The Vancouver Scrum

As you probably know by now, the Conservative Party has decided to go for broke and accuse its opponents of being a bunch of pedophile-coddling kiddie porn advocates. In two brazen press releases yesterday, the Conservatives blasted both Paul Martin and 11 NDP Members of Parliament for supposedly supporting child pornography. The basis for this smear, which may well be worse than accusing someone of murder? They didn't vote for specific Alliance motions that would supposedly combat child pornography -- motions that would have criminalized scholars, researchers and investigators studying the subject, works ranging from Lolita to Anne Geddes photos, or the baby-in-the-tub photographs that almost every parent has (Mom, Dad: Burn 'em now!)

Seventy-two minutes after sending out the initial release, the Conservatives retracted it -- but only the headline reading, "Paul Martin Supports Child Pornography?" As Edmonton Journal city columnist Paula Simons noted on Saturday (sorry, behind the wall), adding a question mark isn't a defence.

Well, Harper still hasn't apologized, despite calls from people more intelligent than I to do so. The fact that Stephen Harper cannot even apologize for his party's brazen smear of a dozen parliamentarians for disagreeing on how to combat child pornography, and that he still perpetuates this lie that Paul Martin and others are indifferent to the exploitation of children says a lot about his character, or lack thereof.

Stephen Harper wants to talk about integrity in this campaign? How can a guy who tries to exploit Holly Jones's rape and murder for political gain by slandering his rivals have any claim of integrity? Paul Wells is right: Harper's going to wear this one.

For your edification, here are the Conservative "Reality Checks" accusing the NDP and Paul Martin of supporting child pornography, as they were sent to me by the Conservative press office on Friday. The first one arrived at 10:25 AM PDT, the second at 12:30 PM PDT. Clip and save if you like.

From: Conservative Party / Parti Conservateur [mediainbox@conservative.ca]
Sent: June 18, 2004 10:25 AM
To: Conservative Party / Parti Conservateur
Subject: THE NDP CAUCUS SUPPORTS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY? / LE CAUCUS DU NPD SOUTIENT LA PORNOGRAPHIE JUVÉNILE ?


**REALITY CHECK**

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 18, 2004



The NDP Caucus Supports Child Pornography?



OTTAWA – Jack Layton says he would shut down child porn sites; but has he spoken to his Caucus lately?



Eleven members of the NDP Caucus voted against prohibiting the creation or use of child pornography. (April 23, 2002) NAYS: Blaikie, Comartin, Davies, Desjarlais, Godin, Martin, McDonough, Nystrom, Proctor, Robinson, Wasylycia-Leis.



NDP MP Dick Proctor said (Hansard, March 9, 2004):



· “It is difficult, and it ought to be difficult, to criminalize expression.”

· “The concern that I and other members of our Caucus have is that the government has caved into the politics of fear.”

· “Without reinstating the artistic merit in this bill, I will reluctantly and sadly find myself voting against Bill C-12.”



Child pornography is considered an expression?



Child pornography has artistic merit?



We shouldn’t criminalize it?

-30-

For more information, please contact the Conservative Press Office: (613) 364-6040



From: Conservative Party / Parti Conservateur [mediainbox@conservative.ca]
Sent: June 18, 2004 12:30 PM
To: Conservative Party / Parti Conservateur
Subject: Paul Martin Supports Child Pornography? / Paul Martin soutient la pornographie juvénile ?

**REALITY CHECK**

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 18, 2004

Paul Martin Supports Child Pornography?



OTTAWA – Today, Martin says he’s against child pornography. But his voting record proves otherwise:



Paul Martin voted against a motion prohibiting creation or use of child pornography (House of Commons, April 23, 2002)

Paul Martin voted against a motion calling for legislation to protect children from sexual predators (House of Commons, April 23, 2002)

Paul Martin voted against making the age of sexual consent higher than 14 (House of Commons, April 23, 2002)

Paul Martin voted against establishing a national sex offender registry (House of Commons, Feb. 5, 2002)



-30-

For more information, please contact the Conservative Press Office: (613) 364-6040