By John-Henry Westen
OTTAWA, December 14, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The remarks of chief Liberal spokesman and strategist Scott Reid on Sunday which said that parents couldn’t be trusted with the $1,200 per year per child Conservative Choice in Childcare Allowance because they would just “blow” the money on “beer and popcorn” (see coverage: https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05121202.html ) are continuing to make headlines today.
Two former Liberal MPs and one current member have come out swinging against the Liberals over the beer and popcorn scandal.Â
ASHAMED TO HAVE BEEN A MARTIN LIBERAL
Former Liberal Cabinet Minister David Kilgour referred to the beer and popcorn scandal in comments to the Ottawa Citizen.“I’m appalled by the way the Liberal campaign (is going) and the way Martin and (top aide Scott) Reid and so many of them are conducting themselves,’’ Kilgour said in an interview Tuesday.“Actually, I’m ashamed to have a been a part of them.’’ (https://www.canada.com/story.html?id=82529faa-ff59-4f52-b3ab-8caa1685e7c4&k=757)
Former Liberal MP Sheila Copps, said in her Toronto Sun column today, “How can the Martin Liberals spin their way out of this week’s mess over staffer Scott Reid’s “beer and popcorn” comments?” She noted that while the Liberals are claiming it a mistake, “In my view, the comments were no accident. They were more likely crafted by the Martin team, then spun out without reflecting on how badly they would backfire.” (See the column in full https://www.torontosun.com/News/Columnists/Copps_Sheila/2005/12/14/1351725.html )
Even current Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish who is an anti-conservative like non other, having referred to President Bush as a ‘moron’, has seen in the Conservative child-care allowance a political winner and a disaster for the Liberals. Speaking of her Party’s prospects she told the Toronto Star, “It’s a meltdown, a disaster.”
Of Conservative Leader Harper, Parrish said, “Have you been watching him? Harper keeps coming out with a juicy new thing every day that all the young families love.”Â
She concluded, “I wouldn’t want to be running in this election right now.”
Since she is not running in the current election Parrish has even given her constituents her blessing to vote Conservative.“They say, `Yes, this is really good. Is it okay if we vote Tory, Carolyn?’ Yeah, it’s okay, I’m not running,” she whispers, reports the Star. (here: https://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1134515413383&call_pageid=974089105216&col=974089088220 )
US AMBASSADOR JOKES BEER AND POPCORN
US Ambassador to Canada David Wilkins spoke at the Canadian Club yesterday making a joke about “beer and popcorn” before blasting Liberal Leader Paul Martin for his anti-American shenanigans.“It’s also a great time for a political junkie like me to be here to watch your first winter election in 25 years and I’ve discovered that in Canada, politics is very much a contact sport,” said Wilkins.“It shouldn’t be lost on any of us that some of your politicians use my country to score political points.” (reports the Citizen https://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/story.html?id=d293f5bf-383f-4f24-a8ad-bdd31bf7f689&k=41626&p=1)
Global Television covered the issue in their “Food for Thought” segment last night, by taking free beer and popcorn to a Leafs game and offering some to random passers-by in exchange for their opinion on the subject “Would you take the $100 per month and spend it on beer and popcorn?”
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper added more commentary on the beer and popcorn scandal in a press release yesterday. Harper said the incident was indicative of the Liberal approach to child care.“Paul Martin says that child care money shouldn’t go to parents. He says it should go to ‘experts’ who know what’s best for children. Well I believe that there are already millions of child care experts in this country, and their names are ‘mom’ and ‘dad’!”
He concluded, “Just imagine, the Liberals who blew $100 million dollars on Adscam don’t trust parents with $100 dollars per month for their children.”
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
The Beer and Popcorn Report 1 – Deep Seated Liberal Anti-Family Attitude
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05121301.html
In Lame Attempt to Divert from Beer and Popcorn Scandal PM Attacks Harper over Gay ‘Marriage’
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05121304.html
Adscam Liberals Don’t Trust Canadian Parents With Child-Care Dollars
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05121202.html
Even the NDP and Bloc say the Liberals are Anti-Family
https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2005/dec/05121206.html