Kakistocrat

It’s all very nice that Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski has apologized for the anti-gay rant he went on 17 years ago which has recently been uncovered and made public. In the House yesterday he was on record as saying that such comments "should not be tolerated today [and] they should not have been tolerated in 1991." He described himself in that context as "stupid, thoughtless and insensitive" and said that the anger directed to him from members of the gay and lesbian community in particular "is certainly understandable and justified." While few doubt the sincerity of his apology, as it has been publicly accepted by gay and lesbian organizations as well as opposition MP’s including Bill Siksay and Libby Davies (both homosexual parliamentarians), when a person makes a mistake in either word or action, an apology does not end the matter. There are consequences to both our words and our actions that move beyond the act of professing regret.

Liberal MP Scott Brison (also a homosexual parliamentarian) suggested yesterday that while he does not believe Lukiwski should resign as a Member of Parliament, "it’s not appropriate that he remain as a parliamentary secretary to the government House Leader," and I wonder if anyone disagrees. I certainly don’t disagree. Although he has not given any indication he will do so, I hope that MP Lukiwski will resign on Monday as a parliamentary secretary.

K.

The transcript of the comments that have gotten MP Lukiwski into trouble can be read here or watched here.

Bill C-484, the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, seeks to amend the Criminal Code so as to include as an indictable offense, any harm cause to the unborn child while an offense is being committed against the mother. On March 5, 2008 the Bill passed Second Reading in the Canadian House of Commons, with 147 voting in favour, and 132 voting against.

Of interest to me, is how Father Raymond Gravel, a Roman Catholic priest and Bloc Quebecois Member of Parliament, has dealt with this issue. Father Gravel, who, during his days as a parish priest, gained a reputation as a ‘dissenting’ priest, promised that when he took public office he would not take positions that countered those of the Roman Catholic Church, which as a priest he represents.

When discussing the issue, Fr. Gravel transformed the debate into one about abortion. On December 13, 2007 he stated in the Commons "I am against abortion, but I do not believe that [criminalization of it] is how we deal with the problem of abortion." He recently redeclared his opposition to abortion, this time on March 3, 2008, again in the Commons saying "I am against abortion. I regard human life as sacred and abortion as always being a tragedy in our society," and "I believe that human life starts at  conception," as well as "I disagree with [the Supreme Court which has declared that a child becomes a human when it has completely proceeded, in a living state, from the body of its mother…"

In light of Fr. Gravel’s previously being seen as a supporter of abortion, this is indeed a nice development. However, Fr. Gravel’s opposition to this Bill confuses me. Gravel is against the decriminalization of abortion because he believes that it would not actually solve anything. He believes that pregnant mothers seeking an abortion would then simply identify alternate, and potentially more dangerous solutions (the famous ‘back-alley abortions’). He suggests that instead it is through education, teaching values, fighting poverty, ensuring respect and dignity for people, and equality between the sexes, and support for pregnant mothers, that the root reasons for mothers normally seeking abortions are neutered. This is how to deal with abortion, Fr. Gravel suggests.

I have never doubted Fr. Gravel’s sincerity, and I don’t disagree with his desire to neuter the reasons those have for seeking an abortion (after all, Crisis Pregnancy Centres seek to do the same), and his concern about the safety of mothers who feel forced to experience an ‘illegal abortion’ is not one I wish to undermine, however, decriminalizing abortion, while it certainly would not wipe abortion out of existence, would significantly lessen it, and with a significantly smaller number of women seeking abortions, preventatives that Gravel suggests (education…) would have a realistic chance of providing potential mothers with real alternatives to abortion. Would this not be the better way to reduce the number of abortions, to combine legislative initiatives with social support?

We digress though because technically this Bill isn’t even about abortion (technically). It is about criminal offenses committed against a pregnant woman that come to bring harm against the unborn child. And yet in a vote of 279 Canadian parliamentarians, 132 (47%) including a Roman Catholic priest, oppose?

K.

"When a pregnant woman is assaulted or killed and her fetus is killed at the same time, I completely agree that it is an abominable crime…" Father Raymond Gravel, MP, December 13, 2007.

While the House wasn’t full on the day of the vote congratulations to New Democrat Peter Stoffer, and Liberals Ray Bonin, John Cannis, Raymond Chan, Roy Cullen, Sukh Dhaliwal, Albina Guarnieri, Charles Hubbard, Jim Karygiannis, Derek Lee, Lawrence MacAuley, Gurbax Mahli, John Maloney, Joe McGuire, John McKay, Dan McTeague, Shawn Murphy, Massimo Pacetti, Francis Scarpeleggia, Raymond Simard, Lloyd St. Amand, Paul Steckle, Paul Szabo, Robert Thibault, Alan Tonks, Roger Valley, Tom Wappel, and Borys Wrzesnewskyj, as well as all but four of the Conservatives who made the right decision. 

My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun;

Coral is far more red than her lips’ red;

If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;

If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.

I have seen roses demask’d, red and white,

But no such roses see I in her cheeks;

And in some perfuumes is there more delight

Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.

I love to hear her speak, yet well I know

That music hath a far more pleasing sound;

I grant I never saw a goddess go;

My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground:

And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare

As any she belied with false compare.

(William Shakespeare, Sonnet 130)

Thoughts?

K.

With my choice for the Republican nominee, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, long long gone (although he would be enjoying the status that Mike Huckabee is currently benefitting from, if only he would have scored just a few percentage points higher in the Iowa Straw Poll that we spoke of so long ago), I think it is time to follow who Sam Brownback has placed his support behind: Senator John McCain.

Like him or not, Senator McCain is, of all the major candidates (whether Republican or Democrat) a man who puts his principles ahead of his popularity. During the early stages of his candidacy he promoted an Immigration plan that incurred the very wrath of the people that would be voting in the Republican primaries. It almost killed his campaign, and the life he has recently found, I don’t think anyone imagined possible during those long summer months for him, yet (whether or not one accepts the failed Immigration plan) it is an example of him putting principle over politics, doing what he thinks is right, and to hell with everyone else. Perhaps he is not all the different from Dubya.

Most critical for me, is that John McCain is pro-life when it comes to abortion, and while abortion isn’t the only topic of concern during an election time, how a nation treats its most vulnerable should be central to every person’s voting conscience. While the unborn are not the only ones who are vulnerable, as much as the Democrats succeed in talking about other vulnerables (in my opinion usually only the ones that it is fashionable to speak about), the unborn receive no attention at all from them. (For those curious, in Abortion and Politics, both in the post and the comment section, I attempt to identify some reasons for the centrality of this issue).

McCain, is seen as a ‘maverick’ and enjoys somewhat of an anti-establishment reputation (an odd reputation for a 72 year old, and seasoned politician to have) and yet he is widely respected across party lines, and enjoys strong support from the registered Independents. All this will help him in the general election. While polls quickly change, at present he is the only Republican candidate that appears able to compete with the Democratic contenders (I suspect Giuliani would have no trouble keeping up, but in pinning his hopes on winning the Florida primary, it is entirely possible the Giuliani will not make it to the general election). 

McCain appeals to people because of his bluntness and honesty, and because he places his principles above his politics, and especially above his chances for political gain (like winning the Republican nomination). People across party lines can, and do, respect this (that is why there were rumors that John Kerry in 2004 wanted McCain as his running mate, despite coming from different parties, and that is why Al Gore’s running mate, Joseph Lieberman, who was turfed by the Democratic party for his support of the Iraq War, has endorsed McCain).

Whether it will be enough to help him overturn the deep voter cynicism regarding the Republican Party as a result of the Bush Administration remains to be seen, but Robert Novak has recently suggested that a Romney loss in Iowa could translate into a McCain win in New Hampshire, and ultimately in his winning the Republican nod. The first two came to be. And tonight is the Republican primary of South Carolina. No eventual Republican winner has ever lost in South Carolina, and with McCain competing with Huckabee at the top of the pack in South Carolina polls, there’s hope.

K.

Update: Sen. McCain takes South Carolina with 33% of the vote with 97% of the precincts reporting.

This week Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis informed the Press, that were Rudi Giuliani to approach him in an attempt to receive Communion, he would be refused it. Giuliani is one of five Catholic presidential candidates (with Democrats Dodd, Biden, Richardson and Kucinich) who support abortion rights, with only one Catholic (Senator Brownback) opposing.

Barack Obama, another Presidential contender, in his bestseller The Audacity of Hope describes being approached by an abortion-protestor who said, ‘Mr. Obama, I know you’re a Christian with a family of your own. So how can you support murdering babies?’

Obama writes:

I told him I understood his position but had to disagree with it. I explained my belief that few women made the decision to terminate a pregnancy casually; that any pregnant woman felt the full force of the moral issues involved when making that decision; that I feared a ban on abortion would force women to seek unsafe abortion, as they had once done in this country. I suggested that perhaps we could agree on way to reduce the number of women who felt the need to have abortions in the first place. 

‘I will pray for you,’ the protestor said. ‘I pray that you have a change of heart.’ Neither my mind nor my heart changed that day, nor did they in the days to come. But that night, before I went to bed, I said a prayer of my own–that I might extend the same presumption of good faith to others that had been extended to me (p. 197-98).

The reason the Church is against abortion (in the words of Pope Benedict, ‘today’s gravest evil’ is abortion) is because life is present in the womb. With what we know today about the development of the fetus in the womb, the Church rightly sees little difference between the abortion of a fetus one month away from birth, and the murder of a child one month after birth. We need also remember that arguments that seem to grey the issue of abortion, do not find another way of disposing that which is in the womb.

There are over one million abortions in the United States every year, and over one hundred thousand in Canada. Placing restrictions on abortion really won’t bring those same numbers into the back allies with coat hangers. They may bring some there, but we want to heed Obama’s warning about those who feel they have no other option, though not by granting full access to abortion, but rather by giving hope to those who feel hopeless, and by giving them choices, we may find that less and less would choose a back street. When those whom Obama alludes to those who are pregnant and can’t see a future for their child and who then abort, everyone around that person is guilty for having not given hope, and for allowing that person to believe that the task of raising a child is one that they would receive no help in. It does, after all, take a village to raise a child (Ha! Reference to Hillary and Barack in one paragraph!). To promote alternatives to abortion is what takes audacity, not satisfaction with the status quo.

Barack Obama was previously listed as “one of 10 people who could change the world.” I happen to believe that he is a good man and has a lot to offer the United States. I have the audacity to hope that he not only reverses his stand on abortion (though my realistic side says this is a pipedream) but also promotes realistic alternatives to abortion so “as to reduce the number of women who feel the need to have abortions in the first place” which he says he wants to do.

K.

In Ames, Iowa today, the Iowa Straw Poll will be held. Though several county polls have already shown the strength of particular Republican presidential candidates in particular areas, the Iowa Straw Poll draws voters from all across the state. The results are symbolic. They have no binding power, but they do show, in a very specific way, the organizational strength that each candidate has in the state, and previously lesser-known candidates, should they preform stronger than nationally expected, can have their campaigns reinvigorated, and their profiles enhanced, by the new found attention given to them by the party insiders, the media, and voters from other states.

Former NYC Mayor Rudi Giuliani is the clear front-runner to be the Republican candidate, but the undeclared former Law and Order actor Fred Thompson is still seen as alternative (though it is an alternative that I suspect will be passed over). Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and perhaps Arizonae Senator John McCain (both of whom have national profiles), should be seen in the second tier of candidates, if there is a three-fold division, followed by the third tier that consists of Kansas Senator Brownback, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Representative’s Hunter of California, Paul of Texas, and Tancredo of Colorado, as well as former Wisconsin Governor (who was also Dubya’s Health Secretary) Tommy Thompson.

Guiliani, McCain, and the undeclared Fred Thompson have bypassed the Poll, and because of this Mitt Romney will win the Poll. His victory will not be a major boost for him, as observers will rightly suggest that he only won because the stronger Giuliani bypassed the Poll.

Since Romney’s win this weekend is assumed, it is who runs second, and perhaps even third, that will be widely watched. The social conservative base of the Party (perhaps 65%) has not found comfort in any of the front-runners. Giuliani is not a social conservative, and voters have not (nor will they) warm to Romney. The social conservative base of the party (which is even stronger in Iowa), as a voting block, placed behind on of the second or third tier candidates, will be most interesting, and should a candidate emerge this weekend as the choice of the Iowa social conservatives, then this most definitely will have ramifications for future state polls.

The candidate that I have quietly been rooting for since last December is Senator Brownback. While the margin of error, if taken into account, could well put him into the statistical negatives, there is hope for him. Some of the candidates have no chance (Rep. Ron Paul, for example), and some are extremely well qualified but will likely be disappointed by the support placed in them (Tommy Thompson), but there is a serious possibility that Brownback (or perhaps Mike Huckabee) could emerge as the choice of the social conservative base of the Iowa Republican Party, and if one does that changes everything. Of the two of them, Brownback, who is hugely popular in the Midwest, has already topped a county poll, and a strong performance this weekend, will give him a better profile nationally, and give the conservative base an alternative to Guiliani, who despite his many strengths, differs in certain very important ways from this central base.

K.

UPDATE 8:35 PM (11/08/07)

Mitt Romney has won the Straw Poll garnering 31.5%. Mike Huckabee polled second (18.1%) with Sam Brownback (15.3%) coming in third.

You may have noticed that two weekends ago President Bush was greeted like a rock star in Albania. (The rock star comparison breaks down if Bono is seen as the star and Prime Minister Harper as the audience). Fushe Kruje is the name of the small community near the airport where the President stopped. The National Post reports that American flags were everywhere, and people wore cardboard Uncle Sam hats. The American President was awarded Albania’s highest honour (the Order of the Flag), and soon his face will appear on a new set of commemorative Albanian postage stamps. Bush clearly enjoyed the attention: He even kissed a woman on the cheek, posed for photographs and signed autographs.

Albania is 90% Muslim, and is the only majority Muslim country in Europe. The Post asks sarcastically: "Haven’t these people gotten the memo from Hamas and Hezbollah–the one about Mr. Bush being a warmongering satan out to kill Muslims?"

Perhaps they have and rejected the notion, since it was American initiatives (and not Hamas ones) that twice intervened to save Muslim populations in the 1990’s (first in Bosnia, then in Kosovo).

Albania also supported the not so recent invasion of Iraq, as did every other country that existed for decades under Soviet dominance (that to me is a powerful argument in favour of the invasion), and while some of this support must be seen as financially beneficial, just as many supported it on principle, recognizing that brutal dictators should not live comfortably simply because the world around them, that could do something, remains apathetic.

Some wars take a turn for the worse and its dishonest to suddenly oppose the War in Iraq simply because the coalition’s casualties flow past a number we originally anticipated. Twice external forces intervened to save European Muslim populations in the 1990’s that were being killed, and the invasion of Iraq, even if regime change wasn’t the most celebrated reason for promoting the war originally (Weapons of Mass Destruction, which are a threat to the world, tend to trump dictatorial cruelties, which is usually only a threat to a country’s people), has given a people a chance to live better. The Albanian’s see this.

K.

One of the dullest elections in recent memory winds up today with NDP Premier Gary Doer widely believed to be on the verge of winning his third straight majority. While Doer went into the campaign enjoying 80% approval rating, this was a winnable election for PC leader Hugh McFadyen. Unfortunately for him, he did not capitalize on what would have been a good strategy (by campaigning strongly on the need for a change in leadership or by calling into question the team around Doer who, once Doer-less, would produce disastrous results for the province), and McFadyen as a good strategist should have known this. (I am not suggesting such strategies represent truthful claims, but rather that politically they would have worked).

However, despite the fact that a late poll has Doer ahead by approximately 7 points (which is even better if you consider the higher concentration of seats in Winnipeg), low voter turnout could help the PC party in certain swing ridings, as certain NDP voters may not see the need to bother voting. In contrast to this lower voter turnout, the higher voter turnout that has already been noted in advanced polling (probably) bodes well for McFadden, whose party may pick up a few seats from the NDP but will still not reduce Doer to a minority. I could be wrong though. It’s certainly possible, but highly…

K.