Let's not go insane over blogs...
Yet another blogger has resigned over so-called inappropriate comments.
The campaign manager for Conservative Party member Peter Goldring stepped down Friday, after writing a blog posting that called for Alberta's independence.Is this going to be part of a larger trend - politicians will now have staffs that spend their time going through blogs and internet forums for any comment that can get someone in trouble.
Gordon Stamp, who posts under the pseudonym "Psycho," wrote on Free Dominion: "I honestly see no benefit for Alberta to remain part of Canada. Seriously, there is absolutely nothing that Canada as a nation offers me."
He goes on to compare Alberta to "a battered wife who has not yet realized that being divorced is better than staying married." While he allows that the statement could be politically incorrect, he writes "that's how I feel."
Peter Goldring issued a statement about the post Friday.
"This evening I learned about comments posted on the Internet by Mr. Gordon Stamp, who has been serving as manager of my campaign in Edmonton East," Goldring said.
"I was deeply disturbed by these comments, which in no way reflect my views or those of the Conservative Party. To the contrary, I have spent my entire adult life fighting for a united Canada, and, in fact, was drawn into public service to fight for Canada as a united federation."
I come down on the side of free speech here. Some bloggers have tried to tie various people to the rantings of Liberal MIke Klander...but only by loose association. We're going down a dangerous road here.
posted by GayandRight @ 9:48 PM
4 Comments:
Free speech, sure, and Mr Stamp is still allowed to say whatever he wishes.
The problem with free speech is that you have to be willing to live with the consequences of what you say, good or bad.
I just don't want to lose an election because of it ...
I agree, this is a dangerous road. While I can understand the Conservative Party distancing themselves from this kind of comment, I can also understand how many Albertans must feel.
There aren't too many people who haven't said something rashly in anger or frustration -- and with the proliferation of forums and blogs, often people forget that verbal conversations have a sort of context and inflection which text can't supply.
Like the Klander thing . . . apparently I was wrong, but when I first saw the Chow/Chow thing, I didn't think he was making a racial slur, I thought he was calling her a b***h.
We don't want a climate where people are afraid to express opinions. People might say that this Stamp guy has exposed his true colours and he doesn't deserve to work for the party if he holds this opinion -- but when people say this sort of thing it reminds me of a family fight -- sometimes things get heated and someone will say 'I'm outta here!' They're words. They help you vent, but at the end of the day most people want to find a way to make things work.
I think Stamp was venting. It bothers me that people are willing to pounce thinking they've found the other side's Achilles heal.
Like I Said to Stephen Taylor when the Chow-Chow thing Broke..
Oh... Blogging Tories want to make an issue of Offensive Blogging comments do they?
Wow... That's Certainly Going to be a WINNER for them!
And believe me folks Mr *Psycho* is only the beginning.
We've been waiting and working on this for *months*
Thanks for letting the Klander thing become some an issue so that it opened the door!
Much appreciated!
Fred - run and hide you have been infected by the dreaded Meagan virus!
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