[fatbasturd]

PM's comment on Liberals disgraceful: Ignatieff
Updated Fri. Oct. 13 2006 3:31 PM ET

CTV.ca News Staff

No prime minister has the right to say that anyone who voices a criticism of Israel is an enemy of the Jewish state, Liberal leadership front-runner Michael Ignatieff charged in a stinging attack levelled at the Conservative leader on Friday.

In a hard-hitting speech in Toronto, Ignatieff blasted the prime minister for his remarks accusing the Liberal Party of an anti-Israeli bias.

"Yesterday, Stephen Harper used my statement that war crimes were committed in this (Mideast) conflict to launch a personal attack on me and on my colleagues running for the Liberal leadership of Canada. Mr. Harper's comments were a disgrace, a disgrace for a man who holds an office that is supposed to represent all Canadians," he said.

"There is no basis whatever for Mr. Harper to suggest that the Liberal party is biased against Israel. The prime minister showed a profound lack of respect to the Official Opposition and a profound lack of respect to the Canadian people who elected them."

In his most caustic remarks against Harper since Liberal leadership hopefuls began to campaign in earnest, Ignatieff characterized Harper as having a "one-sided, black-or-white, blind-to-the-realities-of-the-world approach" to the Mideast conflict.

Ignatieff said the prime minister and the Conservative party failed to address the damage the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah was doing to the relations between the Lebanese and Jewish communities in Canada.

Ignatieff also sought to downplay his earlier comment that an Israeli strike on the Lebanese village of Qana that killed 28 civilians was a war crime.

He told reporters Friday that he had not only lived and taught in Israel, but that he considered himself a friend to the state.

"But being a friend means speaking honestly and this week I did that, I spoke honestly about this summer's terrible conflict," he said.

"It was a conflict provoked by Hezbollah and its backers to lure Israel into a wide war, it was a conflict in which Israel exercised its right to respond and to send a terrorist militia a clear message that its actions cannot and would not be tolerated."

Ignatieff also tempered his comments by saying that while Israel's bombing of Qana was a tragedy, it's up to international bodies to determine whether a war crime was committed.

On Thursday, Harper charged that Ignatieff's comment reflects the anti-Israeli leanings of most of his Liberal leadership rivals.

Ignatieff's Liberal leadership rivals, including Bob Rae and Gerard Kennedy, were quick to denounce the statement.

Rae told CTV's Mike Duffy Live that he expects an apology from the prime minister.

"I just think it's absolutely appalling to lie and smear in this way," Rae said.

Kennedy described Harper's "brand of politics (as) creating divisions within the country and diminishing Canada's reputation" abroad.

But an unabashed Harper has refused to back down on his assertion that "virtually all'' Liberal leadership hopefuls are anti-Israel.

Speaking to reporters Friday after reading to students at his daughter's Ottawa school, Harper said only Scott Brison and Joe Volpe condemned anti-Israel comments that were made by various Liberals during last summer's Israeli bombardment of Lebanon.

He said it's hypocritical of other contenders to criticize Ignatieff now when they kept mum last summer.

"I think it's a bit hypocritical for them to show their faces now. They should have done it before.''

Ignatieff also announced Friday that has accepted an invitation from the Canada-Israel Committee to join a multi-party delegation that is travelling next month to the Middle East, where he will meet with the Israeli prime minister as well as Palestinian leaders.

But Ignatieff's face-saving attempts may have come too late. His remarks have already cost the Liberal party some traditional Jewish supporters.

In a letter to the editor in Friday's National Post, the wife of prominent Liberal MP Irwin Cotler said she decided to give up her Liberal party membership because of Ignatieff's comments on Israel.

Ariela Cotler said she "and many of my friends'' are no longer planning to attend the Liberals' December leadership convention in Montreal.

She accused Ignatieff of lacking "moral integrity" and of "sacrificing the truth for personal political gains in the upcoming leadership election."

Her husband Irwin Cotler is supporting former Ontario NDP premier Bob Rae's bid to lead the federal Liberals.

On Wednesday, the co-chair of Ignatieff's Toronto campaign, Thornhill MP Susan Kadis, announced that she was quitting over his remarks.

With files from The Canadian Press

[ridenrain]

There's nothing disgraceful in the least. A smart man like Iggy would also know when he's being hypocritical. During the mid East war, they were all falling over themselves to get the Quebec/ Lebanese vote and in doing so, they pissed off the Jewish vote.
News flash: You can't have it both ways.

[Ripcat]

It's no secret that Harper wants Rae to win the Liberal leadership race because Harper is hoping this would mean more seats for the Conservatives in Ontario next election.

Also, poking the leadership contenders so they respond may create some fine sound bites to use against them in the next election campaign.

[Maggiemygosh]

The Lieberals statements are the ones that are disgusting because they lied and are racist pigs and bigots. They are the ones who are anti-Jewish and they publicly have stated that more than once.

[Firecat]

Maggiemygosh Maggiemygosh:

The Lieberals statements are the ones that are disgusting because they lied and are racist pigs and bigots. They are the ones who are anti-Jewish and they publicly have stated that more than once.

They eat babies with the wrong wine.

[Tricks]

Firecat Firecat:

Maggiemygosh Maggiemygosh:

The Lieberals statements are the ones that are disgusting because they lied and are racist pigs and bigots. They are the ones who are anti-Jewish and they publicly have stated that more than once.

They eat babies with the wrong wine.

ROTFL

[fatbasturd]

Maggiemygosh Maggiemygosh:

The Lieberals statements are the ones that are disgusting because they lied and are racist pigs and bigots. They are the ones who are anti-Jewish and they publicly have stated that more than once.

[fatbasturd]

Firecat Firecat:

Maggiemygosh Maggiemygosh:

The Lieberals statements are the ones that are disgusting because they lied and are racist pigs and bigots. They are the ones who are anti-Jewish and they publicly have stated that more than once.

They eat babies with the wrong wine.