The blame game
Obama's comments get Canada in hot water
March 12, 2008
Jessie Legaree
Presidential hopeful Barack Obama was caught in campaign rhetoric. Obama threatened to pull the United States out of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) established in 1993, unless it is renegotiated. However, an aide to Obama allegedly told Canadian officials he was not in fact serious about disrupting the trade deal. Despite this contradiction, it is the Canadian Conservatives that have come under the gun.
Evidence of Obama’s double-speak surfaced in a leaked memo that cautioned Canada that the message about NAFTA should be viewed as “more about political positioning than a clear articulation of policy plans.” It is understandable that Senator Obama would be annoyed with the leak of his contradiction if it was unsupported, but now there is written evidence. The truth is theoretically a good thing. The memo may or may not be completely accurate, but at least the allegation is founded. Accusations from the U.S. have been sparked, stating that the government of Canada was interfering in the presidential nomination campaign. This has shifted focus from Obama to Harper.
Questions of who is responsible for the memo leak have dominated Question Period on Parliament Hill since the issue surfaced. But why is that important? How is it that Obama lies and Harper is in trouble? The accusation has merit. Perhaps the Conservative Party felt uncomfortable allowing the American people, in particular Ohioans, to be lied to. They are not interfering with the campaigning so much as exposing Obama’s campaign. It’s like going to your parents after you’ve hit your sibling and your sibling hits back. Obama has been caught bluffing and yet the issue is the leak? Does that really make sense?
If I were American, I would want to know the truth from the presidential candidates. I would be thankful that secrets were not kept from me. While Obama has a vision and seems to be of solid character, misleading people is clearly not the way to go. The Conservatives have learned the painful way that the truth will evidently not set you free. Perhaps this issue has been weighing on the conscience of the writer of the memo since the meeting with Obama’s people. The claim that Harper is undercutting a minority candidate is preposterous. The real issue is whether Obama has integrity.
It seems strong supporters of Obama are dealing with this question by avoiding it and blaming the Conservatives. Since when do Americans really care about the Canadian opinion on their politics? I certainly do not hold much value in the opinion of American politicians of Harper. They are not Canadian just as we are not American. Canadians, including Harper, do not face the same issues and have not grown up in the US to know what is best for America. In order to work together this issue needs to be taken for what it is: the leakage of the truth. Yes, it may have an effect on public opinion of Obama, but that is the consequence of his actions. Obama is still a strong contender for the Democrats and shouldn’t be judged on one issue; however, his supporters need to accept what he did and that it’s not the government of Canada’s fault. Don’t shoot the messenger because you don’t like the message.
Now you go...
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