≡ Menu

Dignity or spin?

The Gazette thinks that Svend Robinson, by admitting his error, was “dignified” and “courageous”.

Here’s what Terry and Ted have to say about that: bullshit. And I agree.

Robinson didn’t own up to the theft because he’s such a great person. He did it because it was most likely caught on security camera. The guy has been a politician for 25 years – you don’t think he knows a thing or two about spin?

His emotional, over-the-top news conference was self-serving claptrap – a way to control the story before it hit the media in a less-than-favourable way.

As for his medical problems, I would never belittle that, and I do hope he gets help working through it. But a lot of people go through worse every day, and by trying to make excuses, Svend is belittling the true courage of many of them. If you want to talk about “dignity” or “courage”, one needn’t travel far to find true examples of it. Michele is acting with enormous amounts dignity and courage. What she’s going through ain’t easy, and I wish her nothing but the best.

But Svend? Desipte what Damian or Burnside thinks, I’m sticking with my opinion: The way he acted wasn’t about dignity, or courage. It was just about knowledge that the shit was about to hit the fan, and that he’d better do something to redirect it.

{ 2 comments… add one }
  • DaninVan 04.16.04, 8:10 PM

    I don’t like the guy either BUT his constituents DO! He’s considered to be one of the hardest working (for his constituents) MPs in the house. He didn’t get re-elected for 25 years by brown nosing Chretien. (Hmmm…that may have been an unfortunate turn of phrase).
    I must say that the Drama Queen label fits. (oops, another U.T.o.P.)

  • Hanthala 04.19.04, 2:10 AM

    Unfortunately I have to agree with you on this one. I like a lot of what Sven has stood for in the past few years. But on his visit to Concordia (along with Libby Davies), I had the displeasure of meeting him. He’s a stuck up SOB. Plus, he tried like hell to avoid some of the BC First Nations people who had come to question him on his disrespect for, and lack of engagement in, their struggle, which happens to be in his constituency. And of course, who the hell does this egalitarian think he is trying to use his status to escape a criminal charge. He might as well join the Liberals or Conservatives, at least there, that sort of behaviour is acceptable, if not expected.

Leave a Comment