Tom Flanagan, University of Calgary political science professor, right-wing pundit, and mentor and former senior advisor to Prime Minister Harper, has earned himself more international media attention during the past week than even he may have an appetite for. On November 30th, Flanagan spoke as one of the regular panelists on CBC Television’s national political analysis program, Power and Politics with Evan Solomon... Flanagan had this to say about Julian Assange, the founder and editor of Wikileaks:
"Well, I think Assange should be assassinated, actually. I think Obama should put out a contract and maybe use a drone or something."
Evan Solomon’s reaction was delayed....Tom, that’s pretty harsh stuff, just for the record, that’s pretty harsh stuff."
Flanagan responded to this interruption with what appears to have been a joke: "Well, I’m feeling very manly today." But making it clear that his initial remarks were seriously intended, he wrapped up his contribution to the program with a parting shot: "I wouldn'’t feel unhappy if Assange disappeared."
"Well, I’'ve gotta say, Tom Flanagan calling for that, that’s pretty strong stuff"....
While most Canadians are already aware of our own government’s repeated demonstrations of contempt for democratic principles and practice, understanding the implications of Tom Flanagan’s behaviour remains important. Canada’s standards of public discourse have decayed to the point at which our national broadcaster is not ashamed to carry an open incitement to political murder made by the leading ideologue of the governing party, a former and for all we know continuing close associate of Prime Minister Harper...
But acceptance of that kind of dismissal is only possible so long as Canadians continue to believe that our governing elites have always operated at a safe distance from such totalitarian tactics as those recommended by Tom Flanagan. Is that in fact the case, or is our belief perhaps conditioned by effective control of what Davidson calls the "public media environment"?
