Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Steve Maher and The Chronicle Should Release the Entire Tape

With the media unwilling to lower the rhetoric of the tape with Lisa Raitt, I find it odd that no one in the media has demanded the entire tapes contents be released. This would give a better and more balanced view of what the conversation and the context of Raitt's comments were.

In a recording that lasted well over 5 hours in length, Steve Maher and the Chronicle have released roughly one minute of that entire taped conversation. Compounding matters, we now have the media further editing those comments to try and make the story juicier. When talking about the health minister, Raitt remarked that "she is so capable'. Yet CTV and CBC apparently, either intentionally or unintentionally removed that portion when showing Raitt's comments to viewers. It seems rather odd to cut a portion of that discussion of the health minister out of the reporting, particularly in light of the fact that at that point Raitt was actually praising the minister and her talents.

Now we hear reports that Maher and the Chronicle might release another small snippet of the conversation where Raitt discusses Jim Prentice. Now I imagine Maher and the Chronicle heard the entire conversation on that tape before trying too release it's comments, so why not release it all at once? Is it perhaps because of the fact the Chronicle, like many media outlets in the country, are seeing readership numbers drop because people have had enough of National Enquirer type tabloid coverage of real news? It appears Maher is going to try and milk this for more than Sylvester Stallone did with all those Rocky sequels.

So here is the challenge to Maher and the Chronicle. Have at it, release the entire tape in it's entirety, and let Raitt be judged on the entire conversation, not just the parts where you think you can inflict the most damage to her reputation.

By the way Mr. Maher, I'm sure at no time in your career have you made disparaging remarks about any of your co-workers, nor made light of a serious situation involving others with humor, or with a flippant comment about someone who is suffering or has experienced a personal loss.

Because if you had, that would make you human like the rest of us.

25 comments:

wilson said...

So the low life reporter gets to do the drip drip drip torture treatment.
This is right up there with 'Harper is fat'.
He will never be respected as a serious journalist again, but if that's his goal,
have at 'er Maher,
the National Enquirer is always looking for sleazy reporters to fill their pages.

Joanne (True Blue) said...

Lisa Raitt apologized publicly and to the Health Minister. I'm sure she has already apologized in advance to Jim Prentice.

Maher's story is going to lose steam.

paulsstuff said...

I just caught her apology Joanne. That was very touching and should be the end of the story. Question Period should be interesting.

Anonymous said...

I think we're all missing the much bigger story Here. Is it any coincidence that Raitt's former aide's father is an Ignatieff fundraiser? And did Raitt even know she was being recorded (for 5! hours)? This whole thing smells of a setup to me.
Step 1)Secretly get the "goods" on your boss.
Step 2) Do something that embarrasses your boss and get fired for it. (Let's see where her aide lands)

Step 3) The final coup de grace - Send the tape to a media friend.

Raitt should have done what is s.o.p. when governments change - expunge the old staffr and bring in your own partisans. It seems like Raitt's biggest sin is being too kind hearted to toast her aide.

Anonymous said...

Raitt should resign then no one would care about the atpe. That's what happened with Gurmant Grewal (the pride of conservative manhood).

Joanne (True Blue) said...

So far it's the Bloc and the NDP that are still on this issue.

The Liberals have laid off on the first round of questions - to their credit.

Anonymous said...

Don't you think the ethical thing to do would be to simply return the tape recorder to the office of the Minister of Natural Resources who own it?

We know a staffer, Jasmine MacDonnell, er, "lost" it...

I was always taught to return found items to the rightful owner.

How about Steve Mahar?

paulsstuff said...

I agree Joanne. Raitt did the right thing with the apology, and Liberals deserve credit for just sticking with the isotope issue.

paulsstuff said...

That's what I would have done anon. Maher knew it was McdOnnells recorder.

wilson said...

I thought in privacy law the 'legal' use of a tape, was when at least one of the parties, knew the tape is being made.
This is not the case, says MacDonnell.

Did Maher exploit some gray area in the law, like abandonment?

paulsstuff said...

Wilson, I think the law varies by province. I'm not sure what B.C. law is regarding taping a conversation.

wilson said...

And the leaky tape strikes again.
Raitt and her twit talk about a 'leak' that may have come from her department:

http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9012123.html

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I think we should stop giving links to that sleazy CH.

Bec said...

Now that I have seen prime time coverage of this guy, what is his agenda?

It is obvious, that he has an ax to grind and if I were a bettin' girl, it looks personal.

Actually they are all acting like a bunch of scorned suitors.

This is the best they can do to get some tantalizing info from the govt because they screwed up, out of the gate.

Just my rant because this guy is a case, as in head!

Joanne (True Blue) said...

BTW, did it ever come out who the 'female reporter' was who found the tape in the Parliament washroom but only recognized Stephen Maher's voice on it and not Lisa Raitt's even though he was apparently interviewing her? How would her name never come up in that interview?

And how would a female reporter not be able to recognize her voice?

paulsstuff said...

I agree Joanne. lately I just reference the source and copy and paste the section I'm referencing. I think CH is like Kinsella, looking at that count meter every ten seconds and stroking their ego at the same time.

Anonymous said...

Ms Raitt has given a heartfelt apology and I admire her courage under fire. I think the Minister should release the tape and let the reporter squirm on the alter of public opinion. Cheers, Fern St Albert

Joanne (True Blue) said...

I think the Minister should release the tape and let the reporter squirm on the alter of public opinion.

That would be nice, but the CH has the Government's property at the moment.

maryT said...

How and when did the reporters voice get on the tape if it was made last January and was done accidentally. And it was supposed to be a five hour talk between Lisa and her aide.
If part of the tape is an interview, then it was not made by accident. Did the reporter set the aide up to get more info.
If the liberals think this is worth an election, adding 300+ millions to the deficit, plus stopping all stimulus spending, go for it.

Anonymous said...

Dear Joanne (True Blue): I was under the impression that the recording had been returned. Thanks for the info. Is Steve Maher holding the recording hostage? What's the ransom price? Does the tape have Stockholm Syndrome yet? When will Mr. Maher post pictures of the tape, bound and gagged - palid and frightened agaist a Halifax Chronicle banner? We need PROOF of LIFE. Cheers Fern StAlbert

Anonymous said...

the reporter Steve Maher is a supporter of GARTH TURNER
the reporter Steve Maher is a friend of JASMINE

fh

Anonymous said...

Question period
"Ralph Goodale (Wascana, Lib.):
Mr Speaker, the minister cannot give the numbers and clearly she cannot tell the truth either."
I would have to agree with Mr. Tom Lukiwski "she cannot tell the truth either" is calling Minister Lisa Raitt a liar and this is not parliamentary language. I hope the Liberal Speaker of the House of Commons rules Fairly and asks for an apology.
however the proper and correct procedure would be for Ralph Goodale to rise on his own and apologize

fh

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