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Obamadroids Frantic: Attack Canadian Media NAFTA Story [UPDATED x2]

By SusanUnPC on February 28, 2008 at 1:31 PM in Barack Obama, NAFTA

UPDATE: “The facts of our story are accurate.” – Greg McIsaac, Communications Manager, News Information and Current Affairs, CTV (Taylor Marsh has the report in “CTV Stands by NAFTA Story.” Besides, this is a first-rate national news organization that wouldn’t go with an off-record story that wasn’t solidly vetted.)

Original: Now competing with my diary in the recommended list at MyDD:
BREAKING: Canadian Embassy: Obama NAFTA call story is a lie
by Bob Johnson, Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 12:24:57 PM EST

So one person for the right Canadian government — a single official — issues a public denial to Politico’s Ben Smith, and that’s it? Even though the entire Canadian media are all over this story? Nationwide? And it’s the top story in Canada?

REMEDIAL POLITICS/GOVERNMENT 101: How many times has the Bush administration denied everything? (Along with every governnent on the face of the earth, thousands of times?)

And you’ve believed Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld — and every “official” government statement around the world — every time? Really? From a single official? Really?

Do I have a bridge to sell you!

(Politico’s Ben Smith: It’s he who quoted the always authoritative David Axelrod the other day saying that of course Bill Ayers and Obama know each other because their kids go to the same school.

Ben Smith, who doesn’t ask the obvious: Uh, how do Ayers’ grown adult children go to school with Obama’s elementary-age children? A Guardian blogger and I asked, with the actual AGES. I looked up all the ages at Wikipedia. The Guardian blogger went to summer camp when he was a child with Ayers’ children, so he happens to know. Ben Smith unquestioningly quotes whatever ANYBODY says — including the spinning Axelrod — and doesn’t ask FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS. Sorry excuse for a reporter. Leave it to Bob to think his single call to a single official, without any apparent follow-ups or hard questions, will suffice. The Canadian media will pursue this further.)

Then there’s a tip-off in Smith’s earlier story on this that quotes an Obama spokesman: “‘The news reports on Obama’s position on NAFTA are inaccurate and in no way represent Senator Obama’s consistent position on trade,’ says Obama spokesman Bill Burton.” The word INACCURATE is a tip-off. The Obama campaign has not said the Canadian news stories, across the nation of Canada, are a lie. Has not said that.

Dare I ever tell you what a pal privately calls Bob Johnson? Think his initials. It’s so bad, I know. But he spouts this weak drivel all the time.

UPDATE from Campaign Spot at the National Review (Yeah, so? His logic is what counts here.)

UPDATE: The Obama campaign denies this, and the Canadian Embassy in the U.S. denies this. Then again, did anyone expect the Ambassador’s office to come out and say, “yes, I will confirm this tremendously damaging report about Senator Obama several days before contests where he could effectively wrap-up the nomination, and thus ensure that I, my embassy, and my country are on the you-know-what list of a man who is potentially the next U.S. President”?

  • Cee

    NONE OF IT IS TRUE!

    February 28, 2008
    Read More: Barack Obama
    Canadians deny Obama call

    A spokesman for the Canadian Embassy to the United States, Tristan Landry, flatly denied the CTV report that a senior Obama aide had told the Canadian ambassador not to take seriously Obama’s denunciations of Nafta.

    “None of the presidential campaigns have called either the Ambassador or any of the officials here to raise Nafta,” Landry said.

    http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0208/Canadians_deny_Obama_call.html

    • Goon

      Susan hangs onto the story because Obama didn’t deny it enough. I guess it doesnt matter that the noted conservative member of the embassy denies it. but i suppose that just means Obama is a conservative and its all a big conspiracy right?

      Anything to paint the other guy bad… and I especially continue to laugh at the idea that you say this is the number one story here, that we’re all over it.

      CBC news, Global TV, the Star – not a word. even CTV has buried it within their front page… somehow in your land this means ‘top story’?

    • rjj

      here. repeat, HERE. That would be in DC, wouldn’t it? Thought they called Canada.

      • rjj

        I am wrong, they phoned the US ambassador.

        So they phoned him at home.

    • Frostback

      Comment by Cee | 2008-02-28 12:20:02

      “Don’t leave this part out

      Low-level sources also suggested the Clinton campaign may have given a similar warning to Ottawa, but a Clinton spokesperson flatly denied the claim.

      Don’t you people see that this Canadian conservative is screwing with our election chances of both Clinton and Obama?

      What is the McCain position on NAFTA? NO CHANGE!

      Wise up.”

      So you no longer believe the conservative Canadian Ambassador was trying to fuck with the nomination then?

    • MarkL

      So.. no one called to discuss NAFTA, but that may have arisen during the course of discussion, eh?
      ROFLMAO.
      The actual quotes in your link are classic non-denial denials.

  • waldenpond

    Sorry, off topic and I’m new, but does anyone know why he voted for the confirmation of Thomas B. Griffith? 06/14/05 vote 136. Leahy had a write up against the nomination. Google Leahy Griffith.

    • Frostback

      I’m still trying to figure out why he backed Lieberman, who is among the progressives’ most despised and reviled “Democrats” against Lamont. Nevermind…I do actually know. Ironically, Lamont supports Obama (despite O’s reneging on his initial assistance with Lamont’s campaign), however his explanation for doing so is script-like and, having been given in early Jan, is so pre fairy-tale-busted.

      Methinks the pure ‘new school politician’ Obama is anything but.

      • Yoshimi

        It doesn’t really matter since Lamont has a thicker skin than you. Don’t fret it.

        • Frostback

          That’s your comeback? Informative.

      • Andy

        Frostback:; Obama *chose* Lieberman as his *Mentor* when he arrived in the US Senate….

        Interesting isn’t it? Specially given “his strong stance against the war”…..Go figure!!

        • Frostback

          Yes, I’m aware of the Lieberman/Obama mentorship, altho I’m not sure it was a choice, so much as an assignment.

          Nevertheless, Mr. Anti-Establishment aka Mr. No-Old-School-Politics aka Mr. Man-Of-Conscience is not so much, is he?

          One final word: Rezko.

          • Andy

            Frostback, indeed it was Obama’s choice/pick (not assigned)
            It’s funny Lieberman’s always brags about it.

            • Frostback

              I stand corrected then.

  • William

    Of course the story is true. CTV is highly respected; it would never broadcast such a story without solid sources. The denial is an attempt to avoid an international incident, where a potential American President would have lied to American voters while telling the truth to another country. There are words for this kind of thing.

    Obama’s campaign is desperately trying to cinch his nomination before his whole ball of misrepresentations and lies unravels in front of anyone. Once he gets the nomination, he figures it will go away, and Democrats will be forced to support him. He’s wrong on both counts. The Democratic Party is being hurriedly pushed over a cliff, with the media now providing most of the momentum. Can somebody or something stop this before it’s too late?

    • ChrisXP

      ——————————————————————————————————–
      The denial is an attempt to avoid an international incident, where a potential American President would have lied to American voters while telling the truth to another country. There are words for this kind of thing.
      ——————————————————————————————————–

      Precisely.

      Kids believe everything in print these days, that they don’t understand stiff-lipped diplomancy. If it wasn’t served to them piecemeal, they’d buy anything their leaders tell them.

      • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

        Precisely. And they quote a single source (not particularly high level perhaps) in the right-leaning Canadian government to deny this?

        CTV is highly respected — and so are all of the major newspapers and other media in Canada going with this story. It has to be that other Canadian newspapers/media are digging into this, and didn’t just blindly go along with CTV.

        • Goon

          they’re not going with the story. CTV only, and they have buried it within their own site. I’ve provided a number of links within this thread to the biggest sites in Canadian media and not a word has been said.

          I guess you’re just running on faith in the story and not facts. That wont get you far.

          • Dewar

            Well, running on faith with no facts seems to get you pretty far in the Dem. nom process. It’s worked swell for Obama.

        • ChrisXP

          Don’t know what’s going on here with posting, but I’ve posted twice the fact that this is news — with the Obama accusation — in Canada.

          Check the front page of the Globe and Mail, for example.

          • Goon

            its not on the Globe & Mail site, at least anywhere i can find.

            but if it was, thats no story, since CTV owns the Globe & Mail.

            its like claiming something has legs because it was on Fox News and the NY Post, both owned by Murdoch.

            • ChrisXP

              It’s right on the FRONT PAGE, idiot! lololol

        • Andy
    • Goon

      CTV is also now claiming in its online report that low level Clinton people may have also called Ottawa saying not to believe her NAFTA rhetoric.

      “Low-level sources also suggested the Clinton campaign may have given a similar warning to Ottawa, but a Clinton spokesperson flatly denied the claim.”

      so whats the deal now? are you going to keep trusting CBC now that they’re using unnamed sources against both?

      face the facts – CTV is the only place running this story, have no named sources, and the embassy has rejected that any candidate has called with such claims.

      this story is dead.

    • Frostback

      If this story was not sourced appropriately, Mr. Robertson may be about to have his ‘Rather’ moment.

      CTV is no eff’n Fox News.

    • Sue

      Too late all the Democrats in our family have already been pushed off the cliff.

  • Goon

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/

    You continue to insist its the top story in Canada, and yet its not on even on the front page of the CBC. the only place that reported it was CTV, who ran on unnamed sources.

    The embassy denies calls from ANY candidate before or after the Ohio debate.

    it is Hillary supporters who are frantic here, hon. if its true its true, however the fact that you need to claim its the top story all over Canada, when it is absolutely NOT, should be telling. its not even the top story on ctv.ca by a long shot and they were the ones who reported it in the first place.

    Desperate times call for desperate talk, it seems.

    • Goon

      http://www.canada.com/globaltv/national/index.html

      not on the front page of Global TV either…

      but yeah “the Canadian media are all over this story, nationwide”

      sure they are. sure.

    • ChrisXP

      All media outlets use “unnamed sources”. Your Obama coverage would dry up without it! lololol

  • Mel

    Did some digging and the reporter who broke this story on CTV is one of the most highly respected reporters in Canada, and why would he put his reputation on the line over some lousy story that wasn’t true for?

    This sounds now more like the Obama’s doing to an Ambassador what they did to Lewis, either shut up and support Obama, or we will attack you!

    • Goon

      again, you dont know half the story. it was an understaffers report that Tom Clark simply reported, as in spoke, on the news. Attributing Clark to it is like attributing the NY Times McCain story to Wolf Blitzer because he read it on the air.

      • Frostback

        Is Blitzer the Washington Bureau Chief for the NYT? Please, get a grip. You’re embarrassing Canadians.

      • Frostback

        Is Blitzer an employee of the NYT? Please, get a grip. You’re embarrassing Canadians.

      • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

        Nobody is ever responsible, particularly when it hurts BO.

    • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

      Thanks so much, Mel. We need to track CTV. Canadians i know think the world of CTV’s reporting.

      I’m in Washington state, and we used to get Canadian television stations here — many of them — until the FCC messed everything up and blacked out a lot of their shows. Their news was always vastly better and more serious than U.S. TV news. So was their Olympics coverage, which all of us Olympics fans watched instead of the U.S. station.

      Surely the CTV reporter will have more on this.

      • Goon

        I’ve had the news on all day waiting for one report, and absolutely nothing has popped up on CTV Newsnet, CBC Newsworld, nothing.

        keep your fingers crossed, Susan. You’re “hoping against hope”, literally.

        • Yoshimi

          She is delusional isn’t she. I’m constantly amazed at how quickly her diaries are shot down yet she is determined to keep them posted.

          I’d get really depressed if I were her.

          • ChrisXP

            Because nothing has been refuted. You expect diplomats to discount first. There’s an official line they must keep.

            Kids, go home and play in your sandbox and stay away from work of grownups. :)

            • Goon

              well one thing for sure has been refuted, this is NOT a national news story in Canada – you can only find buried references to it on media owned by CTV/Bellglobemedia. On that point in her OP, she is bluntly wrong and/or lying.

              If the lack of refuatation is so important, will you also acknowledge that the CTV.ca article also claims Clinton spokespeople did the same thing about the NAFTA rhetoric?

              http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080227/dems_nafta_080227/20080227?hub=QPeriod

              the CTV story now says that
              “Low-level sources also suggested the Clinton campaign may have given a similar warning to Ottawa, but a Clinton spokesperson flatly denied the claim.”

              whats good for the goose….

              • ChrisXP

                Front page news isn’t buried. Anyone can goto the Globe and Mail and see a copy of their print edition.

                God, you guys even need glasses!!!!!!

      • Goon

        why are you ignoring all my posts Susan?

        I’m actually in Canada, watching all these news stories, providing you links to all our major news areas, and you can only respond to people who are trying to back you up?

        you are putting your fingers in your ears going ‘la la la’… I guess when Hillary said “let the conversation begin”, I wasn’t meant to be invited?

        I’m providing you with an out of this story, a way for you to save face by not reporting things like this is the number one story across Canada, and you’ve chosen to ignore them. Well anyone reading this thread checking my links can see you’re either flatly lying or wilfully ignorant.

        • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

          I know many other Canadians who are telling me the opposite. Where are you? In the tundra?

      • Yoshimi

        Thanks so much, Mel. We need to track CTV. Canadians i know think the world of CTV’s reporting.

        You must mean the CBC. CBC is top notch.

      • Goon

        someone just claimed its on the Globe and Mail paper as evidence of the story spreading. i dont see the comment now (ChrisXP says he has glitches too)… regardless, that would be because CTV/Bellglobemedia owns the Globe and Mail paper.

        …and yet i couldnt find it on the G&M site at all.

    • Kat Bee

      The story was balanced as there was comment from the Obama camp. CTV has not retracted or clarified the story.

  • Goon

    http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20080227/dems_nafta_080227/20080227?hub=QPeriod

    the CTV story now says that
    “Low-level sources also suggested the Clinton campaign may have given a similar warning to Ottawa, but a Clinton spokesperson flatly denied the claim.”

    So I suppose Clinton’s denial is acceptable but the denials about Obama making calls are not? or are you going to now say they’re both full of crap.

    face it, these unnamed sources for both of them are not reliable, and the embassy’s statement saying no candidate has called now repudiates both.

    • ChrisXP

      Nope, your conclusion doesn’t jive. Hillary stated that she’s open for anyone to check if her team did the same, and denies she had any contact.

      O-Bomba gave no such “sunshine” in his statements. They try to snow folks in believing official lines, that they KNOW will come from accusations, at first.

      With the NAFTA sentiment heating up in Canadian press, they don’t want an incident at their home, either.

      DUMMIES!

  • Fred

    Do you think Harper is making sure this is a non-issue?

  • Fred

    Do you think Harper is making sure this major issue becomes a non-issue?

    • Goon

      he has no reason to. Harper doesnt want Iraq to end, its his best interest for Obama and Clinton to look bad and put McCain in power.

  • Yoshimi

    The conspiracy theories are great here. It appears that the Canadian government has teamed up with the American media to make one of their lesser TV chanels and Clinton look bad.

    Btw, did you guys read that Obama blew up tower 7?

    • Frostback

      Have you read Cee’s initial theory?…that it was a Cdn conservative trying to influence the election? Priceless.

  • ChrisXP

    Testing, as posts aren’t showing up.

    • Yoshimi

      Ask one of the kids. They might be able to help you out gramps.

      • ChrisXP

        Don’t believe so, as I’ve been in computing since 1983. Long before you were born, kid. :)

        But getting a script error, so it’s an issue server side.

        • Yoshimi

          83? I was actually born in ’69 and probably taught you basic on your first TRS-80 gramps.

          Good luck being able to post your insightful comments. I enjoy reading them. :)

          • ChrisXP

            You’re still younger than me, kid.

            Naw, my first computer was a kit-built Timex-Sinclair (read 1983), and BASIC I didn’t care too much with (especially the long non-sensical spagetti code it required — GOTO loops especially).

            Next thing you’d be saying you were teaching FORTRAN at 15 (no, you’re not Bill Gates).

            BTW, it’s Ms., not Mr. Your assumptions are again wrong, dear. :)

            • Yoshimi

              Why do you talk like a man?

        • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

          Ha! Me too, Chris. My first computer was a KayPro II, running on CPM (remember that?), with no hard drive. Those big disks.

          Gramps. The young ones are letting us know this is NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN or WOMEN. Not that we’re very old … mostly more mature. They’d toss us all on ice floes if they could. Heartless little selfish twits.

          • kenoshaMarge

            And age discrimination goes so well with all those messages of hope and change. Gramps as invective? How droll.

            And while I plead guilty to computer illiteracy what does that have to do with my ability to think or respond to issues? Sad little commentary on inability to rational discourse.

            But then class doesn’t need to be defined by age. Some are just arrogant assholes from birth to grave. Good luck with trying to school them in civility and/or reasonable discourse Susan.

  • jwrjr

    I started reading this post (and the comments) with my usual skepticism, considering how the right-wing has perverted MSM news reporting. Ironically enough, I suppose that I should thank Goon and Cee for clearing this up for me. After reading the comments, I am convinced that SusanUnPc has the story correctly. Only the republicans and their spiritual brethren, the Obots could come up with such crap as the aforementioned comments, and think that by shouting them out loudly and repeatedly people will believe them.

  • rwc

    Wow, this story has the cult followers of Obama in a frenzy all right. There must be something to it given the way they are protesting it on this blog. If there wasn’t they’d just laugh it off.

    • ChrisXP

      Yeppers.

      You can tell how much a story has legs, by how high pitch their screams rise. ;)

      I’m just waiting for the news that Obama-o-matics carry a little red book with O-Bomba’s portrait printed on it, next. Mao II (or is it Pol Pot) anyone?

  • Veteran in Florida

    Obama just ran into the Straight talk express on this story

    McCain: Obama Misleading Voters on NAFTA
    Citing Canadian TV Report, Republican Says Democrat Isn’t Offering ‘Straight Talk’

    http://www.abcnews.go.com/Politics/Vote2008/story?id=4360446&page=1

    • Goon

      well thats gonna be too bad for McCain when the Canadian government tells him he’s wrong.

      • Goon

        so since i yell and get attention that its not the top story in Canada like Susan claims, and even though I have proof of this, it ‘must be true’ simply because I am saying something at all?

        so lets recap then by your logic:
        lack of strong denial equals admission of truth
        and
        strong denial and noisemaking equals admission of truth.

        way to set yourself up for a win.

        • Cee

          ABC…

          NAFTA Rhetoric? ‘It Didn’t Happen’

          Share February 28, 2008 12:09 PM

          ABC News’ Jennifer Parker Reports: A senior Canadian Embassy official in Washington, D.C. disputes a report by the CTV Canadian television network that an Obama campaign staffer telephoned Michael Wilson, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, to reassure him that campaign rhetoric against NAFTA should not be taken seriously.
          http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02/canadian-embass.html

      • ChrisXP

        Won’t matter. It’s like the O-Bomba is a Muslim mailings. A little of this, a little of that and it all sticks to cast doubt.

        June is a long way off…………

        Welcome to the real world of politics, kids! :)

      • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

        Uh, Goon. McCain knows more about diplomacy than you ever will in your lifetime. God almighty. He may be a Republican, but he has served on national security matters for decades and traveled the world at high levels. He really does know more than you. Let’s put it this way: If you were on the ticket opposite McCain, it’d be a no brainer who I’d vote for. You are just so ignorant — as well as strident because “The One” has been attacked — which is really all about attacking you because you’ve projected YOURSELF into him, and that’s why you adore him so much.

    • Cee

      McCain is playing you.

      • yttik

        No, actually McCain is playing you. People have been trying all along to point out that this is not going to be a walk in the park.

        • http://noquarterusa.net/ SusanUnPC

          McCain can’t wait to take on Obama. Nor can Rove et al. They are salivating at the prospect. Of course, thank god for Hillary, and be sure to click that donation button up yonder…. she’s doing SO well but the Chicago machine keep cranking out the (boring) TV ads and running them constantly.

  • Cee

    Ahem…anyone who bought this story about Obama AND Ckinton has BEEN HAD!

    Stop being so desperate.

    McCain, however, said today that he plans to highlight his support for the trade deal to draw contrasts between him and his Democratic opponent.

    “NAFTA has created jobs,” McCain said today while campaigning in Texas, arguing that the trade deal has been good for the American, Canadian, and Mexican economies.

    http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/02/canadian-embass.html

    • ChrisXP

      lololol

      It shows the inexperience of kids. How they’ll believe anything their leaders tell them, too.

      Couldn’t trust this country being operated by you guys, as you’ll even take a dictator/tyrant at his word, because it’s “official”.

    • Yoshimi

      The fact that a Republican rag is still trying to push this tells us something. And the fact that Susan has linked to it tells us something else…

      UPDATE from Campaign Spot at the National Review (Yeah, so? His logic is what counts here.)

      • ChrisXP

        What counts is to win.

        And if that means using Republican talking points to do so, so be it. Because folks aren’t going to argue about it if there’s a Dem president.

        My, you guys are r-e-a-l-ly dumb at politics. REALLY dumb!

        • AF

          No argument there.

      • Frostback

        Got Drudge?

        • Yoshimi

          No.

  • fribbles

    Goon, I don’t know if you ARE Canadian or an American who happens to get Canadian t.v. but surely even you can understand that it’s the drip drip of accumulative stories about Obama’s double talk, WORM-isms, and flip flops that cement the perception that he’s not ready for prime time, and has a lot of skeletons ready to pop out of his closet. The NAFTA story is a part of that perception.

    The story could simply be Canadian “media bias” against Obama (eyeroll), but now that it’s out in the public sphere, others will follow up. It’s the way it goes. Journalists will smell blood in the water. It’s another news cycle that features Obama issuing denials and CYA-isms.

    You can minimize or dismiss the story because CTA’s website has it scrolling away, but it’s not going away. With YouTube and blogs, nothing ever does.

    By the way, the Clintons DID offer a clear-cut denial. Obama’s camp said the story was “inaccurate”. Two different things that speak volums. The legendary Axelrod should have squashed this right away, but now it’s going viral.

    I don’t know why you’re wasting so much energy trying to convince us this isn’t a story. It is.

    Drip drip drip….

    • Goon

      i’m not here to dispute or support anything overall about Obama.

      I’m Canadian, read this blog, and saw Susan claim this is the top story here.

      THIS IS NOT TRUE. PERIOD.

      cbcnews.ca, ctv.ca, globeandmail.com, thestar.ca, global news, etc – these are our major media outlets and only CTV had made anything of this at all, and they have now shuffled it way down their page.

      I am angry because some ignorant people on this blog are claiming things that are false. i feel a duty to report the FACTS – claiming its the top story here does not make it so.

  • http://www.despair.com/in24x30prin.html Smilin’ Jim

    It is not on her blog.

    Has it bled through to the media yet?

    • http://www.despair.com/in24x30prin.html Smilin’ Jim

      Never mind, I just saw the ABC McCain article.

      McCain is going to cluster fuck Ferris Bueller without love.

  • Yoshimi

    UPDATE from Campaign Spot at the National Review (Yeah, so? His logic is what counts here.)

    National Review??? Are you a Democrat or a Republican?

    I really wonder sometimes Sue.

    • http://www.despair.com/in24x30prin.html Smilin’ Jim

      See above.

      • Yoshimi

        Ah yes, you are an eloquent writer verbose in political hackdom. You fine sir have no need for a muse. :)

  • Goon

    why can’t any of the people debating me on anything here even concede the point that it is NOT the top story in Canada right now? i’ve provided every major media source.

    if you want me to go away, seriously, concede the reality and stop passing it off like Canada is outraged and all over this story.

    • Goon

      i mean seriously, Susan has updated a couple times since then, and cant even edit the part about it being the top story in Canada?

      i know she’s read my comments. she simply apparently doesnt care whether or not she’s spreading the truth?

      you can keep your opinions and reading between the lines, but I will kick and scream all day long about your lies about our media if you have the discourtesy to lie about its place in the Canadian headlines.

    • Goon

      I don’t feel this way about all americans, however as someone who likes both obama and hillary more than mccain and reads this blog frequently making sure both are held to the fire, I am outraged that someone i put a bit of trust in has so blatantly lied to my face in order to better her case.

    • Yoshimi

      Goon.

      You are at a hyperpartisan site where your reality is clashing with theirs. They will not listen to your facts because in order to do so, they start to question this community. Welcome to the cult of LarrSuHu.

      If you’d care to make a sacrifice, Larry recommends throwing a Sandanista in the fire to appease the great god Reagan.

      God I love this place. :)

      • Goon

        its not a matter of two different realities…. in the case of whether the Canadian media are reporting this, there is reality and there is fantasy. This blog is reporting fantasy. Period.

        all the Canadian news sources have been listed by me over and over. CBC, Global, The Star, etc – even CTV and G&M which are owned by the same company, who have shuffled away this story.

        they are ignoring me, i believe deliberately, to perpetuate fantasy, and I thought this sort of blatant disregard for the facts was beyond the pale for even the most partisan.

        • Kathleen

          It will probably wash out in the next 24 hour news cycle.

    • fribbles

      What are you, 13 years old? Drumming your cyber feet and whining in righteous indignation does nothing but get you laughed at here.

      People get it that it’s one of 50,000 news stories today. But this is a political blog and to people interested in American politics, this is THE MAJOR STORY OF THE DAY.

      Jeez, even the Canadian Oborg are whiners.

      • Goon

        “Drumming your cyber feet and whining in righteous indignation”

        the whole original post is this, I am simply responding in kind to the LIE that this is the top story in Canada. it is not, by a long shot

        and noone will recognize this point. its ridiculous and makes me question whether i will ever trust a word from thsi blog ever again.

        • Frostback

          But, initially you said there was no news clip…”maybe a minute somewhere”, and that wasn’t quite correct, was it? Take a deep breath, let it out, and then move on. If it IS b.s. as you claim, then no worries, right?

    • ChrisXP

      No point to concede. It’s a top story up North. Got the NAFTA nuts a buzz. Globe and Mail is even reporting how much they hold in oil and gas, as a bargining chip, even.

  • Cee

    Goon,

    Some of us know when we’ve been lied to. It takes time for others.

    Don’t hold it against all Americans. :D

  • Kathleen

    O.K. No quarter Usa folks just went to hear Chelsea Clinton in Baker Center at Ohio University in Athens Ohio. All I can say is that I sure wish Bill and Hillary Clinton would have had at least 10 children (screw the over population thing). This young woman is the most articulate, brilliant, clear, composed, humble young person I have ever heard speak about health care, education, foreign policy, Vets rights, the Iraq war, Aids, student loans etc etc. I hope someone will post her presentation on the web for all of the world to see and hear.

    She barely talked about herself or her parents when she started. She allowed the crowd to lead with questions. When someone posed the question (the public did not have a microphone) she would repeat the question almost verbatim and then ask the questioner if she had gotten it right before she answered. Her answers were complete, detailed and oh so clear. I wish I could give you more details but I did not have my pen and her answers were so detailed that my re-interpretation would not do Ms. Clinton’s answers justice. If the Clintons upbringing of their daughter is a reflection of the way Hillary will run the country…I am sold. My mind has just been blown by her brilliance and depth of understanding. Chelsea makes me believe in dynasties (please Chelsea enter the political arena)

    Bill and Hillary sure wish the two of you had had more children. What a great job the two of you did.

    Chelsea makes me believe in cloning too. Clone Chelsea!

    • AF

      So cool. She is impressive. And totally unique in personality – not a clone of her father or her mother – just clone in smartness.

    • Andy

      Thanks for reporting on that !!

  • Destini

    Are you checking only online sources or have you actually seen the cover of the Globe and Mail today? Are you actually watching news coverage? Did you watch last night? I did and my eyes have seen things you have obviously not.

    And before you ask…yes…I am an American living in Canada. Up until yesterday CTV has been rather glowing in it’s coverage of Obama not to mention the ‘truth in broadcasting’ pesky thing here in Canada.

    • TeakWoodKite

      ‘truth in broadcasting’ = no propganda ? …at least based on facts” ?
      how does work? I watch the canadian parlament on C-span etc but I have little exposure to candian broadcasts.

    • Goon

      its on the cover of the globe and mail because CTV owns the Globe and Mail.

      • Frostback

        But you said it was only buried on ctv.ca …..

        • ChrisXP

          He wants it both ways. That’s how spinsters work.

          Just corner him in his own game and he’ll scurry away. He’ll grow tired soon.

          • Goon

            I’m the spinster?

            well if you consider it spin, better SPIN than LIE.

            this story is no longer on CTV’s main page, it has not at this time hours after this convo started reached CBC on TV or web…

            but I’m the spinster right? sure…

            the OP still says all over Canadian media nationwide. it simply not true now or ever.

            I suppose the post made later down the thread backing me up is going to be accused as the same person next?

  • Mel

    The Obama campaign denies this, and the Canadian Embassy in the U.S. denies this.

    Then again, did anyone expect the Ambassador’s office to come out and say, “yes, I will confirm this tremendously damaging report about Senator Obama several days before contests where he could effectively wrap-up the nomination, and thus ensure that I, my embassy, and my country are on the you-know-what list of a man who is potentially the next U.S. President”?

    What Chicago political style threats did camp Obama pull on a foreign government?

    • ChrisXP

      He didn’t need too. Canada would want to maintain a low profile, as not to upset their at home and abroad apple cart in a heavily contested election. Diplomancy is a delicate art of smoothing feathers on both sides.

      If Canada acknowledged the story, they’d be in a pickle if O-Bomba would’ve won. It’ll be payback politics, which Canada can’t afford to play when the US is in a recession.

  • ces

    Man, I’m starting to think there’s no hockey games on or something…

    • Frostback

      lol

  • Blue State Girl

    Don’t engage Yoshimi. He’s come over from the Daily Kos to spread his bitter rays of sunshine. Next thing you know he’ll bring his friend Geekesque and that means B.J. isn’t far behind.

    • ChrisXP

      Darn! Thought I could make sushi so everyone could have a feast. :evilest grin:

  • MarkL

    BJ quotes a story saying Obama hasn’t RECENTLY spoken with the ambassador as being authoritative. Yeah, I’d say that’s a pretty authoritative admission.
    Define “recently”

  • Veteran in Florida

    Taylor Marsh is reporting that CTV is standing by their story. “The facts of our story are accurate.”

    http://www.taylormarsh.com/

    • ChrisXP

      Thank God some media outlet is doing their job, and not folding under the pressure. NAFTA affects both sides of the border, and Canada depends on the US for trade.

      It IS a big issue in Canada, much more than in the US (as Canadians aren’t starry eyed over a foreign national, to care. They do care if they’ll have a paycheck after January 20th!).

  • Veteran in Florida

    More on NAFTA-gate from TPM

    Hillary-Backing Union Chief Hits Obama Over Canadian NAFTA Story
    By Greg Sargent – February 28, 2008, 12:22PM

    A key labor surrogate for Hillary, International Association of Machinists president Tom Buffenbarger, has now opened fire on Obama over the Canadian TV report suggesting that a senior Obama official privately assured a Canadian official that Obama’s anti-NAFTA stump talk was just “campaign rhetoric.”

    From an IAM press release…

    “I am appalled but not surprised by this report,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. “Working families cannot trust a candidate who telegraphs his real position to a foreign government and then dissembles in a nationally televised debate.”

    I think Tom gets it exactly right here — NAFTA-gate it’s a trust issue.

  • justsomeone

    Last night at 6pm EST Jim Crammer of “Mad Money” CNBC hosted Hillary & she talked about about NAFTA & high lighted its opt out provision & said she it needs some fixin’. Crammer was freaked as he loves NAFTA & claims it brings Trillions of dollars into both Ohio & Texas, however gave no examples. Hillary stuck by her plan to only raise taxes on people making 250K annually or above. Is that per family? Individual? Conversly, Obama keeps talking about wanting to raise Cap Gains & Dividend tax from its current 15% to 24%. BTW aprox 1/3 of Americans own stock. Currently most C.D.s are only paying 3.4% & many less. A 24% tax rate on divs is outrageous, takes away incentive to save. Can’t believe you’re over shooting this pocketbook issue, especially with inflation runnin’ at 7%+. That means on maturity U R 4% in the RED on C.D.s & then add that to Obama’s proposal to hike tax…OUCH!!! Sob!!!…I like debate on the issues & proposals. You’re missin’ this boat & so is Hillary.

  • justsomeone

    excuse my typo..too much goin on

  • Mr.Murder

    Comment by Goon | 2008-02-28 13:45:23

    http://www.cbc.ca/news/

    You continue to insist its the top story in Canada, and yet its not on even on the front page of the CBC. the only place that reported it was CTV, who ran on unnamed sources.

    The embassy denies calls from ANY candidate before or after the Ohio debate.

    it is Hillary supporters who are frantic here, hon. if its true its true, however the fact that you need to claim its the top story all over Canada, when it is absolutely NOT, should be telling. its not even the top story on ctv.ca by a long shot and they were the ones who reported it in the first place.

    Desperate times call for desperate talk, it seems.

    Yet the call was to the Ambassador, not the Embassy itself. This is basically a false construct for nullification. They could have called him after hours, or when he was away from the traditional channel, kind of an informal item. Similar to Obama’s own penchant for not taking notes.

    It actually reported:

    … Within the last month, a top staff member for Obama’s campaign telephoned Michael Wilson, Canada’s ambassador to the United States, and warned him that Obama would speak out against NAFTA, according to Canadian sources.

    The staff member reassured Wilson that the criticisms would only be campaign rhetoric, and should not be taken at face value.

    So you disprove the staffer contact by noting ‘no major candidate’ called. That doesn’t remove the report of a staffer calling. In fact, an off the record comment doesn’t really even nullify an off the record or anonymous comment. Until someone goes on record from the other side of the story, it’s got legs. Finally, it doesn’t remove the possibility that the Ambassador was contacted, after hours, away from traditional channels. It’s standard nomenclature for persons accustomed to working past the framework of oversight.

  • http://hopeandonions.blogspot.com godammitkitty

    Hello from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada!

    So far this story HASN’T been all over the Canadian news–just CTV and it’s print-partner, the Globe (which, are owned by the same media giants–media consolidation is actually worse here in Canada, unfortunately).

    There are, however, loads of stories about our Trade Minister, David Emerson, threatening/warning that Canada could curtail its supply of oil to the US if NAFTA is dissolved (e.g. Canwest News Service).

    So, I think goon is right about the media situation in Canada.

    And I’m someone who actually hopes Hillary wins the nomination. I find Obama arrogant and narcissistic and I worry that he has no clue what he’s in for in November. I’d definitely like to see him beat McCain, of course, but I hold no delusions about his progressive bona fides.

    I’m very dismayed at the nasty tone in the American media and the blogosphere against Hillary. It’s almost like it isn’t enough to see her lose–they want to see her humiliated. I find that very disturbing. e.g. What happened to Olbermann? Lately he seems to talk about Hillary the same way he rails against Bush. It’s so depressing to see a female candidate treated this way.

    Sorry for the long post–take care!
    GDK

    • Frostback

      This canuck agrees 100% re Obama and the media.

  • Manuel

    Blame Canada!!!

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  • Goon

    its been hours and hours, and this still is not on the front page of CBC news, and it is now event OFF of the CTV front page…

    still saying that its the biggest story in Canada?

    what a joke.

    • Frostback

      And yet, CTV reports on air tonight that they are sticking to their story; that their sources are firm. Oh, and here I am watching in-depth reporting by Tom Clark as I type.

  • justsomeone

    I’ll try one more time on the tax plans/ differences between Obama & Clinton. Hillary wants you to pay more tax if your annual income is 250K or above. Obama, by targeting his plan primarily at dividends & cap gains could take someone from barely hanging on to instant poverty. Guess you think anyone with dividends or cap gains is rich. WRONG. Take the example of senior citizens (something Ron Paul harps on) who need dividends or cap gains to supplement S.S. Consider home renovators, let’s say someone specs on a house & spends 7=8 months renovating & sells it for only a small profit.(The market sucks) Tough, huh? Guess you don’t want foreclosed houses renovated & believe me there are lots of them. If I understand Obama’s tax plan the home rennovator could work for more than 1/2 a yr & only make 5 or 10K & Obama wants 25%. Fine, don’t question his tax plan & give all those voters who will eventually figure it out to McCain. This is Hillary’s last chance to paint herself as any kind moderate on the tax & spend issue because IF she gets the nomination McCain will spread the tax fear far & wide.

  • justsomeone

    Incase you don’t get why I’m posting this on a NAFTA thread…What do you think all those people that lost manufacturing jobs as a result of NAFTA do to try & make a living now.

  • mimi

    And godammitkitty,

    I agree. The shame of the American media and all the Clinton-haters that support this. It’s unbelieveable and it is for this reason why I will never support Barack Obama. I’m an AA, if the media was doing this to him, there would be riots all across America. I have never seen a political candidate treated this way. Democrats and those in media be warned: karma is a bitch and I will be doing my part to make sure you all get yours.

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  • http://www.despair.com/in24x30prin.html Smilin’ Jim

    “God, you are pathetic Susan.”

    Fire your muse.