Posted on 03/05/2008 7:43:28 PM PST by jveritas
OTTAWA — If the prime minister is seeking the first link in the chain of events that has rocked the U.S. presidential race, he need look no further than his chief of staff, Ian Brodie, The Canadian Press has learned.
A candid comment to journalists from CTV News by Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s most senior political staffer during the hurly-burly of a budget lock-up provided the initial spark in what the American media are now calling NAFTAgate.
Harper announced Wednesday that he has asked an internal security team to begin finding the source of a document leak that he characterized as being “blatantly unfair” to Senator Barack Obama. ….
The former university professor found himself in a room with CTV employees where he was quickly surrounded by a gaggle of reporters while other journalists were within earshot of other colleagues.
At the end of an extended conversation, Brodie was asked about remarks aimed by the Democratic candidates at Ohio’s anti-NAFTA voters that carried serious economic implications for Canada.
Since 75 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S., Obama and Clinton’s musings about reopening the North American free-trade pact had caused some concern.
Brodie downplayed those concerns.
“Quite a few people heard it,” said one source in the room.
“He said someone from (Hillary) Clinton’s campaign is telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt ... That someone called us and told us not to worry.”
Government officials did not deny the conversation took place. They said that Brodie sought to allay concerns about the impact of Obama and Clinton’s assertion that they would re-negotiate NAFTA if elected. But they did say that Brodie had no recollection of discussing any specific candidate — either Clinton or Obama. CTV News Vice-President Robert Hurst said he would not discuss his journalists’ sources. But others said the content of Brodie’s remarks was passed on to CTV’s Washington bureau and their White House correspondent set out the next day to pursue the story on Clinton’s apparent hypocrisy on the North American Free Trade Agreement.
Although CTV correspondent Tom Clark mentioned Clinton in passing, the focus of his story was on assurances from the Obama camp.
He went to air on Feb. 27 with a report that the Democratic front-runner had given advance notice to Canadian diplomats that he was about to engage in some anti-NAFTA rhetoric, but not to take it too seriously.
The report wound up on YouTube and caused an uproar in the U.S. race — influencing the final days of the critical Ohio primary, with every indication it will also play a role in the upcoming Pennsylvania vote.
Obama has been pilloried by his opponents and faced the most aggressive questioning of his heretofore smooth-sailing campaign.
Clinton used the story to cast him as a double-talking hypocrite — winking and nudging at Canadians while making contrary promises to American voters.
Republican nominee John McCain — who proudly dubs himself a straight-talker — has also seized on the incident to paint the Democratic front-runner as anything but.
When Obama’s campaign and the Canadian government denied the allegation, a leaked document was obtained by The Associated Press written by a Canadian diplomat. It chronicled a conversation between Obama economic adviser Austan Goulsbee and diplomats at Canada’s Chicago consulate.
The Obama aide has challenged the wording of the memo and says it characterized the conversation unfairly. A government official said that memo was initially emailed to over 120 government employees.
Harper has rebuffed opposition requests to call in the RCMP and also investigate the source of the original tip that led to the CTV report that triggered the diplomatic tempest. But a team of internal security agents has begun an investigation that will see dozens of bureaucrats and political staff questioned about their knowledge of the leak.
“This kind of leaking of information is completely unacceptable. In fact, it may well be illegal,” Harper told the House of Commons.
“It is not useful, it is not in the interests of the government of Canada — and the way the leak was executed was blatantly unfair to Senator Obama and his campaign.
Oh I see you alredy got it..
Wow! That’s the kind of thing I like to hear.
thats the mccain I’ve known for years. A strong believer in free markets and an end to the welfare state. No more Bush/Hastert compassionate conservatism.
most people think he has nothing to say on the economy...they are in for a surprise
Since that election 2 years ago, Belinda has had about as much influence on the Canadian External Affairs department as Pee Wee Herman does in CBN telecasts.
Yep. Clintons cheat.
Scroll down for the bit on Brodie.
Taken a golf tournament . Big deal.
Imagination is a wonderful thing. Unfortunately it can also lead to assumptions.
Why do Americans insist on giving Clinton that much credit? I hope it’s not envy.
Nothing really, the only woman Bubba DOESN'T "associate with" is Hillary.
Are these his words or what we'd like him to say?
“He said someone from (Hillary) Clinton’s campaign is telling the embassy to take it with a grain of salt.”
__________________
Why in the world isn’t this on Drudge with a siren going off? I think this is big news that could start a real brawl.
Since when is it unfair to let voters know exactly what a candidate truly stands for???
Why not? It WAS Obama that uncategorically denied any such meetings ever took place, so why should he be focused on?
“Should” was meant to be “shouldn’t”. Coffee isn’t working this morning.
“Staff?”
That’s racist!
I think given that our former governing Liberal party had a nasty track record of sticking their noses in America's business and being quite insulting to Americans in the process, that Harper is treading cautiously. The last thing we need is another round of political mudslinging, our relationship with you guys is too important to be treated in that manner.
You mean belinda was bribed with a cabinet post to switch
parties, to the liberal/socialists,its perks, extra pay
and benefits and there were no calls for an RCMP
investigation !? /sarcoff
I react with caution by remembering sage advice in an English court, to whit: "you must no say anything you cannot prove". (chuckle) I am indebted to the CBC (bells and whistles please). Dated May 18th 2005.
Stronach said she broached the matter with former Ontario premier David Peterson,who is a family friend, after running into him and his wife at an event in Toronto last week. .
It goes on - dead pan, as only CBC can do it, that David Peterson spoke to her at length before "arranging conversations" with both Liberals and eventually the prime minister (Hon. Paul Martin).
The lack of CBC trumped up- with their very modest laid back hysteria, speaks volumes.
What if they could hang Steven Harper with such a scenario? (laughs) and enough said by me today.
” ‘ Stronach said she broached the matter with former Ontario premier David Peterson’ “
Of course in a court of law they would all swear that that is exactly the way it happened / sarc off ;-)
—There’s never been a tomorrow Americans weren’t eager to greet. There’s never been a problem Americans couldn’t solve. The courage, patriotism, ingenuity and industry of our forbears earned the reverence we hold for our storied past—
This part is true. The rest of the quote is all rubbish.
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