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Jean Chretien: The Stain on the Blue Dress of Canada
The Freedom Institute ^ | April 28 2004 | Mark Fournier

Posted on 04/28/2003 3:45:54 AM PDT by lethbridge_east

A message to Americans

There are many reasons why I am thankful that I am Canadian. One of those reasons, I will admit, is that I never had to suffer the embarrassment of having Bill Clinton lead my country.

I have been interested in US politics for a number of years and I cringed for my American friends as scandal after scandal rocked the Clinton White House. I waited breathlessly after the 2000 election when the Presidency was literally hanging by a chad - hoping against hope that common sense would prevail, and that honour would finally be restored to Washington.

Canadian conservatives shared the pain and embarrassment of our southern neighbours as you were humiliated before the world. We were supportive and encouraging because we understood that what took place under the Clinton administration was not a true reflection of morality of the American people. Good, decent Americans were suffering humiliation for the actions of a man who was incapable of shame.

We grieved for you when others mocked you. We prayed for you when you fought your elections. And we rejoiced for you when you finally won the battle, and got a President with integrity.

The Clinton administration was the enemy of conservatism. We understood that, and we did what we could to support US conservatives who fought them.

That is what allies do.

In recent months, my gratitude for not having a leader like Bill Clinton has been tempered by my embarrassment with our own leadership.

While I do not believe it is open season on Parliamentary interns in Ottawa, it turns out that Jean Chretien is every bit as morally bankrupt as former President Clinton.

It is likely that Chretien knows what the meaning of "is" is…but, in his foreign policy, loyalty means nothing unless "a proof is a proof".

Perhaps Chretien has not stained an intern’s blue dress, but he has irrevocably stained our national reputation by distancing himself from our closest friends and allies in their time of need.

It is imperative that you, our American friends, understand the situation up here.

Honest, decent Canadians are no more likely to share the opinions of Prime Minister Chretien than normal Americans were to approve of the antics of Bill Clinton.

We are ashamed, and we are angry. We are rallying, and writing and campaigning. We watched you win, and we intend to do it, too. But we need your help.

We understand your frustration with our government, because we live with it every day. We also realize that the news is skewed by the liberal media, so you probably have the impression that we approve.

But we don’t.

We need you to remember the Clinton years. Remember what it was like to have a government that you did not elect, and that did not represent your values.

Remember us as we struggle on, fighting for what is right. Turn your anger on our common enemy, the Liberal government. But please don’t turn your guns on us.

It took you eight years to rid yourselves of the Clintons. It might take some time for us to win, too. But, until we do, you need to know that the Liberal government does not speak for us. We are embarrassed and ashamed like you used to be…and we are inspired by the fact that you won.

Give us some time, cheer us on, pray for us, and we promise to do everything in our power to elect a Prime Minister who will give our friends and allies the support they deserve.

We will persevere until we win, and when that day comes, our shame will disappear. Because after our victory, we will finally be able to clean Jean Chretien’s stain off the blue dress of Canada


TOPICS: Canada; Constitution/Conservatism; Editorial; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: clinton; georgewbush; jeanchretien; markfournier
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1 posted on 04/28/2003 3:45:54 AM PDT by lethbridge_east
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To: lethbridge_east
Conservative Canadians, do everything you can to throw your current “regime” out! We pray for you. Also, get rid of your stupid restrictive gun laws – is the current government afraid of something?.
2 posted on 04/28/2003 3:54:50 AM PDT by RAY
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To: RAY
A thoughtful bump. I will remember these words the next time I am tempted to enjoy schadenfreude at Canada's problems.
3 posted on 04/28/2003 3:57:53 AM PDT by Ronin
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To: lethbridge_east
Love that headline
4 posted on 04/28/2003 4:00:01 AM PDT by ChadGore (Freedom is as natural as a drawn breath.)
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To: Ronin

While it would have been nice for Canada to share our momentous victory, we didn't really need you. This war proved how irrelevant most nations are...a bitter pill for many.
5 posted on 04/28/2003 4:01:23 AM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: lethbridge_east
The Stain on the Blue Dress of Canada

My first thought when I read the above, Has clinton been there too.

6 posted on 04/28/2003 4:01:44 AM PDT by chainsaw
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To: lethbridge_east
Free Dominion BUMP!
7 posted on 04/28/2003 4:14:57 AM PDT by Caipirabob (Democrats.. Socialists..Commies..Traitors...Who can tell the difference?)
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To: lethbridge_east
Of course you have my support but one question. During the Clinton years, I never heard a peep from any Canadian claiming to support us in our national embarrassment....am I wrong?
8 posted on 04/28/2003 4:31:19 AM PDT by Arpege92
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To: Arpege92
Canadian publications like the National Post (think Mark Steyn) have long-supported the conservatives in America.

The U.S. has many, many friends in Canada, but you won't hear about them from the CBC, or the other alphabet news agencies.

Socialism brings with it the unlimited power of the elite government over the individual.

It is a vicious cycle - the more successful at muzzling critics, the more powerful the regime becomes.

Helping along Canadian conservatism, which is just on the brink of potential electoral success, is probably the next most important movement of the American conservative party, after first assuring Bush re-election, and then preventing the Clintons from being elected to anything ever again.

9 posted on 04/28/2003 5:52:38 AM PDT by Enduring Freedom (To smash the ugly face of Socialism is our mission)
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To: Enduring Freedom
I post to a waterfowl-hunting board that has a number of Canadian members. They have nothing good to say about anything that comes out of Ottawa. I wish there was some way we could help them, but I can't think of much, other than being patient.
10 posted on 04/28/2003 7:16:38 AM PDT by Renfield
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To: lethbridge_east
bump
11 posted on 04/28/2003 7:54:16 AM PDT by ellery
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To: ellery
I cant speak for all conservatives but I can say that most of us in Alberta did and we cheered on a few Republican victories!

Personally after living California from 1990-92 I was pretty hopeful. But then came the Slickster. Believe me I mourned with you.
12 posted on 04/28/2003 9:31:13 AM PDT by lethbridge_east (www.freedominstitute.ca)
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To: Renfield
"They have nothing good to say about anything that comes out of Ottawa."

Likewise, I correspond with folks from British Columbia (How that name must vex 'em in Ottawa ;'}. My advise is to reassure them that we've (Americans) been friends with them (Canadians) longer than we've ever been enemies. We must keep our focus on the enmity that exists and emanates from the left of BOTH countries. Look there and you'll find the source of the hostilities perceived be both nations.
13 posted on 04/28/2003 10:53:22 AM PDT by rockrr
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To: Arpege92
Of course you have my support but one question. During the Clinton years, I never heard a peep from any Canadian claiming to support us in our national embarrassment....am I wrong?

Canadian conservatives did not have a national voice back then like they do now. They certainly said it privately.

And I can personally attest to spending many hours in prayer for the US.

I hope that counts for something.

14 posted on 04/28/2003 7:05:13 PM PDT by conniew
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To: conniew
It counts and I thank you for your prayers!
15 posted on 04/28/2003 7:37:13 PM PDT by Arpege92
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To: lethbridge_east
The election of Clinton in America does not excuse the behaviour of Bill Clinton. We, Americans, are repsonsible for electing him.

And, for sure, the election of Bill Clinton in America DOES NOT excuse the behavior of Canada. Canada is responible for their elected officials.

This argument that because we elected Bill Clinton, Canada should be allowed to "get away" with all manner of offenses and anti-Americanism is, imo, nothing but a bunch of BS.

16 posted on 04/28/2003 11:53:44 PM PDT by Sunsong
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To: Sunsong
Will all due respect, I think you missed the point of the article.

Canadian conservatives are taking our own government to task...not excusing them. We are fighting to get rid of the Liberals just like you fought to get rid of the Clintons.

You said:
And, for sure, the election of Bill Clinton in America DOES NOT excuse the behavior of Canada. Canada is responible for their elected officials.

We don't want you to "excuse Canada". Our government sucks, and the people who elected them need to feel your anger.

But many thousands of Canadians have never voted Liberal...and hundreds of us are dedicated conservative activists.

We need our American conservative cousins to help us defeat the Liberals, not to take potshots at us.

We are on the same side.

There are many people on this site who see that conservative Canadians are fighting for the same things they are, and they express their support for us...like we did for those of you who didn't vote for Bill Clinton.

But, for those people who choose to ignore the good things we are trying to do, and beat us up because of where we happened to be born...well, that attitude is no better than the attitude of our anti-American Liberal government, imo.

17 posted on 04/29/2003 6:43:31 AM PDT by conniew
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To: Sunsong
Clinton never did gain a plurality of the votes cast. He never did represent the majority. He was elected by the electoral college (which, btw, I'm all for). But if Perot hadn't split the vote in '92 or the pubbies had such a lame candidate in '96, Clinton would have lost both times. I've always felt that Dole was so lame, that Buchanan could have done a better job...
18 posted on 04/29/2003 6:50:44 AM PDT by Frumious Bandersnatch
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To: lethbridge_east
We do understand and hope that the conservatives up north can rise up and replace the liberals in Canada. Thanks for the thoughts.
19 posted on 04/29/2003 6:53:35 AM PDT by LaGrone
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To: Argh
ping for you.
20 posted on 04/29/2003 6:55:34 AM PDT by xsmommy
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