Mr. Rae and Ms. Chow's plea for action recalled Pierre Trudeau and David Lewis's leadership at crucial moments of the Vietnam War. Then, as now, it took several years to build support and acceptance for American military deserters, as well as draft resisters. Beginning in the mid-1960s, war resisters who came to Canada before being drafted ("dodgers") readily received landed immigrant status. But until 1969, military resisters ("deserters") were treated differently -- because they left the armed forces and faced charges of desertion.
Allan MacEachen, as minister of immigration, initially directed immigration officers to refuse U.S. military resisters entry as landed immigrants. He reasoned that when such resisters left their units, they broke moral and legal contractual obligations to serve in their nation's armed forces.
Political and religious leaders ultimately persuaded Mr. MacEachen that distinctions between military and draft resisters were irrelevant for Canadian purposes. References to "dodgers" and "deserters" had no legal meaning in Canada. The Immigration Act made no reference of any kind to military service as grounds for prohibiting entry to Canada.
Canadians at the time questioned the Vietnam War, and Mr. Glass echoed those sentiments when he said last week "what I saw in Iraq convinced me that the war is illegal and immoral. I could not in good conscience continue to take part in it."
The above is from John Hagan's "Let's provide a haven for those who chose not to fight in Iraq" (Globe & Mail) and Vic noted it. Vic: "All the damange done by Tom Hayden, Amy Goodman and all the rest of the know nothing American 'leaders' may finally be coming to a close! For two years now, TCI has been the lone voice taking on Hayden, et al.'s half-baked nonsense of how Canada only took in war resisters who resisted the draft. Hagan's article is a sure sign that it's changed. The lies these American 'leaders' have repeated constantly HAVE been hurting today's war resisters and I think the government ordering Corey Glass deported if he does not leave [Canada] by June 12th was the wake up call because I hear people on the radio bringing up the same points now about how we [Canada] took in those refusing to be drafted and those refusing to continue serving. To play you for a moment, 'Canada granting war resisters asylum during Vietnam was NEVER about the draft!' :D"
The nonsesne that has been repeated over and over that Canada only welcomed "draft dodgers" is hurting today's US war resisters and that nonsense has largely come from the pot-soaked minds of middle-aged men who didn't do a damn thing to help war resisters during Vietnam (wouldn't garner enough press write ups!). They've installed themselves as 'leaders' of the 'peace' movement and have hurt every US war resister in Canada attempting to seek safe harbor. You know the 'peace' movement, don't you? Their slogan is "Vote Democratic And The War Ends!" That was their slogan in 2004 and 2006 as well as today. They are not part of a peace movement, they're part of the Get Out The Vote 'movement.' And at some point, the repulsion over these liars is going to reach huge levels (it's already reaching that on campuses) and they're going to have to 'restyle' themselves as most did post-Vietnam. (Back then, they were called "sell outs.")
For the third day in a row, we'll note Canada's Liberal Party issue "Liberals Call on Government to Show Compassion for War Resisters."
The Liberal Opposition is calling on the Conservative government to support a motion that would allow conscientious objectors to apply for permanent resident status in Canada, said Liberal Citizenship and Immigration Critic Maurizio Bevilacqua.
"Five years ago, the Liberal government made a principled decision not to participate in a war that wasn't sanctioned by the United Nations (U.N.). We should not now punish individuals and their families for making the same decision based on their personal principles," said Mr. Bevilacqua.
The motion, which was passed by the Immigration Commmittee and is being debated in the House today, calls on the government to allow conscientious objectors, and their immediate family members, who have refused or left military service related to a war not sanctioned by the U.N. and who do not have a criminal record to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada. The motion also stipulates that the government should not proceed with any action agains any war resister who currently faces deportation.
"The government has a choice: it is not compelled to force these people to go back to a country where they may face prosecution under military law, or may be permanently branded for making a principled decision," said Mr. Bevilacqua.
"Stephen Harper has indicated that, had he been Prime Minister in 2003, Canada would have participated in the Iraq war. I hope that the fact that Mr. Harper got it wrong at the time will not prevent him from showing compassion for those who made the right decision."
May 21st Corey Glass was informed he had to leave Canada by June 12th or he would be deported. Somehow that's never been news to Amy Goodman who continues to inform her audience (dwindling, yes) of that development (while still wanting to pretend she gives a damn about ending the illegal war or about war resisters).
New topic. What about the book! What about the book! You're ignoring the book! Visitors e-mailing the public account can't stop screaming about that. Katie Couric and Todd S. Purdum were noted in yesterday's snapshot regarding the book because those two reporters were offering genuine evaluations of the media coverage leading up to the illegal war. My feelings on the book were noted here previously and it's nothing we would ever promote at this site. For those still not getting it, you can refer to Warren P. Strobel and Jonahtan Landay's "Memo to Scott McClellan: Here's what happened" (McClatchy Newspapers):
Until now, we've resisted the temptation to post on former White House press secretary Scott McClellan's new book, which accuses the Bush White House of launching a propaganda campaign to sell the war in Iraq.
Why? It's not news. At least not to some of us who've covered the story from the start.
(Click here, here and here to get just a taste of what we mean).
Second, we find it a wee bit preposterous -- and we are being diplomatic here -- that a man who slavishly - no, robotically! -- defended President Bush's policies in Iraq and elsewhere is trying to "set the record straight" (and sell a few books) five years and more after the invasion, with U.S. troops still bravely fighting and dying to stabilize that country.
But the responses to McClellan from the Bush administration and media bigwigs, history-bending as they are, compel us to jump in. As we like to say around here, it's truth to power time, not just for the politicians but also for some folks in our own business.
Bush loyalists have responded in three ways:
1) Scott, how could you? This conveniently ignores the issue of what Bush did or didn't know and do about intelligence on Iraq, converting the story line into that of wounded leader and treasonous former aide. (That canard was the sole focus of a CBS news radio report Wednesday night).
2) Invading Iraq was the right thing to do. Okay. When do Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, et al *not* say that? Dog bites man.
3) It was an intelligence failure. The CIA gave us bad dope on WMD and, well, they're the experts. More on this in a second.
The news media have been, if anything, even more craven than the administration has been in defending its failure to investigate Bush's case for war in Iraq before the war.
Memo to Scott McClellan: Here's what happened
Until now, we've resisted the temptation to post on former White House press secretary Scott McClellan's new book, which accuses the Bush White House of launching a propaganda campaign to sell the war in Iraq.
Why? It's not news. At least not to some of us who've covered the story from the start.
(Click here, here and here to get just a taste of what we mean).
Second, we find it a wee bit preposterous -- and we are being diplomatic here -- that a man who slavishly - no, robotically! -- defended President Bush's policies in Iraq and elsewhere is trying to "set the record straight" (and sell a few books) five years and more after the invasion, with U.S. troops still bravely fighting and dying to stabilize that country.
But the responses to McClellan from the Bush administration and media bigwigs, history-bending as they are, compel us to jump in. As we like to say around here, it's truth to power time, not just for the politicians but also for some folks in our own business.
Bush loyalists have responded in three ways:
1) Scott, how could you? This conveniently ignores the issue of what Bush did or didn't know and do about intelligence on Iraq, converting the story line into that of wounded leader and treasonous former aide. (That canard was the sole focus of a CBS news radio report Wednesday night).
2) Invading Iraq was the right thing to do. Okay. When do Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, et al *not* say that? Dog bites man.
3) It was an intelligence failure. The CIA gave us bad dope on WMD and, well, they're the experts. More on this in a second.
The news media have been, if anything, even more craven than the administration has been in defending its failure to investigate Bush's case for war in Iraq before the war.
That is from a blog post at Nukes & Spooks (McClatchy's DC blog) and that's only the opening. Ava and I aren't sure what we're grabbing for TV tomorrow but if we grab one program it will mean noting the press reaction to the book. But promoting the book? I'm not interested. As Landay and Strobel point out, "It's not news." (If you're still not grasping it, click here for Polly and my comments.)
For actual news, you can refer to Claire Shipman, Susan Rucci and Jonann Brady's "Hey Hill: Love Your Hair, Now Iron My Shirt; Did Hillary Clinton Get Torpedoed by Sexist Media Coverage?" (ABC News). Miguel notes Howard Wolfson's "HUBdate: Getting Out the Vote in Puerto Rico" (HillaryClinton.com):
Getting Out the Vote in Puerto Rico: Today's New York Daily News reports that "Hillary Clinton returned to sun-swept Puerto Rico late Friday....'Make sure your voice is heard and your votes count,' Clinton told about 2,000 enthusiastic supporters...I am no stranger or newcomer to the concerns of Puerto Rico.'...A Univision-El Vocero poll this week showed Clinton with a considerable lead over Obama in the fight for the island's 55 pledged delegates." Read more.
Today On The Trail: Hillary hosts a "Solutions for Puerto Rico's Families" event in Caguas, Puerto Rico, where she also launches her campaign caravan through the following other cities: Cataño, Bayamon, Guaynabo, Trujillo Alto, Carolina, Rio Piedras, and San Juan.
Automatic Delegate Watch: Louisiana automatic delegate Buddy Leach announced his support for Hillary Clinton today. Leach is a former Congressman and former member of the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee.
Florida and Michigan Matter: The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee meets today regarding the allocation of the pledged delegates from Florida and Michigan. "Millions of voters in Florida and Michigan have waited patiently for more than four months to know whether their votes will count and whether they will play a meaningful role in determining who will be the Democratic nominee," [general counsel, Lyn] Utrecht writes. "It is time to resolve this pivotal matter." Read more.
In Case You Missed It: South Dakota's Argus Leader endorsed Hillary yesterday, calling her the "Top Candidate for Dems...Clinton is the strongest Democratic candidate for South Dakota. Her mastery of complex policy detail is broad and deep, and her experience as a senator and former first lady matches that…Her resilience and determination never should be questioned. She has met or overcome every challenge or roadblock in her way, and there have been many." Read more.
On Tap: Tomorrow, Sunday, June 1, Hillary will host an election night celebration in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
And Laura notes Maggie Williams' "South Dakota and Montana" (HillaryClinton.com):
With the South Dakota and Montana primaries just three days away, we are working hard turning out every last vote for Hillary. And that means we need you to get on the phones and talk to voters.
Hillary has no better surrogate than you. When you talk to voters about why you support our campaign, they're much more likely to get out and vote for Hillary. We're counting on your help in South Dakota and Montana -- because every vote helps us win the nomination!
Click here to start making calls for Hillary.
Thank you so much for everything you've put into this campaign.
Laura is calling and has been calling. If you have the time, she urges you to do so.
Since yesterday morning, the following community websites have updated:
Rebecca's Sex and Politics and Screeds and Attitude;
Cedric's Cedric's Big Mix;
Kat's Kat's Korner;
Betty's Thomas Friedman is a Great Man;
Mike's Mikey Likes It!;
Elaine's Like Maria Said Paz;
Wally's The Daily Jot;
Trina's Trina's Kitchen;
Ruth's Ruth's Report;
and Marcia's SICKOFITRADLZ
And all listed above are in Puerto Rico (as am I) trying to get out the vote. Ignore Nancy Pelosi (most Democrats in the House do), this race isn't over.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
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sex and politics and screeds and attitude
trinas kitchen
the daily jot
cedrics big mix
mikey likes it
thomas friedman is a great man
ruths report
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