-Canadian, so Harper's not taking the bait, good for him.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery <p> But, in respect to your campaign - what have the Liberals done in 10 years but actually talk? Well . . . lie of course. They borrow the idea, and <b>do</b> nothing! <p> Ammo for the trail!<p> <p>---<br>"History does not repeat itself, but it does rhyme" Mark Twain <br />
"The greatest price of not participating in politics is being governed by your inferiors." Plato

That might be a liberal point of view, but Harper is not going to respond because his posturing says he wants to be equal to an American or at least be just like them, his comments with regard to the War in Iraq sounded more like a jealous kid than an intelligent thoughtful response to a critical situation.

He won't say directly what his stance is on healthcare, but has made comments that sound like; he is envious of the American healthcare system, more private services in every way. So I don't think he cares what he is 'called' as long as he gets a chance to dance with the big boys down south. I think some of these guys are watching too much hollywood!

---
If I stand for my country today...will my country be here to stand for me tomorrow?

No, they view the NDP as communists to try and scare everyone away, never considering that most of us don't believe that we have a democracy in Canada anyway so in my case I'd rather have socialists in charge than private corporations. But, I have to agree with their view on Harper.

Whelan Costan,

I agree with your views of Harper as well. You sure don't hear him even mention Iraq now do you?

My own view is that the whole new Conservative party (aka Alliance aka Reform) <i>want</i> to be Americans. They are simply hiding behind the facade of a Canadian political party until such time as the Canadian populace is foolish enough to give them governance of the country. If that ever happens, it will not be very long before some sort of political union occurs. <p> The Liberals are global corporatists. The Conservatives/Alliance/Reform are wannabe Americans. The NDP are international socialists. There is not a Canadian in the lot. </p><p>---<br>Democracy is the surest way of ensuring that the will of the people is not done.

Being considered a communist for supporting the NDP seems to be far better than being thought a Nazi for being a nationalist.

Somehow it's ok to sell your country out to international interests, be they captialist or socialist, but stand up for Canadian interests and you're labelled a fascist and a Nazi.

---
Democracy is the surest way of ensuring that the will of the people is not done.

fja, what are you talking about? Your position is not clear, elucidate on the subject a bit.

As for the NDP, they are the only reason that we have any people oriented policies in the country. It seems to me that the government is supposed to serve the people and not just some clique of rich guys. Economics is not a science and should not be confused with those kinds of disciplines.

Actually, I agree with Harper for once. Equating the policies of the government with the country, people & society only really happens in totalitarian states, just like the Soviet Union & the USA. The Alliance would still be just as bad for the country as the Bloc Quebecois though.

---
"So many right-wing Christians, so few lions." - t-shirt I saw @ school

I've found that amoung the leftists that I occasionally socialize with, identifying myself as a nationalist immediately makes me a target of scorn. To them, the mere use of the word is suspect and identifies me as one who supports those disgusting creatures of the far right who also call themselves nationalists.

Suggesting that our immigration policy needs to be reconsidered in the light of 7.5% unemployment or saying that immigration policy needs to first and foremost benefit Canada almost targets one for abuse from these leftists. They seem to think that our borders don't exist and that everybody has a right to come here.

Observing that every one of the recent immigrants that I know don't really want to come to Canada but to go the US instead really raises their ire. When I observe that we taxpayers are paying for immigrants who can't qualify to enter the US now to qualify later, they go ballistic, and considering that most immigration to Canada is from the third world, they seem to think that I am a racist and a fascist. Of course, don't even mention the on ongoing problem with terrorists entering our country and even being given citizenship destroying the value of being Canadian for all the rest of us.

That's what I'm talking about. It has nothing to do with what my actual policies are, but with a perceived attack on the left's holy grails. Of course, the fact that I'm no fan of democracy doesn't help either.

As for the NDP and their alleged influence on public policy. They seem to be given far too much credit. There is hardly an NDP government installed in any provincial capitol that doesn't end up being thrown out of office at the next election for incompetance or corruption. The net result is usually a ruined provincial economy.

Before you start crying that the other parties `steal' NDP policies, just because the NDP may come up with some policy that the other parties adopt later does not mean they were stolen. Such policy does not exist in a vacuum. These ideas tend to surface in the public mind when the time is right, irrespective of party politics. Besides, the NDP tends to take credit for anything that remotely seems `socialist.' Some of those supposedly `socialist' policies that the NDP advocated aren't particularily socialist, either.

It may surprise and shock them to know where some of them actually originated. I'm thinking in particular of our system of universal health care that the NDP always likes to take credit for. The first country in the world to offer universal health care (since ancient Rome) for its citizens was the Third Reich. Nazi Germany wasn't a particularily socialist country, unless you count National Socialism as being socialist.

That's how I usually respond when I am accused of being a fascist because I proudly declare myself to be a nationalist. Considering the support that the NDP has always had for the suppression of free speech in this country (eg. Bill C-250) perhaps the Nazi label is more aptly worn around their necks.

---
Democracy is the surest way of ensuring that the will of the people is not done.

fja. <p> Yes, saying you're a nationalist does cause many leftists to view you with suspiscion because in most countries in the word "nationalism" is equated with some sort of ethnic exclusion. This is not necessarily fair in many case or always true in Canada for reasons we've explored previously at some length. On this site, we talk a lot about civic nationalism or the ability to set our own public policy using the government elected by the people within these borders, and that's our focus. We have even debated the issue with Paul Kellogg. <P> However, fja, when you base your nationalism on excluding immigrants you are indeed becoming exactly that racist sort of nationalist, one which incidentally we prefer to have nothing to do with on this site. You say it has nothing to do with your policies and then proceed to list off your anti-immigrant policies and why we need to prevent immigrants from "destroying the value of being Canadian for the rest of us". I would say it has EVERYTHING to do with your policies and opinions. <p> Incidentally, you can check out our FAQ for our policy on non-discrimination, which we ask all members to follow. Cross the line with a comment and we reserve the right to delete it. Cross the line after a warning and we reserve the right to cancel your membership. <p> A couple of obvious things. <p> Universal health care in Canada did not come from the Nazis, and I'm sure 6 million dead Jewish people would agree about that. The Nazi system for dealing with people was by no means democratic or based on ideals of social justice. Our system, on the other hand, arose because of the particular political climate and the people who fought for democracy and social justice. The CCF, the precursor to the NDP, fought for unemployment insurance, free health care, decent wages and pensions, and fair labour legislation. <p> And on this site we are definitely pro-immigrant, because we are all about fighting racism and creating a Canada that is fair and equitable to all people, something which I think is the REAL basis of a strong country. <P> Finally, this site is all about being pro-democracy. Our mission and vision state this right up front--we're about protecting and improving democracy. <p> So while we are always open to REASONABLE comments and debate, Iwould urge you to bear these things in mind. <p>---<br>Now call it extreme if you like, but I propose we hit it hard, and we hit it fast, with a major, and I mean major, leaflet campaign.--Rimmer, Red Dwarf <br />

At least the Bloc cares about social issues....I don't expect to change all of their their minds about separation, but they'd help us get better health care and a better voting system in a minority government setting......it would take a proper PM to actually unite Quebec completely, with the rest of Canada.

Hi fja.

Don't expect many to agree with you, but you raise a number of important issues. Canada is the country with the largest proportion of its population born outside of the country, and this could eventually fragment our country, if our birth rate doesn't rise in the next 20 years.....just don't expect people to admit it though.

It's not so much that they are from here or there, it's that they didn't get to experience our history as a child, and increasingly, that they aren't fluent in one of our two official languages.