Posted on 12/06/2005 10:17:28 AM PST by GMMAC
Toronto Sun
December 6, 2005
BAUBLE-HEAD SVEND
By MARK BONOKOSKI
The cesspool of political "entitlement" and "corruption" in which the federal Liberals are trying not to electorally drown is no longer a one-party domain now that a jewel thief has been acclaimed as Jack Layton's NDP candidate in the riding of Vancouver Centre.
No longer can Jack call the kettle black.
No longer can Jack talk ethics.
How can Jack Layton accuse the Liberals of "helping themselves" in the sponsorship scandal, for example, when he has given his blessing to Sunday's endorsement of Svend Robinson, a politician who helped himself to a $50,000 antique ring while still sitting in the House of Commons.
Truth is, he can't.
"What Svend did was take responsibility for his actions,"Layton is quoted as saying. "He co-operated."
Pondered his move
He did what?
Truth is, Svend did no such thing. At least not at first.
What he did was wait a couple of days.
In fact, it could be argued -- and it has been argued -- that Svend Robinson pondered his next post-theft move right up until the moment he became aware that video-surveillance cameras had been trained on the public auction of high-end jewelry that had been held in the boardroom of the Vancouver International Airport by the Brampton-based Federal Auction Service.
Otherwise, if feelings of guilt had truly taken over, why had he not called the police straight away, or have a lawyer do it for him, and set the defence wheels in motion for what he later defined as a "totally inexplicable and unthinkable act."
He is, after all, a bright and educated man.
He knows five-finger discounts are wrong.
Jack Layton also said that the 53-year-old Robinson had "paid his price in full."
Truth is, he didn't.
Truth is, he got a kiss, and the first one came early.
Despite acknowledging that it has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to theft, Federal Auction Service decided to make an exception of Robinson, expressed "sympathy" at the onset for whatever it was the long-time politician was going through, and said it would not press charges.
That nasty bit of work was left to the police and, in the end, Robinson pleaded guilty and received a conditional discharge. No jail time, no criminal conviction.
"In Canada, we don't kick people when they're down," Justice Ron Fratkin said during sentencing, indicating that Robinson had "fallen far further than most -- all for a bauble, a trinket, a ring."
So what, then, was the "high price in full" that Robinson actually paid that gives him entitlement to seek the trust of public office one more time?
It was Jack Layton's position that the "high price" Robinson paid "in full" was not only having to resign from his seat in the House of Commons, but also the fact that he had to face a little public humiliation.
Of course he had to resign.
He was a thief.
And of course he was humiliated. Thieves who are both well-off and powerful usually are humiliated -- one hopes -- when the flip side of their supposedly honest public persona is caught red-handed committing a criminal act.
Last year, when Svend Robinson called his press conference, when he broke into tears, when he was comforted on camera by his partner, Max Riveron, and when he attempted to explain away his how "something just snapped in this moment of utter irrationality," I compared what happened to him to what happened to an 85-year-old former cleaning lady with advanced Alzheimer's who lifted a $3-packet of chicken from a Toronto Loblaws.
There was no comparison.
The old woman, who had no idea what she had done, was taken into a back room, held until the cops arrived, and was then given the choice of criminal charges or a lifetime banishment from all Loblaws outlets.
Unlike what happened with Federal Auction Service and Svend Robinson, no "sympathy" for the old woman's situation was expressed by Loblaws, at least not until her treatment became a story written here.
Only then did the flowers and the apology arrive.
Robinson told the judge he cracked after a visit with his sister, who has multiple sclerosis.
If he had stolen the ring with the intention of giving it to his sister, the opinion here might be somewhat more tempered.
Fact is, however, he didn't steal it to give to her.
He stole it to give to his partner as an engagement ring.
And it wasn't a $3 packet of chicken, it was a $50,000 antique diamond ring -- not a mere "bauble" or a "trinket," as the judge said, as if he were trying to downplay the importance of its value.
So what's next for this convicted thief if the voters in Vancouver-Centre choose to either forget or forgive?
Sponsorship critic in Jack Layton's next caucus?
Just say no
Bottom line, the federal leader of the NDP should have refused to sign Robinson's nomination paper, not anoint him with an unopposed candidacy.
Jack Layton should have said no.
Instead, he has put himself in the position of talking one line and walking another.
And that makes him no better than those Liberals whose lack of ethics he today condemns.
Not only is he a ringstealer, I understand he is also a bone smuggler.
Well, thats forgiveable because socialists have the best interest of 'the people' at heart.... Right.
He sounds like the perfect addition to any socialist cabinet!
Over the years, Svend has made himself the loud self-appointed judge and critic of just about everyone else's behavior - how hilarious it was, then, to see him and his homosexual lover break down in tears on national TV over the ring theft!!
He's also probably going to lose - the Liberals' Hedy Fry has owned the largely-homosexual downtown riding of Vancouver-Center for eons. Ironically, he may even split the left vote enough for the Conservative candidate to win!
The NDP continue to be Canada's ongoing horror show ...
It is only fitting that the trendy bunch in Vancouver Centre get to choose between Lefty Yankee Import Marxist Kleptocrat Svend, and Liberal West Indian Import Statist Dissimulator Hedy.
Of course, the more fastidious can always register a futile Conservative or Green protest vote in this media-drenched enclave of Canucklehead goodthinkers.
Centre might was well be in Toronto. ;^)
I found this:
Tony Fogarassy practices law at the Vancouver firm of Clark Wilson LLP. His practice includes energy, mining, Aboriginal, environmental, and intellectual property law. Born in Prince Rupert, Tony and his wife Blair Lockhart have lived in Vancouver for 20 years, and have two children.
Tony is very active in his children’s lives, and offers his time coaching their softball and soccer teams. He is active in his community. He has served, or currently serves on the board of directors of various organizations including, The Burgess Shale Geoscience Foundation (protecting a UNESCO world heritage site in Yoho National Park).
In addition to having a degree in Law from UBC, Tony also holds a B.Sc. (Hons, First Class), and a M.Sc. (First Class). He has also earned an LL.M, from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Tony’s professional background has allowed him to work in various communities across Canada and overseas.
Having been involved with various campaigns, Tony is now putting his law practice on hold to run as the Conservative Candidate in Vancouver Centre.
Tony is very passionate about this country and believes in a Canada that is above all, fair, compassionate and tolerant- A Canada that should and must be governed with responsibility and accountability.
Understanding that Vancouver Centre represents one of the most diverse communities in all of Canada, Tony believes this is an enormous strength, and that it’s vitality is unmatched in the world.
Tony has the integrity, the ability and the skills sets to provide effective leadership and representation. As a result of a diverse academic and professional background, he has what it takes to genuinely serve all of the residents of Vancouver Centre, as their next M.P.
Email: info@fogarassy.ca
Phone: (604) 687-3676
Web Site: http://www.fogarassy.ca
The man is way too bright to be an M.P. He'll be lucky to receive 20%, imho.
Here's the results in 2004:
Hedy Fry ** LIB 21280 40.3 4230 8.0
Kennedy Stewart NDP 17050 32.3
Gary Mitchell CONS 10139 19.2
Robbie Mattu GRN 3580 6.8
John Clarke LBTN 304 0.6
Joe Pal CHP 243 0.5
Alexander Frei CAP 101 0.2
Kimball Cariou COMM 96 0.2
52793
I would like to PUKE!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you anyway Jack Layton for showing YOUR true colors. This act alone CONFIRMS that the ONLY CHOICE IS THE CONSERVATIVES!!
Yup, the lunatics seems to all gather in clusters don't they?
Perhaps THIS time with the "thefts" being from the parties of their usual choice, they will see the light and vote for a change. (one can hope).
It's enough for me that folks don't vote Liberal!
In that light, I predict that the Bloc will take 63 seats, the NDP 37, the Conservatives 127, and the Liberals 89.
Thus, the Conservatives can form a minority government without the support of either the Libs or the Bloc. No better outcome is possible at this time.
He's in because he's gay, and that's it. If he wasn't gay, Jack Layton would use him to send a message about ethics and the NDP. They both make me sick.
OMG - that picture. Let's send him back to Massoftwoshits or wherever he came from!!!!! Geez!!
Friend, I so hope your prediction is correct. That would be nice.!!
Oops!
I meant the Conservatives 117!
Same here!! Your right Layton wants to show he's "tolerant"!! gag gag. But in the process, he's supporting a THIEF so frankly, he's just thrashed his own "ethical" stance on anything!!
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