Comments on: Anti-Americanism May Cost Martin Election

By: M1EK

M1EK — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 16:42:42 +0000

And another correction: Canada didn't really fight in Vietnam, although some Canadians did.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada_and_the_Vietnam_War

In fact, this forms another parallel between Vietnam and this Iraq war - the only two non-trivial cases where our friends up north weren't willing to go along with us, and it turns out they might have been smarter than we were.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:33:49 +0000

DCL: "Canada and the US fought side by side since the First World War."

I was pretty sure that was the case but was too lazy to look it up, so just went the safe route.

By: Roger

Roger — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 14:29:36 +0000

"To distract from the scandal, Martin chose to make anti-Americanism a hallmark of his campaign."

As soon as I read that, I thought, "Canadian Bacon" (the movie) in reverse?

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 13:12:32 +0000

Just a slight correction. Canada and the US fought side by side since the First World War. The Canadians were in the trenches long before the first Americans arrived. Look up Vimy Ridge.

By: Richard Gardner

Richard Gardner — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 07:27:24 +0000

As I type this, I'm watching Conservative Leader Stephen Harper on CBC News "Your Turn," a Q&A program. (My cable carries CBC being near the Canadian border and I came across this cable surfing.) Five minutes of watching shows this isn't the USA, with 5 priorities:
Reducing taxes
Accountability
Child Care
Crime
Establish standard wait times for health care

The stress I get out of his answers is that the Canadian Federal government needs to focus on doing its job properly, and not expanding into the the Provinces' responsibilities. A good half the discussion is about corruption and accountability (including MPs swapping parties after elections). Considerable talk about being relevant to all Canadians, including French-speaking and Native Americans.

So based on what I'm watching on Canadian TV, there are other issues than anti-Americanism at the forefront of the Canadian election.

By: ron

ron — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 03:24:41 +0000

I agree, to some degree, with BKjfk. The America bashing tactic is the final mark of desperation when a western political party has run out of ideas, not a make or break issue. The US equivalent is the Democrats meme - "Bush is Eeeevil" or for the Republicans, the ever popular flag burning amendment. It may be a worthwhile tactic in a very close race, when you need to fire up the moron contingent of your base and get out their vote, but the more intelligent voter will see the tactic for what it is. In Martin's case, his party's culture of corruption has finally overwhelmed the Canadian voters patience. The "anti-americanism" is merely a sideshow.

By: BKjfk

BKjfk — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 01:56:53 +0000

Martin's so-called "anti-americanism" is marginal to his position in the polls. The corruption scandals are what's driving him down. That article is typical American-centrism. Not every country cares about the US and politicians' reactions to the US with regard to domestic elections.

By: NoisyRoom.net

NoisyRoom.net — Fri, 20 Jan 2006 00:56:00 +0000

Anti-Americanism May Cost Martin Election

Courtesy of Outside the Beltway:
By James Joyner
David Sax argues that Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin has overestimated the appeal of anti-Americanism–and it may cost him re-election.
Heading into an election campaign at the start of De...