Note to Stephane Dion: Leaders don't act like children and indulge in fat jokes
Stephane Dion seems to have a real problem when it comes to exhibiting leadership qualities. The Conservatives have released ads that highlight Dion's problems in setting priorities.
Though I think that was effective, I'd like to point out that calling the other guy fat is not the sort of behaviour you want from your leader either.
Stephane Dion, your thin skin is showing. Or maybe it's your tin ear for humour.
Stephane Dion was interviewed by Hannah Bourdreau of Global National for the 6:30pm broadcast on January 30, 2007, discussing the official residence of the Leader of the Opposition, Stornaway. During the interview, the question of the Conservative attack ads that targeted Dion's record as environment minister came up, as Stephane Dion went on about how green he was going to be by upgrading the drafty windows:
BOUDREAU: Dion insists he won't stoop that low [and attack Stephen Harper personally].
DION: Not this negative ads, not my style.
BOUDREAU: But he is not above taking shots at his main opponent.
DION: We have changed the bedroom and the exercise room. My successor, maybe Mr. Harper will have the, the opportunity to lose his overweight now because we have this exercise room.
BOUDREAU: A not-so-subtle hint that Dion hopes to soon be leaving Stornaway to trade places with the Prime Minister. In Ottawa, this is Global National's Hannah Boudreau reporting.
A not-so-subtle hint about Stephen Harper's weight.
I know Dion was trying to be funny, but consider the exchange in full:
Michael Ignatieff: Dion, you didn't get the job done on the environment when you had the chance.
Stephane Dion: Don't criticize me. Setting priorities is hard.
Stephen Harper: But you want to be seen as a leader, and a leader has to set priorities and make tough choices.
Stephane Dion: Well...you're fat!
OK then. I guess that round goes to Stephen Harper.
Here is the video of the interview. Meanwhile, the "fat joke" story has made the papers.
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Comments
Absolutely right. Pointing out deficiencies in qualifications for the office of Prime Minister does NOT come under the heading of a personal attack. Making fun or light of a personal characteristic (their hairstyle, weight, or facial characteristics - I'm referring here to the 1993 PC ad that made fun of Chretien's face) is MOST DEFINITELY a personal attack. Although it is a fine line, it is a line that should not be crossed. Dion should be ashamed of himself and should apolotized. THAT would be some indication of leadership. Leaders are not afraid to say sorry.
Posted by: Brian in Calgary at January 31, 2007 01:21 PM
Is this on the same lines as Belinda Stronach (supposedly) being refered to as 'man's best friend'?
Or perhaps Collin Mayes' reply of 'good joke'!
Just Askin'!
Posted by: Simon at January 31, 2007 01:31 PM
How is quoting what someone said an attack add, Harper didn't say Dion did nothing on the environment iggy did and we should take him at his word because he's a big part of the team.
oops did I make another fat joke,
Posted by: DrWright at January 31, 2007 02:09 PM
Speaking of fat, Karlheinz Schreiber is one chubby fraudster. And thanks to Peter MacKay and Brian Mulroney, he's still free to eat all the damn schnitzel in Canada.
Posted by: Derek at January 31, 2007 02:22 PM
So, Stephane, THIS is your style - calling Harper fat? Pretty juvenile at best. Are you going to recommend Harper go on the South Beach Diet as well Was deciding that insulting your opponent a hard priority for you to set?
I know you're new at the whole leadership thing, but please have some conviction and only criticize policy, not waistlines.
Posted by: Amanda Van der Steen at January 31, 2007 03:04 PM
Have you heard Dion's favourite bedtime story entitled "Bam the dog"?
Posted by: Matt at January 31, 2007 03:15 PM
Imagine a stick calling someone else fat.
Dion and Iggy together are like two toothpicks....eww...LOL
anon#83
Posted by: anonymous at January 31, 2007 03:17 PM
Notice how in that Boudreau advertisment for the Liberal party, er I mean interview, that mr green Stephane left the door of his house wide open when he went outside to open the backdoor of his gas-guzzler van?
This was right after complaining about heat loss from the windows of that relic Stornoway and calling Harper fat...
Posted by: lang at January 31, 2007 03:36 PM
When Mackay said that about Stronach, I went on record (and against the prevailing sentiment in some quarters) to say that it was conduct unbecoming and for which an apology ought to have been offered. In any case, Mackay is not vying for the PM's office, nor did he make his comment moments after saying he did not indulge in that sort of thing.
Dion was both crude and hypocritical.
Posted by: Steve Janke at January 31, 2007 03:37 PM
As my aged grandmother used to say - "Consider the source". I guess that is the best Dion can do.
Posted by: Don't Want To at January 31, 2007 03:47 PM
I watched that exchange on Global but couldn't make out what Dion was saying.I'm not being mean or sarcastic I really have a hard time understanding what he says.
Posted by: LG at January 31, 2007 04:53 PM
Paying attention to any of this stuff is such silly partisan trype. We should be above it all. Just ignore it. Dion and Harper are both excellent - and very similar - men. Focus on their policies and pick the one that is closest to your view of how the world should be. The rest is just childishness.
Posted by: (Cicero in Pants) Cory MacDonald at January 31, 2007 04:56 PM
Well I for one am glad someone had the guts (no pun intended) to broach this weighty subject. Dion was merely speaking truth to power. The fact is Stephen Harper has gotten fat. It is anyone's guess how this happened. Perhaps it is a defense against being found attractive by other men (or anyone else). I only hope he takes the hint and gets on a treadmill at stornaway or anywhere else. Yo P.M. is so fat he should have to run for office.
Posted by: Lefty at January 31, 2007 05:11 PM
Harper should push that skinny little ratfucker into a corner in the House and piss on his loafers. (he could snap him in half like a twig)
Posted by: bigfatguy at January 31, 2007 06:01 PM
It appears to be a lame attempt at humour.
Posted by: ian at January 31, 2007 06:30 PM
Give me a break. Harper makes fun of his own weight in public. This is nowhere near the line.
Posted by: Jason Cherniak at January 31, 2007 06:37 PM
When I look at my gutline...and then I see Steve Harper's gutline, I think...now there's a guy, just like me. Uh...Sorry, Steve...no insult intended...
Posted by: Feldwebel Wolfenstool at January 31, 2007 06:46 PM
Well there you go, Dion has stooped beneath his own pledge to refrain from personal attacks.
It tells us Harper may have a bit around the middle but Dion is a mental midget with nothing of substance to debate.
And he aspires to lead the Libranos to victory and lead the country? God save Canada.
Posted by: Liz J at January 31, 2007 07:00 PM
I wish Harper would either leave his jacket done up or leave it open. Everytime he stands up he buttons it up in QP and it makes him look "fat".
It's the only thing the Opposition has to pick on.
Maybe the Tories should spring for a new suit he feels comfortable in? It's a small thing but it's important.
Posted by: Jack at January 31, 2007 07:13 PM
Jason Cherniak - Dion's comment is juvenile and shows how far removed he is from being a leader. The fact that Harper himself jokes about his weight does not mean that another person can comment about it - and, and, in a situation where the comment was meant to denigrate.
The CPC ads are critiques about Dion's self-alleged commitment to the environment. The ads make no personal comments. In retaliation, what did Dion do? Instead of dealing with the criticism, he chose to comment on the personal characteristic of Harper (his weight). Harper hasn't said a word about Dion's personal attributes (Dion's weight, his 'geekiness', his incomprehensible English).
So- Dion's comments about Harper were way, way out of line. They reveal a serious problem with Dion.
Posted by: ET at January 31, 2007 07:23 PM
I do not find French citizen Dion attractive, however, my aversion has nothing to do with his poundage or lack of - oh! I guess that would be Turdo KMs to the Liberanos - it has to do with his thoughts. I do not like the way he thinks; it is nasty, weak and whimpy IMO.
Some men are big even though slim; some men are small, even though fat - Stalin was small; Sir Winston Churchill was BIG - Lenin was small; President Bush is BIG - Canadian citizen Prime Minister Stephen Harper is BIG; French citizen Dion is tiny.
French citizen Dion is teeny weeny in his own mind; who are we to argue?
Posted by: Jema54 at January 31, 2007 07:32 PM
What do you expect ? Dion is/was nothing more than a Chretien Martin bumboy. And the Lazy Liberals put us through 8 months of a ridiculous campaign to end up with Dithers the Second. It just goes to show you that Liberals are morally, ethically and politically spent. Other than attacking Alberta, they have nothing to offer to the country.
What the Conservatives should really be asking is,did Dion do his compulsory army service as was required by all citizens of France ?
Posted by: Ed at January 31, 2007 08:36 PM
Jean-Dion mangling English is not a pretty sight. But watching the English media in this country fawning over this guy is even more nauseating.
Posted by: Real Conservative at January 31, 2007 08:48 PM
Is this on the same lines as Belinda Stronach (supposedly) being refered to as 'man's best friend'?
Yes it is. The main difference? The dog comment stayed in the media for weeks. This one won't get any play. Why? A Conservative calling someone a dog is WAAAAAAYYYYY worse than a Liberal calling a Conservative fat. Yeah right.
Posted by: ferrethouse at January 31, 2007 09:02 PM
Give me a break. Harper makes fun of his own weight in public.
There is a BIG difference (no pun intended) between self-depracating humour and calling someone ELSE fat. I would expect anyone but a partisan hack like yourself to appreciate that distinction.
Posted by: ferrethouse at January 31, 2007 09:19 PM
What amazes me is how these completely non-issues make it to the long-standing media.
Politicians are increasingly out of touch with reality, BUT not as far out of touch as the media experts who claim to know all and see all.
NWO
Posted by: NWO at January 31, 2007 09:24 PM
Harper can diet, Saline will still be a moron.
Posted by: Bernie at January 31, 2007 09:30 PM
Stephane Dion is a spoiled little brat.
Posted by: Mama at January 31, 2007 09:53 PM
Give ME a break, Jason Cherniak. "Harper makes fun of his own weight in public. This is nowhere near the line."
If I make fun of my own weight, that's my prerogative; self-deprecating humour shows some humility and a perspective on reality: "I know I'm not perfect. I know I should probably be watching what I eat, but I'm human. Hey, we're all human. We all have our our foibles."
For someone, however, OTHER THAN Stephen Harper to make fun of his weight is a completely different ball game. I'm surprised you can't discern the difference, Mr. Liberal Cheerleader.
Now put the shoe on the other foot: If Stephen Harper had made a similar comment about Stephane's long, sharp nose or beady little eyes, let's say, the MSM would immediately have called him to task, would have run the clip ad nauseum, and would have been delighted to make Stephen Harper look like a clumsy, insensitive oaf--which would be a good way to describe him IF he had ever made a comment about Mr. Dion's physical appearance, which he hasn't.
Now, do you understand the problem, JC?
Posted by: 'been around the block at January 31, 2007 10:03 PM
If you want to hear "fat" jokes, find an old (early 60's)giant cd, the 12 inch vinyl type, with the routines of the deadpan comedian Jackie Vernon. No one told 'em better. He had dozens of 'em.
Now that the discourse has been elevated to these lofty levels, can we expect someone to call Stephane "Four Eyes" soon?
Posted by: dmorris at January 31, 2007 10:17 PM
Wasn't it Harper who said in the last campaign that he could "take a punch"?
Well the neophytes that he leads seem to be very touchy.. Is it not blatant and juvenile political opportunism to use this innocuous little joke as a lever to suggest that Dion is not a competent leader as some Tory\Reformers are suggesting?
As a fellow fat guy I can say we are all a little sensitive to weight jokes but surely Harper is a tough enough guy that his sensibilites weren't so offended - or if they are maybe his strength as a leader needs to be questioned......see what I mean?
Posted by: FatFK at January 31, 2007 10:37 PM
Wasn't it Harper who said in the last campaign that he could "take a punch"?
Well the usually silenced minions that he leads seem to be very touchy by contrast... Is it not blatant and juvenile political opportunism to use this innocuous little joke as a lever to suggest that Dion is not a competent leader as some Tory\Reformers are suggesting?
As a fellow fat guy I can say we are all a little sensitive to weight jokes but surely Harper is a tough enough guy that his sensibilities weren't so offended - or if they were, maybe his strength as a leader needs to be questioned......see what I mean?
Posted by: FatFK at January 31, 2007 10:40 PM
Really folks, you should grow up. What are these childish exchanges all about? So, Dion made a crack about Harper's bulging waistline in the context of having installed exercise equipment at
Stornaway. Big deal! You should get out in the real world and listen to real people talk once in a while.
Posted by: cardinal47 at January 31, 2007 11:53 PM
FatFK says: "Harper is a tough enough guy that his sensibilites weren't so offended." -- This doesn't have to do with whether or not Harper can take it. It has to do with what such a mean spirited remark says about Dion. I agree -- this type of comment is right up there with making fun of someone's facial disfigurement -- and Dion should not be given a free ride on this by the media.
Posted by: Linda at February 1, 2007 12:18 AM
I can hear it now:
Harper -- "Stephane, buddy, you need to put on some weight."
Dion -- "That is unfair! You don't know what you speak about. Do you think it is easy to make priorities?!?"
Posted by: Proud Albertan at February 1, 2007 03:47 AM
So this means Dion is ectomorphic and Harper is endomorphic. But Jason's home-made attack ad is funny as all get out. Watching Deon do his schtick is almost as good.
Posted by: Mark-Alan Whittle at February 1, 2007 07:07 AM
Hey folks: Let's not expect to much from Stephanie; after all a few short months ago, he was classifued as a "second tier" candidate. Remember McKenna, Tobin & Manley? I've seen nothing from this "debutante", to warrant a change in classification
Posted by: Fibber McGee at February 1, 2007 08:32 AM
Seems that Liberal fat heads concern themselves a lot with weight.
Martin wasn't exactly the picture of fitness but his problems had nothing to do with how much he weighed.
Didn't he wave a copy of the South Beach diet around in QP on one occasion?
Posted by: Liz J at February 1, 2007 08:47 AM
I move to the states, and this is what Canadian politics has come to?
I'm not gonna call anyone a crybaby here. Nope. Takin' the high road on this one.
What's Harper think of it?
Seems like he can take the jab. Yeah, Harper's fat - so what? Dion can't tell a joke as far as he can pronounce the English language - who cares?
In other news . . . I see this Green Machine thing looks kinda cool. I'll pay my attention to that, now.
Posted by: Aaron at February 1, 2007 09:52 AM
Exercise is difficult for Harper because he has asthma. Still, he's no chubbier than a certain Liberal leadership candidate who used to be a professional athlete.
And you can't call Harper thin-skinned because we don't know his response (if any) to this yet. I doubt he will have one.
Posted by: Joan Tintor at February 1, 2007 10:08 AM
You know Dion maybe made a joke, but who knows what the man says? I resent this person trying to become Prime Minister of Canada for these reasons: He has been in Parliment for 10 years, he is a University Professor in a Bilingual province, and he has not had the courtesy to learn the English language. How broad can his mind be? Do you think he thinks he is a Donald Trump with the "fat thing"? This Goof ball should not be taken seriously
Posted by: Missy at February 1, 2007 10:39 AM
Remember when that chubby bitch Jason Kenny and the Tory war room called Paul Martin a pedophile in the 2004 election campaign? Then Stephen Harper refused to apologize for them.
Yeah, that was a real kneeslapper.
Posted by: Derek Raymaker at February 1, 2007 02:15 PM
DION DION PLEASE BE GONE
Posted by: Hoppy at February 1, 2007 07:25 PM
 
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