Michael Coren exposes some of Ottawa’s juicier gossip in today’s Sun – More hypocrisy in politics.
Surprisingly, he doesn’t mention the latest ruckus which has been amply covered in today’s Post by Don Martin :
But the 55-year-old Mr. Toews’ public face of self-righteous morality is now clashing with his troubled private life. An MP dubbed the “minister of family values” by Liberals is embroiled in a messy divorce after fathering a child last fall with a much younger woman.
That’s his business, frankly , yet it might explain why Mr. Toews was demoted to the Treasury Board and immediately cloaked by invisibility, stewing in Question Period silence while his junior parliamentary secretary juggles tough questions on election financing irregularities.
Is it his business, Don? You’ve just made it the business of every Post reader in the world.
But Michael Coren has amply demonstrated that Toews isn’t the only one prone to the odd indiscretion:
…Just a few years ago it was widely known in Ottawa and media circles that a member of the Liberal government maintained a wife in one home and a gay lover in another. This certainly brought the man’s integrity into question. Because it was a secret arrangement it also exposed him to potential blackmail .
The story was never told due to a form of “gentleman’s agreement.” It also was thought unfashionable and suburban within the achingly trendy journalistic class to write of someone’s homosexuality unless that person requested it. ..
So, how much lurid detail do we need to know about our elected officials’ private lives? They are human after all, and we all make mistakes. But should they be punished for behaviour that our society finds quite permissible in the mainstream? And how much privacy are they entitled to?
Perhaps we the Canadian public should insist on some kind of an Access to Tawdry Activity website where each MP’s sexual proclivities and/or transgressions against their partners can be publicly aired. Maybe we can also ask for a Gossip Input Section where any suspected activity and be posted and checked out by the appropriate morality police. Is this where we really want to go?
Personally, I think it’s unrealistic to expect our elected officials to live up to a higher standard of behaviour than our own.
I’d be happy if they if they simply raised their own standards up to the level of the current societal norm.
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Sunday Update : Joan Tintor – Short memories at the Globe . Via Jack’s Newswatch .
Monday Update : Talk about Bernier heats up, likely to be shuffled, Tories say – Hill Times.
[...] The Sensible Center wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptShould MPs be held to a higher standard? Michael Coren exposes some of Ottawa’s juicier gossip in today’s Sun – More hypocrisy in politics. Surprisingly, he doesn’t mention the latest ruckus which has been amply covered in today’s Post by Don Martin : But the 55-year-old Mr. Toews’ public face of self-righteous morality is now clashing with his troubled private life. An MP dubbed the “minister of family values” by Liberals is embroiled in a messy divorce after fathering a child last fall wit [...]
This column by Don Martin is just filth.I don’t care which side of the House you sit on,some issues in a politicians private life should remain private.Having gone thru a particularly ‘messy’ divorce,and living in a small town where everyone knew about my ex’s ‘other woman’ the pain and humiliation was unbearable.Not just for me,but my kids were old enough to be affected by the rumors,the innuendo,the finger-pointing etc. To the media,I don’t care if Vic is a politician,leave him and his family alone to deal with this very private matter.Vic has grown children,they didn’t ask for this.
I happen to live in Vic’s riding,and work in same building that his office is in..He has gone over and above to help me out on a few matters,wrote letters on my behalf to a huge corporation to try and resolve a problem.He has done a lot to help out with countless ‘local’ issues,and he and his family should be left alone to deal with this private matter.
I used to have a bit of respect for Don Martin,but he has really turned into a cbc lib.friendly mouthpiece,and just sunk to a new low.
I agree, Sammy. Martin’s column today is particularly vile. At least Coren had the decency not to name the married Liberal Minister who was involved with a teenaged male lover, even though everyone in the blogosphere knew that story years ago.
Perhaps a letter to the editor is in order?
You know Joanne,this just begs the question,is there anything that is off-limits,to the msm anymore in order to try and ‘kill’ the Cons/PMSH? Did you happen to catch the Sat.morn Giggly-Girls political chat on cbc? Host Marivel,along with the vitriolic Susan Riley,and the ditzy Kady O’Malley spend the time spewing hate toward the Cons..never a mention of the Libs problems,the carbon tax,Garth Turner’s current issues…just blatant partisan crap.On the Cadman decision,according to Riley,it boiled down to ‘incompetence’ and ‘partisanship’ by the RCMP!And the always bubbly Kady sits and gazes adoringly at Susan..bobbing her head in agreement.She looks at Susan with ‘I wanna be just like you when I grow up’googly eyes,and I can’t stomach much more.I gotta quit watching or I’m going to blow a gasket at some point!Anyway,am off to do some weekend shopping..catch you later!
I guess those who sit in Parliament have different codes of public discourse for Liberals and Conservatives. I mean, it’s not like the Conservatives were out there dishing dirt on a certain married, male Liberal MP who had a young male lover on the side.
Just further proof that there is a supreme imbalance of civility that favors the Liberals. And they say that it is the right who goes on moral crusades in the media.
I mean, it’s not like the Conservatives were out there dishing dirt on a certain married, male Liberal MP who had a young male lover on the side.
Well, if you read Coren’s piece, it appears that the Conservatives feel betrayed by the Liberals on this issue of an unspoken understanding regarding personal lives. So the gloves are coming off now, I think.
(Metaphorically speaking)
If Vic did father a child, while married to another, didn’t Trudeau do the same. And didn’t a liberal justice minister forge a husbands signature to get his mistress an abortion.
Wonder what one would find re Don Martin or the Susans if we decided to look.
Could any of the reporters or media honchos pass a close inspection of their lives, loves, divorces and drinking problems.
I prefer a married mp to be involved with a younger woman rather than a younger boy.
Did you happen to catch the Sat.morn Giggly-Girls political chat on cbc?
No, thank heavens, Sammy. Your description of the event is nauseating enough.
Unless they are spending my tax dollars, what they do behind closed doors is absolutely none of my business.
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I prefer a married mp to be involved with a younger woman rather than a younger boy.
Not that there’s anything wrong with it…
How old was that boy anyway? 16? 17?
Interesting that youth are considered to be “entitled to a presumption of diminished moral blameworthiness or culpability from the fact that because of their age, they have heightened vulnerability, less maturity and a reduced capacity for moral judgment” according to Justice Rosalie Abella.
Funny, that.
So the gloves are coming off now, I think.
We all know how methodical the PM is, I am sure he is just taking this all in now but come election time, watch out over on the left, you have now loaded the gun for the shots to be fired on the campaign trail.
Loaded and registered……..
I too live in Vic’s riding and have absolutely no problem with him as my MP. His private life is his own. I do not condone or approve of married people having affairs or fathering children outside of a traditional marriage but that is something he will have to answer for to his family and God.
Please be careful with your coffee folks, I’m about to quote Pierre . . . .
“The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation!”
Well, in my opinion, neither does the media, Main Stream or otherwise.
How about Conservatives rise above this ‘reality tv’ gossip and just govern.
I don’t want to see a tit-for-tat reaction from the government. Let the media and the opps roll around in the mud, we don’t have to join them.
I am not shocked that a person had a love child and a messy divorce, nor shocked at hearing any of the above mentioned indiscretions; nor that the media salivated over it.
50% of marriages end in divorce, how many divorces aren’t messy.
People can relate to troubles in others private lives,
do they think less of the person or less of the messenger????.
I’d say the Conservatives should turn this right back around on the Liberals. More often than not the Liberals like to make it seem like Conservatives are the dirt-digging types, which isn’t true. Now that we have a clear case of the Liberals doing that themselves, the Conservatives should simply not engage in the same behavior, but rather show them to be the bigger of the two groups and say that it is the Liberals that are the dirty laundry obsessive types.
I also listened to the giggle girls this a.m. Add what Sammy says, Susan and Kady both tried to ridicule the conservatives for always trying to tie in support for the terrorists when answering questions. They think that is stupid (my words) and wrong. They think liberals should keep on the Cadman scandal (smear).
Wonder if they have been approached by AlJ to work for them.
Anyone know where Burman and Lewis work, is it in Canada or somewhere else.
I admit I was disappointed to learn about Mr. Toews’ marital problems. However, a couple of questions arise:
1. Was connecting that kind of “news” to the possible appointment of Mr. Toews to the bench really necessary or relevant?
2. How would members of the media react to seeing details of their own private lives put out there for all to see?
How many of them have discarded spouses/lovers, children gone astray, drug/alcohol/gambling addictions, etc.?
Politicians’ every move is scrutinized for all to see, even down to the brand of condoms they like to use (OK, I’m exaggerating, I haven’t read that … yet).
How would nosy-parkers like Don Martin like it if THEY were followed around and every movement of theirs were broadcast for all to see?
Martin’s rant is nothing more than Conservative bashing and mudslinging on his part.
It’s odd that nowhere in the column did he mention a certain current Liberal MP, and his romantic life while he was still married, particularly since he too was running around with younger woman, namely young college students. In fact those on his riding committee resigned because of their disgust with it.
I won’t stoop to Martin’s level and air his personal dirty laundry, but I will e-mail Martin and ask him directly why he never mentioned this MP and what is common knowledge on the Hill. Joanne, I’m sure you remember who I’m talking about.
I think the media’s private lives need to be outed. But Conservatives have more class then the media and the lberals.
Nevrmind the media’s hypocrisy on the private lives issue. What these clowns are doing is just making it less likly for good people to run for public office.
I think Wilson is right, just keep on governing, well the media and the liberals roll around in the mud together.
As to Vic, I could careless, he’s human too.
Kady is a Harper hater nothing more nothing less. The longer Harper is in power the more the PPG goes batty. But when they go bonkers every other week on pointless stuff there cred starts to erode.
Politicians’ every move is scrutinized for all to see, even down to the brand of condoms they like to use (OK, I’m exaggerating, I haven’t read that … yet).
How would nosy-parkers like Don Martin like it if THEY were followed around and every movement of theirs were broadcast for all to see?
Gabby, I agree. This was just a cheap shot by Martin. MPs of all political stripes would do well to give him the cold shoulder – certainly don’t confide in the guy!
Paul – Yes, I know exactly to whom you are referring. Please let me know if you get a response from Don Martin. Thanks.
Harper’s team is playing all exactly right.
Keeping quiet and letting the mud fly back in their lemming whiskers is the best strategy ever.
It’s already getting to the point the whenever the MSM or the Liberals start ranting and pointing fingers at the Conservatives, the response is more one of “those poor pathetic liberals” rather than anything noted by voters as a cause for concern.
This too shall pass…..Harper knows it and as someone has already suggested, I’m pretty sure the campaign team’s banking their ammo. for just the right moment.
Why IS it we seem to spend so much time on the Liberals? Who cares about them? Not I…..not any more and not for a long, long, time.
Somewhat related: WRT to media and the members of parliament.
blackrod.blogspot.com has an interesting story on how the media are allowing a spin job by the Libs go unchecked. A few quick checks by the blogger reveal the ‘misinformation’.The story involves Steven Fletcher, Pat Martin, Iggy and Neville.It deserves more attention.
Don Martin’s columns are hitting below the belt , worse than ever. PMSH should take it as a compliment. Goes to show how WORRIED the media are. I don’t think digging into DM’s closet would amount to much. After all, what person would be involved with such a person? He must keep up his disgraceful image. After all, he doesn’t want to risk losing his permanent seat on the DON NEWMAN show, along with the rest of the smear campaign EXPERTS.
If the Liberal politician was homo-bashing and trying to block gay marriage and was acting holier-than-thou and bashing gays because the bible says its ok then yes, I would say we should hold him to a higher moral standard. Was he?
If you are going to talk the talk-you damn well better walk the walk. Don’t go telling me my lifestyle is sinful when you are out breaking every commandment there is to break (well, besides murder). So, yes, as a matter of fact, I DO think that we should hold the Christian politicians who try to legislate our personal lives and bedroom activities under the guise of “religious freedom” to higher moral standards. And they should be open to public criticism. These are people you look up to. Shouldn’t YOU hold them to a higher moral standard?
As for the press-someone being a complete HYPOCRITE is ALWAYS a juicy story. Can you blame them for being all over this? I mean, Liberals having gay mistresses is boring compared to a Christian moral policeman caught in the act of being a total slimeball. Now, if he had impregnated a female tranny, that would have been icing on the cake!
So, yes, as a matter of fact, I DO think that we should hold the Christian politicians who try to legislate our personal lives and bedroom activities under the guise of “religious freedom” to higher moral standards. And they should be open to public criticism.
O.K., Rosie. You know, I can agree with you to a point on that one. A true Christian’s lifestyle should be a model to others. And as Gabby mentioned, I too was disappointed to learn this news about Vic Toews.
However, I still fail to see how that gives Don Martin the right to spew this gossip in a national newspaper. BTW, I am also very disappointed in the Post for publishing this tripe. Perhaps they could have posted it online in some Ottawa gossip column like Elizabeth Thompson does.
Oh, and BTW – Welcome CC readers.
There are days when being a Conservative politician makes running from paparazzi look like a piece of cake. I don’t know how any good person can have the courage to do it and it gives me great respect for those who do. This false scandal will pass like the Cadman circus and the others. In the meantime I think defending one another makes the Tory caucus feel closer to each other; and stronger.
[...] does Don Martin regret gossiping about Toews’ personal life in the National Enquirer Post? Posted in Federal [...]
I can’t say I really care about Toews’ personal life either except that in light of his sanctimonious views on homosexuality, gay marriage, the sanctity of (straight) marriage and other “moral” issues (“gay marriage will lead to polygamy?”) his behaviour is hypocritical.
If he’d kept his nose out of the bedrooms of the nation, then sure, his private business can stay private. If he’s going to rail against the private business of OTHER PEOPLE, well, the people (and the media) should be allowed to rifle through his closet of skeletons. This other mystery Liberal minister who kept a wife in one house and a gay lover elsewhere — he didn’t mouth off on “family values? as Toews did, eh?