I just received this press release from the Gerard Kennedy campaign and I assume it will be up on his website soon (UPDATE: Globe article here). I suspect that trying to make some money off Harper’s “principled stand” is bound to rub some people the wrong way because the implication is certainly that you should donate to the Tories because they support Israel.
Kennedy Condemns Immoral Conservative Fundrasing Tactics
Toronto, ON — Liberal leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy today condemned the Conservative Party of Canada for using the recent conflict in the Middle East as a partisan fundraising tool in reaction to an appeal sent out last night from Conservative Party executive director Michael Donison.
“We have people dying and families being displaced on both sides of this conflict and meanwhile, Stephen Harper is allowing his foreign policy to be used as a partisan fundraising tool. This crosses the line.”
Under the heading, Finally – A Leader who’s willing to stand up and take a tough stand, Conservative Party Executive Director Michael Donison emailed party supporters asking for “a special contribution now of $150 or $75” in response to Harper’s “principled stand on the new turmoil in the Mid-East”.
Kennedy called on the Prime Minister to denounce the email and state clearly that Canada’s foreign policy is not a partisan political tool to be wielded crassly for the sake of Conservative Party gain.
Here’s the original e-mail:
—————————————————————
Subject: Finally – A Leader who’s willing to stand up and take a tough stand
Date: Thu, 27 Jul 2006 18:20:16 -0700
From: Conservative Fund Canada
Reply-To: donate@conservative.ca
En Francais In English
During the last federal election, Stephen Harper promised to give Canada a principled foreign policy that advances and defends the Canadian values of freedom, democracy and the rule of law. As Prime Minister, he is delivering.
Dear,
Our Conservative Prime Minister, Stephen Harper was amongst the first of the world’s leaders to take a principled stand on the new turmoil in the Mid-East. Since then, leaders the world over have risen to stand with Stephen Harper. Our nation has every reason to be proud.
Admit it: Moral clarity feels a lot better than the endless equivocation we found with our previous government.
But not everyone is grateful for the strong, clear direction of Canada’s new government and this includes in particular the opposition parties who are only interested in maneuvering for party advantage.
And so, I must turn to you to ask you for your support. The fact is: the opposition is not thrilled with the growing strength of the Harper government and the resurgence of national pride Canadians are showing in their country. You need only look at their ceaseless machinations to see that they are doing everything in their power to bring this government down..
We must be ready for an election now because the opposition is blindly determined to drag the country to the polls, on any pretext they can contrive.
As a matter of public record, everyone knows the Conservative Party of Canada managed the last election without adding a dime to the Party’s debt. You made that possible, it’s just that simple. And if we intend to win the next election and win a majority – we need to continue moving heaven and Earth to be ready.
When an election comes, we will have just days to mount a campaign and ensure the continuance of the most dynamic and forward-looking Canadian government in recent memory. The time to lay the foundation is right now and we continue to need your help if this effort is to succeed.
It is a wonderful thing to be reminded of the power of ideals, principles in which we believe and on which we will act. We have had far too many years of vacillation on ideals and fundamental values about which the majority of Canadians are clear and certain.
Unsurprisingly, Don Martin got it just right in his July 20th National Post column, speaking of Prime Minister Harper, he wrote: ” He’s proven himself bold, imaginative and unpredictable. This is something refreshing on the Canadian political landscape – a leader willing to take risks to do what’s right in the face of certain criticism. It stands him in stark and favourable contrast to the hesitant poll-driven Martin reign.”
What did surprise me, though, were the private comments of a Liberal acquaintance, among them the following: ” I have never been so proud to be Canadian. I’m thrilled that we’re investing in our military. I’m thrilled that we’re staying to finish a job in Afghanistan, and I’m ecstatic that we are finally taking a position on issues of global importance like what is happening in the Middle East. Please let Stephen Harper know that I’ve never been more proud of being a Canadian.”
Ultimately, not everything is about party politics. Canadians know what’s right and wrong and it is a great satisfaction even if one may not politically admit it – to have a government that has the courage to tell the plain truth.
This government is worth the fight; help us make sure we win the next election whenever it comes. We can expect an avalanche of Liberal fury to get back into power and a flood of media support for their effort. Help us keep the focus on principle and character and Canada’s return to its place in the world.
I ask you to make a special contribution now of $150 or $75 to the Party today and help us be prepared to defend the decisive leadership of Stephen Harper and our New Conservative government.
With my sincere thanks,
Michael D. Donison
Executive Director, Conservative Party of Canada
P.S. – Your contribution is tax deductible. To find out the specific tax advantage of your contribution, we’ve provided a simple tax calculator. For more specific information on the rules governing personal contributions to political parties, click here.
If you prefer that I not contact you again by email, please click here.
Authorized by Conservative Fund Canada, Chief Agent of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Delayed Hat Tip: Public Eye Online and a BCer in Toronto had this one yesterday