Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Conservative Party fundraising email factually incorrect and politically cowardly

The Conservative Party of Canada has sent out a fundraising letter that is most notable for its factual inaccuracies and slurs rather than its encouragement to members to donate.

Written by Doug Finlay, the Conservative Party's National Campaign Chair, the email letter attempts to make the separatist Bloc Quebecois part of the proposed Liberal-NDP coalition government despite the fact that the Bloc has never been proposed as a coalition partner that would receive seats in a cabinet.

While I disagree with the coalition proposal, I find it sad that the Conservative Party cannot even get its facts straight in its desperate attempt to raise money.

Notwithstanding that factual error, I also note that Finlay is apparently afraid to say the word "separatist" in connection with the Bloc - which it certainly is - likely for fear of offending Quebec Conservative Party members.

Come on Doug - at least call a spade a spade.

The full text is below:

Doug Finlay
National Campaign Chair
Conservative Party of Canada

December 9, 2008

Stéphane Dion has resigned as leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, and by extension, of the Liberal/NDP/Bloc Coalition.

In yet another stunning and unprecedented demonstration of Liberal contempt for our democratic rights, they've decided to appoint a new leader in his place.

Not only was the Liberal/NDP/Bloc Coalition not elected to govern this country , but the person who would become Canada's Prime Minister wasn't even the leader of a federal party during the last election and may not even be elected by the Liberal (or any) party's membership .

The Liberals have decided to parachute Michael Ignatieff into the position of Prime Minister, and one thing is clear: Canadians didn't elect this coalition to form a government , and they most certainly didn't elect Michael Ignatieff as Prime Minister .

The Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition would be a disaster for Canada's economy, and for our democracy.Canadians need and deserve an elected government and a Prime Minister that will focus on the economy. In these uncertain times, that is the number one priority.

Please
follow this link to make a donation of $200 or $100, and help us spread this message to Canadians. We need your help now to crack the coalition and put a stop to the political games in Ottawa before the Liberal/NDP/Bloc Coalition do even more damage to our democracy.Cracks in the coalition are already starting to show.

Members of the Liberal Party are already acknowledging that the Liberal/NDP/Bloc coalition was ill-conceived, undemocratic and potentially ruinous for Canada.

We need to drive that wedge home and convince Canadians of all political stripes that this Coalition does nothing but weaken our nation.

Make no mistake: Stephane Dion, Bob Rae, Michael Ignatieff, Jack Layton and Gilles Duceppe will continue to do whatever it takes to force their coalition into power.

From day one, the Liberals' backroom coalition has been nothing but a naked power grab.

Please follow this link to make a donation to help us crack this coalition and send the message that a democratic, duly-elected government will put Canadians' priorities first.

Yours Sincerely,

Doug Finley
National Campaign Chair
Conservative Party of Canada

P.S. – The Liberals were rejected by Canadians at the ballot box to govern this country – as were the NDP and Bloc. They are trying to seize power by making backroom deals and parachuting in a Prime Minister who didn't even lead a party at the last election.

Please make your emergency donation now and help crack the Liberal/NDP/Bloc Coalition.

8 comments:

BC Mary said...

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Oh Bill ... Omg ... did you inadvertently, absent-mindedly, the-devil-made-me repeat three ... my god ... THREE (3) separate times ... an invitation to contribute to the Harper Gang's war chest?

Aaaacchhhhh!!!

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Bill Tieleman said...

Ha-ha - interesting idea Mary - I just pasted the whole thing from my source and the links were in it.

But if anyone reading my blog is convinced by this pathetic letter to give money, I'd be surprised!

Or perhaps maybe someone will make a $1 million dollar donation - that isn't cashable!

Anonymous said...

You'd think someone had a bloody country to run...

Gary E said...

I'm with you Alex

Looks to me as if the Harper Gang wants to keep campaigning on malice and fear. Great way to run a country.

And they claim the "coalition" is just a power and money grab. Lets hope (and I have no doubt) that Ignatieff keeps Harpers feet to the fire.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Bill:
I was extremely unhappy with the Conservatives' 'economic statement' that triggered this embarrassing crisis. As a strategy, however, I believe the coalition was planned long before the statement was even drafted. Dion and Layton had it up their sleeves as a means to subvert parliamentary democracy both pre- and post-election. With respect, while you may be technically correct that the Bloc "is not part of the coalition," that is splitting hairs - in the absence of Bloc votes to prop up those of the Liberals and NDP, a coalition to overcome Harper's government, would be a total waste of time. What made me so mad about the whole sorry affair, is that Mr. Flaherty's 'statement' was a stupid, unnecessary political move that played right into the hands of people whose parties had been soundly rejected on a national level. The only thing encouraging, is that a majority of Canadians polled, appear not to have been one bit fooled by the Liberal's coalition initiative.

North Van's Grumps said...

Cooking the books was the headline this morning in the Vancouver Sun, in reference to restaurants, but I'm curious to know if Canada Revenue Agency has ever considered doing a check on the books of political parties to find if they have been using the Zapper software program when it comes to eliminating the audit trail for cash donations.

Hmmmmm.

Anonymous said...

Kinda sad Rae isn't in the running for Liberal leader (and/or Liberal/NDP/Bloc Coalition Leader).

The Conservatives plea for funds would probably have more "meat" in their appeal and resonate with donors from Ontario who remember his tenure as Premier.

Perhaps a more effective way for the Conservatives to raise funds would be to simply post a picture of him labeled -- Possible future Minister of Finance in the Liberal/NDP/Bloc Coalition – followed by a huge question (?) mark.

That could open wallets, purses, chequebooks, safes, safety deposit boxes, offshore accounts, crack open piggy banks or even get people digging up coffee cans in their backyards.

"Dear! Give me that shovel (Donnez-moi cette pelle). I'm on a mission to save Canada...."

RossK said...

Mr. T said:

"...I find it sad that the Conservative Party cannot even get its facts straight in its desperate attempt to raise money...

I would most humbly suggest that these fine folks purposefully and willfully got their facts WRONG, with malice aforethought, precisely because they know it will raise more money (and more poll numbers).


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