Former U.S. President Bill Clinton (L) listens to Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin during a news conference at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Montreal December 9, 2005. REUTERS/Chris Wattie
Posted on 12/09/2005 12:04:23 PM PST by fanfan
The White House has officially complained about Prime Minister Paul Martin's comments this week at the climate change conference in Montreal.
Paul Martin's made his comments this week at the climate change conference in Montreal.
Jim Connaughton, chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, has told Canadian Ambassador Frank McKenna that Martin's comments are the worst slight against President George W. Bush since Germany's Gerhard Schroeder suggested Bush's stance against the Kyoto Protocol was responsible for hurricane Katrina.
"My understanding is that Mr. Connaughton made very clear his unhappiness over Mr. Martin's comments and particularly singling out the United States," a State Department official said, the Canadian Press reported.
"There is such a thing as a global conscience," Martin said Wednesday at the UN Conference on Climate Change.
"Now is the time to listen to it. Now's the time to join with others in our global community. Now is the time for resolve, for commitment and leadership and, above all, now is the time for action. Because only by coming together can we make real and lasting progress."
In October, outgoing chancellor Schroeder said: "I can think of a recent disaster that shows what happens when a country neglects its duties of state towards its people ....
"My post as chancellor, which I still hold, does not allow me to name that country, but you all know that I am talking about America."
Later today, Martin will be meeting with former U.S. president Bill Clinton at the conference.
Bernard Etzinger, a Canadian embassy spokesman in Washington, told Canadian Press that McKenna asked Connaughton for the meeting as part of their regular encounters.
"We asked for the meeting to talk about the (climate-change) proposals and how the U.S. was responding," Etzinger said.
CBC News correspondent Neil Macdonald said he has been told that the Americans are watching the election campaign, and if there is too much anti-U.S. rhetoric, that it would an impair progress on sensitive political issues between the countries.
Thanks.
It's never been clear to me why liberal Americans who are concerned that US economic activity is responsible for global warming do not take action themselves. Senators and Congressmen from blue states need only step forward and tell businesses in their state to reduce activity and they can have an effect on global warming.
Then come election day we need not hear from them again.
I guess if we had just signed Kyoto and ignored its requirements like everyone else we'd be more popular.
Hey, CBC -- the White House does not "officially complain" you idiots. The President may issue a statement or hold a press conference, but he does not hold a ceremony or sign a document "to complain."
How do today's journalists get through Eng Comp: 101?
Their Liberal professors give them an A+ ?
Canada ratified Kyoto whereas the US did not.
Canada breached its obligations under Kyoto almost before the ink was dry on the ratification and it continues in breach.
Canada was obliged to reduce carbon emissions. it increased carbon emissions by 20 percent.
The US undertook no such obligation, yet it increased carbon emissions by only 14 percent.
If there really is "such a thing as a global conscience" on carbon emissions, China and India should not be getting a free ride under Kyoto and Martin should be complaining about them instead of the Bush.
I'd like to send that info to my local radio talk show.
Do you have a link handy? if not I'll see what I can find.
;-)
McKenna miffed by Martin's remarks (Just posted)
Perhaps Kyoto is Japanese for (Canadian) Hypocrisy ... Rex Murphy
Later, either the bus driver or the tour guide came up to me and told me that McKenna's mother was part of the group!!! By that time it was way too late to do any mea culpas as the show was over and the folks had left. I felt REAL smart.
:(
Looks like the White House is finally fighting back.
Glad to see it!
I love President Bush, but sometimes I wonder if his habit of giving the gift of dignity to every person, might sometimes hurt the cause.
The MSM up here is now reporting that there was no rift between the US and Canada today, it was all a misunderstanding caused by a reporter, or something to that effect.
I hate Liberals!
LOL!
It's all in the timing, eh?
What were the odds that McKenna's mother was in the crowd? Well, it didn't really matter what the odds were because she was there. LOL!!
I think I had made some comment about wondering what the dude must have done to get everybody so upset at him that they put up signs everywhere. Only mildly insulting but I sure wouldn't have done it had I known.
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