Canada's Liberals sack candidate over anti-semitic remarks

[alexandre]

Canada's Liberals sack candidate over anti-Semitic remarks

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3605233,00.html


Party's Winnipeg candidate Lesley Hughes asked to step down after old penned article containing anti-Semitic views resurfaces. Hughes defends piece, says she is 'a lifelong friend and supporter of the Jewish community'
Ohad Pas and agencies

Canadian Liberal parliamentary candidate Lesley Hughes was asked to forfeit her place on the party's election roster last week, after being accused of making anti-Semitic remarks, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation has reported.

Hughes, who was a candidate for the party's Winnipeg roster in the central Canadian province of Manitoba, was admonished by Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion for an article she wrote six years ago, in which she suggested that the Israeli intelligence services warned the US administration of the coming September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, and that Israeli businesses were told to vacate the towers before the attack.

Tenacity

Hughes has defended her article, saying the article is "very clearly innocent of any kind of anti-Semitic feelings."

The recent news of Hughes' past article caused an uproar within the Jewish community in Canada, as many, including the Canadian branch of the B’nai B’rith association, have demanded she be replaced with a different candidate.

Canada's Liberal Party cannot risk alienating its Jewish voters, prompting party head Dion to release the following statement on Friday: "The Liberal party's commitment to tolerance and multiculturalism is paramount.

"I have reviewed the past comments of Lesley Hughes and it is clear they do not meet this standard. While I appreciate her apology, I cannot condone those sentiments in any way. I have therefore asked Ms. Hughes to step down as the Liberal party candidate in Kildonan-St. Paul," said his statement.

Hughes said in response that she would be running as an independent candidate: "I'm not a willing victim... the democratic process is a factor here. We need to consider how this is playing out in the community," she said.

Hughes later described herself as a "lifelong friend and supporter of the Jewish community in Winnipeg" and apologized for the "perception" that she is anti-Semitic.

The Canadian parliamentary elections are scheduled for October 14

[harjit]

She's likely just a left-wing 911 Truther and not anti-Semitic.

[Jake Featherston]

She's likely just a left-wing 911 Truther and not anti-Semitic.

Obviously. Its yet another example of the way the definition of "anti-Semitic" is being expanded to cover an ever-broader range of political opinion. I remember when Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) tried to say that it was racist to oppose tax increases, because some of that increased revenue would go to support Blacks. He didn't have much luck with that, but the Jews seem very effective at getting anti-Semitism expanded into covering anything that they don't like, which remotely touches upon Jewish people. I'm sure merely casting a vote in Parliament or Congress, in opposition to an increase in foreign aid to Israel, would be enough to get one declared an anti-Semite in an ever-increasing portion of the political-media spectrum.

[Errigal]

She's likely just a left-wing 911 Truther and not anti-Semitic.

Jewish community leaders get to decide what is anti-Semitic and what punishment is required. You need to accept this Harjit. You cannot not say "it's likely a mistake". Big Jew doesn't make mistakes.

In fact, I find your doubts about the Jewish leadership to be anti-Semitic. You should turn yourself in. Doubting Big Jew might make you a hater Harjit.


....
Hughes was informed of the decision to drop her by reporters in Winnipeg.

"It is completely stunning and unjust," Hughes said, reading a copy of the Liberal statement given to her by reporters. She said she had been campaigning all morning and had not been contacted by the party.

Hughes wrote in a March 2003 edition of a newsletter published by a committee of the Winnipeg Presbytery of the United Church of Canada that U.S., German, Russian and Israeli intelligence officials knew about the attacks in advance.

She apologized on Thursday but that didn't stop the Conservatives from demanding her resignation.

And this morning, Dion ducked questions whether she should step down, saying the party was in discussions with the Canadian Jewish Congress on the issue.

"We have a process ongoing with the Jewish congress, to see what she has said exactly, if our apology will be accepted . . .. I have full confidence in the Jewish congress," Dion said during a campaign stop in Toronto.

At the same time, he demanded that Conservative candidate Lee Richardson step down for comments he made linking immigrants and crime, raising questions whether Dion had a double standard.
...
http://www.thestar.com/FederalElection/article/506806

Big Jew knows all and sees all. Big Jew shall judge the living and the dead. All decisions of Big Jew are final.



Hughes to remain in the running
Despite being dropped by Liberals, Hughes plans to remain on ballot
By PAUL TURENNE, SUN MEDIA

Lesley Hughes' name will remain on the ballot in the upcoming federal election, even though she's in what she describes as a "no candidate's land."

Hughes had been running as a Liberal in Kildonan-St. Paul but was dropped by the party last week in response to a column she wrote years ago related to the World Trade Center attacks.

Hughes said this morning she intends to run in the election and in the event she wins she would sit as an independent. However, her Liberal lawn signs, flyers and other material must be returned to the party and she cannot legally identify herself as a Liberal, even though the party's name will remain alongside hers on the ballot.

Hughes said she is still unsure whether she is allowed to actively campaign as an individual, but is expecting clarification from Elections Canada later today.
http://www.winnipegsun.com/canadavotes/news/2008/10/02/6954726.html

She just doesn't get it does she?