Comments on: Canadian politician says he’s ‘more tolerant’ since writing anti-gay email

By: H. (Bart) Vincelette

H. (Bart) Vincelette — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:01:35 +0000

An addendum to the final comments on Van Dongen , …….during his first year in office , our Premier , Gordon Campbell , wass arrested by Maui Police in Hawaii , and chargd with DUI. He was ‘plastered’ at the time. Ah , …those intoxicating trade winds.

By: H. (Bart) Vincelette

H. (Bart) Vincelette — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 02:56:29 +0000

As a long time resident of Vancouver & having lived for many years in San Diego , I’d like to add a short rundown of the political parties here in BC.I am a widely recognized expert in nothing (!!), but I’ve seen them all. Pertinent to the above article , it’s important to note that the Liberal Party of BC is not part of the federal Liberal Party of Canada. It is liberal in name only; being the more right wing of the political groups here. Fot many years there was a major political party Called the Social Credit Party , which was BC’s answer to hard core right wing and deeply religious ; Republicanism.But , the electorate grew so fed up with their arrogance and extremism , that thy folded . So a conservative party by any other name was the only hope they had of electing anyone to the provincial parliament.Our ‘liberal’ party is the NDP ( New Democratic Party).BC is a huge province ; slightly larger than California , with the majority of the population living in the south west corner with Vancouver being the principal city of an area called the Lower Mainland. Our capital city is actually on the southern tip of a very large island ; Vancouver Island. The capital is called Victoria. Our regional ‘Bible Belt is found in various communities in the Fraser Valley , just east of Vancouver. And they can be just as delightful as any evangelical group in the deep south. BTW, I love the heated comments from fellow Canadians herein. I’m also relieved to hear the rejections of Dalton’s apology. I remember the early years of HIV/AIDS and the political chronology , while a resident of Ca., all of which was appalling.

By: drewski

drewski — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 17:47:52 +0000

Jessi–THANK YOU!

Louis–yep, and as you well know, BC Liberals bear a scary resemblance to Tory freaks like Harris and Flaherty when they were busy dismembering Ontario.

Mission’s up there at the end of the Lower Mainland, but it seems like every damn one of those towns down the Fraser is just as bible-crazed as the other. (And don’t forget Surrey, the Vancouver suburb which is arguably the most book-banning place in Canada).

It should be a little embarrassing when your party head (Campbell) even opens the door to questions of acceptable values, considering his drunk-driving episode a few years ago (complete with a pic from the Nick Nolte School of DUI). Mark Dalton still talks the talk of a bigot–”lifestyle choice”? That’s a buzzword used by the calculating and the stupid–which is he?

By: Louis

Louis — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 14:23:02 +0000

For sure, eh! It’s election time in BC and I am afraid these so Called Liberals will get in again. They have weaken every social services, education, healthcare and screwed the seniorsof BC. Of course we have the Olympics comming in 2010 and a huge deficit as a bonus. The US and the rest of Canada will be out of the recession , only BC will be stuck into it. They will say anything right now to win seats.So PC !

By: Aiden Raccoon

Aiden Raccoon — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:08:46 +0000

He has still fallen short on his apology. In order to formally apologize, he needs to completely disavow those statements as something he was misinformed and ignorant about. He even needs to do something to prove that he is, in fact, different by even stating that he supports marriage equality and would do nothing to attempt to change it.

By: SteveMD2

SteveMD2 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:00:49 +0000

Those who yell the most about morality – the holier then thou group, are just hiding their immorality.

The world is full of the types like Ted Haggard, whose name should live forever in infamy. That asshole, btw, said he was cured, yes sure, and then it is exposed he had sex with 18 and 20 yr olds. Legal yes, assuming it was consensual. Moral – the guy doesn’t know the meaning of the world.

Or should I be sympathetic to this pathetic individual, who is obviously gay or bi, and was terrorized into a closet of self hatred and shame, which he himself furthered in his ball less public homophobia.

But Canada does have gay marriage nationwide. We happened to be in Victoria BC on vac on just the day it took effect – strange. And everyone I asked about it – prob a dozen or so, were either supportive or “it doesn’t matter to me” accepting

By: Robin

Robin — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 04:12:05 +0000

“First of all, I can understand why this would be hurtful to people. I’m sure that he’s as sorry as everyone else is,” Campbell told reporters. “He’s issued an unequivocal apology…. I accept the apology.”

It’s not Campbell’s place to acept or reject the apology.

Go NDP!

By: Jessi

Jessi — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:22:52 +0000

‘I do not support their lifestyle choice”he’s now much more tolerant.’

yeah way tolerant ‘lifestyle choice’ using the word ‘choice’ here tells me he has learned nothing.
and really i have no need for people who ‘tolerate’ me. have the balls to say you don’t like me but don’t go all wishywashy trying to get political support. i really can’t stand pansies who cant speak their mind

By: bentham

bentham — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 00:22:09 +0000

Give moi a break!
A moral issue, my ass. Only the Abrahamic religions have made a moral issue of homosexuality.

Read the Wolfenden Report. The Baron’s inquiry committee arrived at its decision to decriminalize homosexuality by sticking to the legality of it, e.g. same-sex relations give pleasure to those who engage in them and do not harm others.

The morality of it was dropped in the London sewage system.

Shortly afterwards, P.E. Trudeau, as our Liberal Prime Minister, stated publicly and clearly that the government has no business in the bedrooms of the Nation.

Misconstrued Dalton’s message? Yea, sure. Dalton put a turtle on its back on top of a fence post and we misconstrued that it got there by itself.

Liberal Leader Gordon Campbell will rue the day when he did not ask Dalton to step down.

Three cheers for Spencer Herbert and the NDP.

So the e-mail is 12 years old. The bible is a tad more than 12 years old and its homophobia is still creating crackpots who are persecuting and murdering gays, young and old.

Sorry, Mr. Dalton, but your self-serving apology is a mask of virtue that conceals the two most odious passions of human nature: cruelty and intolerance.

Do yourself a favor and exit the political stage gracefully while you still can.

And drive carefully now!

By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 21:12:13 +0000

I am always wary of leopards that try to change their spots.