VANCOUVER, June 14, 2004 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Media reaction to an advertisement published Wednesday in the Vancouver Province by the national advocacy group, The Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy, was swift and intense.
The ad, titled “Two months ago MP Svend Robinson was caught stealing. Will he be charged with theft?” was picked up by CBC TV, CBC Website news, CTV News Vancouver, front page of the Sports section in the Vancouver Province, the Regina Leader-Post, the Vancouver Sun, the Globe and Mail, CBC Radio Vancouver, and CKNW Radio, Vancouver.
Coverage varied, from “how could they be so callous” from the strongly left-leaning CBC and Globe and Mail to more moderate reporting, such as the Vancouver Province’s coverage. The Province reported B.C. Attorney-General Geoff Plant as saying “I am not happy that it appears to be taking a very long time to conclude the police investigation and make the charging decision in the Svend Robinson case,” whereas the Globe report states “Mr. Robinson’s friends have described the ad as a ‘cowardly’ attack, meant to politically damage the NDP,” and fails to report on the Attorney-General’s comments. On the Citizen Centre web-site’s guestbook, Svend’s own sister, Kim Maria Robinson, writes to support the Centre’s action, “My brother, as with all Canadians, should not have preferential treatment vis-à-vis an alleged crime just because he is a celebrity. My brother is not, or should not, be above the law,” she says. Citizens Centre spokesman Craig Docksteader confirmed with LifeSiteNews.com that they had been in contact with Svend’s sister, Kim Maria Robinson, and verified the authenticity of the letter.
“It has struck me as somewhat strange that when a celebrity politician is under scrutiny for wrongdoing, or there is alleged corruption by government, a Special Prosecutor or Commons Committee or something like that is appointed,” Robinson continues. “Why is this not done when someone from the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver commits a crime?”“Although the reality is that many individuals of privilege do escape the punishment meted out to individuals of lesser economic status and fame, as citizens of a democracy, this is something we should fight against, whether regarding my brother or anyone else.” Read the extensive news coverage at: https://www.citizenscentre.com/index.html Read the Citizens Centre Guestbook at: https://www.citizenscentre.com/guestbook.html Read LifeSiteNews.com coverage: When will Canadian MP Svend Robinson be charged with theft? https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2004/jun/04060908.html