Martin dismisses Parrish from Liberal caucus

[Freddie Stubbs]

CTV.ca News Staff

Prime Minister Paul Martin dismissed renegade Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish from caucus today, after she made a string of controversial anti-American remarks.

"I told her that even though I respect her right to express her viewpoint, I cannot, as leader of our party and of our caucus, tolerate her behaviour," Martin told reporters in a short statement outside Parliament this afternoon. "It's unacceptable."

Martin said he informed Parrish of his decision a few minutes before making the announcement public on Thursday.

Rumours about a possible dismissal started circulating Wednesday, after Parrish gave the Canadian Press a particularly insightful interview.

more: http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1100777639789_127/?hub=TopStories

[Lautremont]

1. C'est le dupe.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=190x2298

[Fenris]

2. And yet, no one in the Democrats bothered to kick out Zell Miller.

Amazing.

[Career Prole]

3. She can spend the time down here...

We could use a good honest "Flightdeck Barbie"-stompin' liberal here!

[Dhalgren]

4. Man! I wish we had Democrats like her!

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. Democrats who say that they hate Americans?

That would go over really well.

[Dhalgren]

18. Back in the eighties when someone said

that they hated the Soviets, I think most everyone knew what they meant. And if you are going to banish everyone who says they hate America, world-wide, you will be very lonely, indeed. You may make the fine distinction between "good Germans" and the Nazis in mid-20th century Europe, but the distinction was more apparent than real. That applies to our case, now, as well.

[TO Kid]

15. Really?

I mean, if anything she said showed any kind of wit or even betrayed the presence of a brain the whole thing would blow over, but you really have to hear her speak to realize that she's what a former boss of mine referre to as "low-wattage". What she referred to as "jokes" were devoid of humour and did nothing but highlight her own bigotry.

[Dhalgren]

19. Just look at what the US is doing in the world

and cut a truth-speaker some slack - I do.

[CatBoreal]

5. Screw that....

I'm voting NDP now!

Idiot Martin.

Cam

[Spazito]

6. I doubt her dismissal will curb her tongue, thank goodness!

She reflects how the majority of Canadians feel and I hope and suspect she will continue to speak out and, possibly, be even more vociferous than before.

I sure hope she is in the lead when the protesters show bush how "warmly" we welcome him!

[TO Kid]

11. She's toast

Thanks to our new campaign finance laws that give tax dollars to the candidates based on the number of votes the party got in the previous election, she won't get a dime while every other candidate will get a ton of money. Combine that with the fact that the Liberals will split her vote and the NDP being a nonentity in her riding, if she runs again the Tories will take it.

[Spazito]

12. Nope, she has the support of the majority of her riding and the support

of the majority of Canadians. Sorry, TO, your party will have to look elsewhere.

[TO Kid]

14. What party would that be?

Last time I looked my party had no seats in the house, ever. You can dream all you like out in Lotusland, but the fact is that the last time a party maverick succeeded in getting re-elected he only lasted one term, and that was someone who actually had a brain. If she runs again she'll have no money and will only be able to draw support from the Liberals- no Conservative will vote for her and the NDP isn't a factor.

[Spazito]

22. lol, your political beliefs show in your posts...

and there is only one party that reflects those. You can dream all you like about defeating the Liberals but, guess what, ain't gonna happen.

[TO Kid]

17. Reflects the majority?

You haven't been around Toronto lately. Even the moderate and leftie talk radio hosts here, and their listeners, have been trashing her for weeks.

[Lautremont]

20. Toronto radio hosts aren't the majority

much as they like to think they are. It's a simple fact: anti-Bush comments (not to mention doll-stompings) reflect the majority opinion in Canada.

I thought "Coalition of the Idiots" was funny and completely apt.

[alank]

23. Parrish is the Idiot

Regardless of your politics, Carolyn Parrish is a childish bufoon.

I have never been impressed with her juvenile behavior, and have written letters to the editor in the Ottawa Citizen deriding her infantile attacks.

I do not agree that the majority of Canadians agree with her opinion or her tactics. Among her famous quotes: "Dam Americans, I hate those bastards", "Coalition of the Idiots", "Bush is a war-like man".

The best opinion I have read about her ideals and tactics is this piece by publicly renowned Canadian journalist Rex Murphy. If you would like a sampling of Canadian opinion, here must be at least a thousand letters written today on the subject of Carolyn Parrish at the National Post. (Scroll down for the commentary).

Regardless of her political beliefs, she is just a childish attention grabber, like a "class clown" in public school.

I am not at all a fan of George Bushes policies and particularly his lack of intellect, but there is a proper way to voice opinions, and it is not the hysterical tirades of Carolyn Parrish, which all Americans should find offensive.

Following her attack on Bush by stomping on his doll effigy for a satirical comedy show, she also told her boss, the Prime Minister of Canada to "go to hell". Who could take such a person seriously?

With her tactics, even Jack Layton, the leader of the most left-wing party in Canada, the New Democratic Party, has denounced her, calling her tactics "sad".

Her tactics do no favors to her cause. They just demean it. Please do not emulate her, she is the subject of international ridicule, and rightly so. She does not deserve to be in office, and has been rightly kicked out of her party.

With friends like Carolyn Parrish, who needs enemies?

[deutsey]

7. Here's her contact info:

1100 Central Parkway West
Unit 15
Mississauga, Ontario
L5C 4E5
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
e-mail (Ottawa): [email protected]

[Village Idiot]

8. Apparently the straw that broke the camel's back

was a bit she did for "This Hour Has 22 Minutes" (CBC political satire show) where she crushed a Bush doll under her heel...

[Maple]

9. I think the last straw

was when she said she didn't support either the leader or the government.

Direct shot at her boss. Told him he looked weak.

[canadianbeaver]

10. He is Weak....Didn't vote for Martin-wish I could've voted for Kerry

This man is trying to make himself look good for Chimpy....boy do I dislike both of them....

[Hand]

16. Another poodle in the making!

Memo to PM: YER BLOWIN' IT, JERKOFF!

:grr:

[daleo]

21. It is a bit surprising

Given the very close numerical makeup of this minority parliament, losing her vote could result in the defeat the government, I believe (not right away, but it could be critical eventually). This doesn't seem like a bright move on Martin's part. Add in the upcoming Bush visit, and the Fox news entry and one starts to have his suspicions.