Canadian leader accused of Obama sabotage

No surely not, neo-cons only exist in the U.S. right?

What about the memo that was supposed to be evidence of the "wink,wink"? Is this just another cover-up?

Yep, the Canadian gov't is full of that dying breed of rightwing neonut lunitic fringers too and they're just as desperate to hang onto to their power as the Bush/Cheney/McCain Republiscums here in America are.

What is canada up to????

I smell a frame up by either Senator Hillary or the Repulicans. Very sad.

The Canadian government has admitted the existence of a memo of a meeting that Obama claims never occurred.

Hmmm...

I'm Canadian...we have our neocons! Our Parliament is in an UPROAR! Harper wants to sabotage Obama because McCain, a like-minded Conservative, would have a better chance of beating Clinton. And with Clinton taking more Lobbyist donations than any other Candidate, they wouldn't mind her either! It's about breaking the status quo.

I believe that there was a memo.

I also believe that this memo and other info we have found out about Obama has exposed him for the fraud that he is. He stupidly framed himself as being above all of the Washington nonsense when he is just like everyone else.

We never expected Hillary to be fair and honest, she said she'd fight dirty. We know what we are getting with her.

I'm now sorry that I voted for him. This news will result in a sweep for Clinton tomorrow with 60-40 margins in route to the presidency.

Can we say Mrs. President?

Not content with channeling the words of American socialists, Frank James reaches out to the north and channels the wild charges of Jack Layton, head of the Canadian Socialist NDP.

Is this the best you can do, Frank, in your role as Obama's defense attorney?

For those interested in fact rather than Frank James:

--the NDP is a tiny socialist minority party currently holding less than 10% of the seats (29 of 303) in the Canadian Parliament.

--Prime Minister Harper said days ago that he and his government don't take seriously the anti-NAFTA campaign rhetoric of US politicians.

--Harper's statement clearly regrets that the Canadian government made public Obama's lies. It doesn't deny the government memos detailing how Obama's advisers told Canada that Obama's fiery rhetoric was just campaign puffery.

--Obama's campaign first denied that Goolsbee ever met with the Canadians. They've since backtracked ("Clintoned") on that false statement.

Yes, the land of 22% sales tax is just FULL of republicans. Sure. This article shows the lengths Obama's supporters will go to cover up for him. Obama told a different story in Canada than the anti-NAFTA story he's telling audiences in depressed areas here in the states. Plain and simple. If he'd just admitted it and moved on it wouldn't even be a story but now Obama's taking a page out of the Clinton '92 playbook and blaming the messenger.

Obama says there was no meeting. Just like he didn't know Tony Rezko well and didn't visit the house he bought with him.

Margaret said: "The Canadian government has admitted the existence of a memo of a meeting that Obama claims never occurred.

Hmmm..."

No, I'm afraid that's incorrect. The Canadian Government (the Embassy, actually), "is flatly denying that any Obama campaign official spoke to the Canadian ambassador in recent days or told him that Obama's anti-NAFTA stump speech is merely "campaign rhetoric.""

http://tpmelectioncentral.talkingpointsmemo.com/2008/02/canadian_embassy_report_on_oba.php

And the memo in question also did not originate with the Obama campaign or any of its surrogates, it was written by some unnamed "Canadian official." Obama's campaign claims the content of that memo is being taken out of context and misrepresented.

Given the very strong statements by the Embassy, I believe the Obama campaign.

This was an obvious setup. Mr. Goolsbee was invited to visit the Canadian Consul General because he is a professor at the University of Chicago. During a 45 minute tour and informal conversation, Mr. Goolsbee discussed NAFTA for about two minutes. The Canadian Neocons then produced a memo suggesting that Mr. Goolsbee assured the Canadians that Sen. Obama was merely posturing on NAFTA.

Clearly, this was a setup from the beginning. Obama would have nothing to gain by secretly telling the Canadians not to worry. His campaign would have nothing to gain from this. The Canadian Neocons set up one of his advisers, and it worked. Shame on the Canadian government.

This is exactly what might be expected of the Clintons. Lamentably, Americans have come to expect these types of smear tactics. Their capacity for political subterfuge and lust for power is only exceeded by their hypocrisy. It will be exposed, however.

"Interference" seems to be a Canadian euphemism for "leak."

They're all condemning the leak of Obama's duplicity and trying to muddy the fact that it happened.

Some instrument of "Change", this Obama

Clearly, this was a setup from the beginning. Obama would have nothing to gain by secretly telling the Canadians not to worry. His campaign would have nothing to gain from this. The Canadian Neocons set up one of his advisers, and it worked. Shame on the Canadian government.

Posted by: Shawn | March 3, 2008 7:32 PM

As much as I want to believe this, I can't. Obama has proven that he can do the backdoor deals as well as anyone else.

Of course Obama would gain from this, he has this annoying need to please everyone.

Stop funding the terrorists!

No more Oil Wars!

Energy Independence Now!

Drill in Anwar.

Build more nuclear power plants

Use More coal.

Use more natural gas

Turn trash into energy

Double the efficiency of windmills and solar cells.

If France can do nuclear power so can we.

If Brazil can do biomass/ethanol power so can we.

If Australia can do LNG power so can we.

Domestically produced energy will end the recession and spur the economy.

Stop paying oil dollars to those who worship daily at the alter of our destruction.

Preserve our Civil Rights and defend our Freedom by ending dependence on foreign oil.

Obama has been lying about his stance on NAFTA. He's saying (a verbatim quote) "I've always been against it" while stumping in Ohio. The truth is he's alway been for it.

As for the Canada flap, there is a memo, it is actually documented that BO contacted the Canadians:

"The internal document, obtained by the Associated Press, recounts a conversation between a senior economic advisor to the Obama campaign, Austan Goolsbee, and officials with the Canadian consulate in Chicago."

Sourcee: abcnews.com

Nice try, Frank.

Sourcee: abcnews.com
Nice try, Frank.

Posted by: MJ | March 3, 2008 9:31 PM

You sir are dumber and more pathetic than a bag of rocks.

"The news reports on Obama's position on NAFTA are inaccurate and in no way represent Senator Obama’s consistent position on trade. When Senator Obama says that he will forcefully act to make NAFTA a better deal for American workers, he means it. Both Canada and Mexico should know that, as president, Barack Obama will do what it takes to create and protect American jobs and strengthen the American economy -- that includes amending NAFTA to include labor and environmental standards. We are currently reaching out to the Canadian embassy to correct this inaccuracy," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

On balance, I'm strongly inclined to believe the Obama camp on this one. He's a guy who has said he's been against NAFTA since he was a candidate for the Senate, and has taken heat for it. The Canadian officials quoted are conservative, pro-NAFTA politicians with an interest in tamping down the push to reform our trade policies. And the article itself is very thinly sourced. My guess is Obama's campaign at some point contacted the Canadian embassy as a courtesy, and that was spun into this story - without direct quotes, of course - claiming his rhetoric would not be followed through on.

Bottom line, however - this story, though likely inaccurate, highlights the need for us all to keep the pressure on both candidates, and ultimately, on the new Democratic administration and Congress in 2009. If we want to reform trade policy, we're going to have to really hold all politicians' feet to the fire.

UPDATE II: From the Politico's Ben Smith - a repudiation of the story now from the Canadian embassy:

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.

He said there had been no conversations at all on the subject.

"We didn't make any calls, they didn't call us," Landry said.

"There is no story as far as we're concerned," he said.

Slam dunk.

The right tried another one of its nasty political trick.

Hillary's people: wake up! Looks like the your girl is the darling of the vast right wing conspiracy after all.

The emperor has no clothes. Obama exposed for the fraud that he is. Of course a campaign operative does not engage in a meeting with a Canadian official without his knowledge and approval.

The emperor has no clothes.

Posted by: Vic Matous | March 3, 2008 10:39 PM

Profound Vic. Keep grasping at straws along with your misguided leaders.

"davidsirota", the "denial" you cite is that of the Canadian EMBASSY in WASHINGTON. But there was no allegation that the Obama aide talked to the Canadian embassy in Washington.

Perhaps you should read some more, since the CTV report was about Obama staffers talking to the Canadian CONSULATE in CHICAGO.

A consulate isn't an embassy. And Chicago isn't D.C.

Try again, David.

"What is canada up to????

I smell a frame up by either Senator Hillary or the Repulicans. Very sad.

Posted by: Victor Usu | March 3, 2008 5:57 PM "

You think everything's a "frame up." o'bammy's a crook, a liar and an con man. When he leads us to obamageddon, his apologists will still blame someone else, try to play the race card, and continue worshipping their "father, son, and holy o'bammy."

The Obama supporters (and I am one) need to lighten up. Like it would be HIlary doing this. Have you heard of cointelpro? It's the repugs! They're trying to trim Obama's sails so he can't be on the veep or the prez ticket. It won't work. Hilary and Obama will bury the hatchet, come together and kick McCain's butt, allowing us to focus on a true Democratic majority in Congress for the next 20 years. Read it and weep, boys--be sure to head to Mickie D's for more french fries and burgers, okay?

It is heartbroken that people can engage in evil tactices like this in order to gain votes--if Hillary, the republicans, or the Canadian government has anything to do with such wicked report, it will fall on that person's head!!! It's a shame!!! Obama really needs to be yelling about this! LET THE PUBLIC KNOW THEIR LAST MINUTE TACTICS THAT WON THEM SOME VOTES!!!

You sir are dumber and more pathetic than a bag of rocks.

Posted by: davidsirota | March 3, 2008 9:50 PM

By the way, I have never identified my gender, "sir".

Obama has been shown to be lying about NAFTA -- in '04 he was for it with reservations; in '08 he claimed to "always" have been against it; now he has returned to being for it with reservations.

He has also lied about doing favors for Tony Rezco.

He has also lied about accepting money from lobbyists and PACs.

This is all documented but you are "strongly inclined to believe the Obama camp" eh, Obamabot? And you are calling somebody else dumb?

"We never expected Hillary to be fair and honest, she said she'd fight dirty. We know what we are getting with her."
C'mon, you mean like Bammy and Rezko? Or strong arming black superdelegates? Hill is not responsible for what Canadians say! Are they voting in our election??
Grow up! And go Hillary!

From today's "Head of State"
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/03/inside-kitchen-sink.html

"Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Inside The Kitchen Sink

From the NYT:

After struggling for months to dent Senator Barack Obama’s candidacy, the campaign of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton is now unleashing what one Clinton aide called a “kitchen sink” fusillade against Mr. Obama, pursuing five lines of attack since Saturday in hopes of stopping his political momentum.

Let's see what has been tossed inside the kitchen sink:

-A vicious email smear campaign, falsely portrays Obama as a Muslim. He has been a devout Christian for 20 years. The Clinton camp has the opportunity to firmly decry such tactics, or to sow the seeds of doubt. Clinton on 60 minutes: If he says that he is a Muslim "I'll take him at his word";

- A picture of Obama dressed in traditional Somali garb, mysteriously arises and is splashed across the front page of the Drudge Report, designed, like the above, to inflame the most base and simplistic prejudices. Again, the Clinton campaign has the opportunity to refuse to use prejudice and stereotype to political advantage. Clinton campaign manager Maggie Williams responds: "If Barack Obama's campaign wants to suggest that a photo of him wearing traditional Somali clothing is divisive, they should be ashamed";

-Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, is a Conservative. His Chief of Staff Ian Brodie leaks supposed minutes of statements by an Obama aide. The statement is not by the Obama aide, and the minutes were not taken by the Obama aide, they were taken by a Canadian official. Liberal Canadian parties decry the attempt by the Conservative Party to influence the U.S. election. The Clinton camp accepts this specious account as valid--and throws it in the kitchen sink as well;

-The Clinton camp, in Drudge-like fashion, insinuates dark misdoings regarding Antoin Rezko--despite the fact that there has been absolutely no allegations of wrongdoing by Obama--hoping perhaps that the mere association will stick--and despite the questions that have been raised about Clinton fundraising during the years of her own "experience";

-The Clinton campaign rolls out the hackneyed "red phone" advertisement, dating to Walter Mondale's 1984 campaign, to suggest that she, unlike Obama, has greater experience for such "3 A.M. moments". When asked to name one such crisis situation that she has actually had to deal with, she is unable to name one.

-Mark Penn, the Clinton campaign's chief strategist, in the weekend panic, emails the L.A. Times to state that he had "'no direct authority in the campaign,' describing himself as merely 'an outside message advisor with no campaign staff reporting to me.'"

This sink is filled with the type of fear-based politics that we have come to know so well over these past 8 years. It is fundamentally defensive, and is all-too-willing to use the familiar tools of dishonesty and distortion in pursuit of victory. It indicates how a Clinton Administration would respond to adversity--with a tactical fusillade of presentations, followed by distortion and attack.

It's time to clean the dishes. Don't allow yourself to be misled by misrepresentation, insinuation and division. Leave this kind of politics behind."

Cite:
Head of State:
http://headofstate.blogspot.com/2008/03/inside-kitchen-sink.html

The reason why what he's saying doesn't really affect Canada is because they already have environmental and workers rights rules in place. It will affect Mexico more. But nobody said this- they're leaving it to us to connect the dots. spread the word - that's why the media pisses me off sometime, they ask questions but don't give answers

This Canadian government has apologised and have confirmed that they made a mistake. Obama has done nothing wrong, unlike his fellow candidate, who has done nothing but attack him with mindless lies and tactical insults all week long. She should be dismayed with herself!

I hope that everyone goes out today and shows their Obama support and vote for Obama in Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island and Vermont! VOTE OBAMA!

As a Canadian, let me assure you of two things...
1. the current sitting Harper government is not above dirty tricks (either for their own gain, or for McCain's or for Clinton's).
2. the general public doesn't want NAFTA here either.

we've lost as many jobs as you to Mexico, and as many businesses to the USA and Mexico as we've gained.

the whole of NAFTA is a smoke-screen; the trade is not free, geographical and social advantages of each country are still heavily penalized through trade tarriffs.

as a whole, it only works to benefit large corporations, and the trickle down effect into the lives of average citizens and small business owner's like myself is somewhere between 'mildly negative' and 'non-existant'.

especially now that our dollar is at/near par with the US greenback.

"This Canadian government has apologised and have confirmed that they made a mistake."

He said his economic advisor never attended a meeting that a memo confirming his attendance was released to the press about. The memo further confirmed he's telling different stories to different audiences.

He did "nothing wrong?" What planet do you live on? Are you a normal person?

In fact, the Canadian government is assisting mostly Democratic candidates. On the Canadian Taxpayers Federation website it was recently revealed that Canada's federal agency CIDA gave $18 million over four years to International Planned Parenthood, which is spending $10 million to assist pro-choice candidates in the current U.S. election. So Canadian taxpayers' cash is being used to help mainly Democratic candidates. Both the Canadian media and some in the Obama camp are up in arms over the Canadian Conservative government allegedly helping the Republicans, when in fact it is actually help fund the election of (mostly)Democrats.

This is just another reason to be ashamed of this world.

May the lord Strike this planet and everyone to HELL and start all over again.

Amen

I feel the need to point out two inaccuracies quoted above:

a) the NDP is not a tiny socialist minority in Canada - they often hold the balance of power with the in-fighting that takes place in the house of commons between the Liberal party and the Conservative Party

b) I have lived in Canada my whole life and never encountered a 22% sales tax in any of our provinces or territories (I suppose the author of that comment was not aware that the national sales tax is set by the government at 5% and each provinces adds in any respective taxes - I believe 6% additional is the highest)

When you state erroneous facts, your whole argument becomes weak.

I suppose the empty apology issued by the Canadian government after their illegal leak of an internal memo which was false (and obviously created merely for the purpose of being leaked) and greatly damaged a candidate for the US presidency is going to make enerything right? It is recognized here that Mr. Harper doesn't want Mr, Obama to win. But he probably will anyway. And this kind of dirty politics is not going to be easily forgotten.
Canadians are generally an admirable people. It is indeed too bad that they are stuck with a Bush clone for their PM.
Both the US and our Northern Neighbor have problems. And our media which won't tell the truth of any of this or much of anythinng else is a big part of it.

How hypocritical of Ms.Clinton and how unfortunate the U.S. media doesn't want to report this:

"According to the Canadian Press, the news agency quoted that source as saying that Mr. Brodie said that someone from Ms. Clinton's campaign called and was "telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt."

Mr.Brodie the top aide, actually named CLINTON, but the media reported that the OBAMA campaign made the comments.

Read the article to get the facts: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080305.wnafta06/BNStory/National/home

Amen John, your message of March 5, 2008 at 8:53am is very well stated. Reading all the comments truly inspires me to know that there are others who are AWAKE to the goings on of our so-called leaders and their corporate bed-fellows. I am also sadly reminded that there are those who are still ASLEEP-A SHEEP-BLIND or just down right afraid to accept the truth/reality about the people we give power.

To TheUrbanRevolution message on March 4, 2008 at 8:48am: Why are you or anyone else expecting the media to ask your questions and give you the answers? Why are you not questioning and finding the truth/answers for yourself? That is your responsibility to you! The media (and government) like any other "corporation" has proven itself not to be trustworthy for the longest time now. Look for other sources to seek information -- they do exist.