Why Gloria Galloway Fails Miserably At Covering Ignatieff's "Cottin-Pickin" Gaffe

Conservative Senator Don Meredith takes issue with Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff’s use of the term “cotton pickin’ minute” and wants him to apologize. Not to worry. G&M journalist(?) Gloria Galloway is quick to write about it, all the while explaining that it isn't even a racist comment. She tries a number of explanations, even using Bugs Bunny to cover Iggy's gaffe. Here's a quote from Galloway's article:

The Liberal Leader’s quote was, at the very least, insensitive and, certainly offensive to many people, Mr. Meredith said. The reference, he said, hails back to a time when slavery was acceptable and an entire group of people were held to be lesser than others because of the colour of their skin.

But does it?


"According to American essayist Heather Michon, the phrase “cotton picking” arose in the American South in “sometime the 17th Century to describe a nuisance or something troublesome or unpleasant.” At that time, cotton was a garden crop tended by Southerners, black people and white people alike, Ms. Michon says."

I guess Galloway might need someone to educate her on black history and slavery in the southern U.S. Better yet, she might want to talk to Oprah Winfrey on the subject. I'm guessing if she did, or even took a smidgen of her time to look at the reference made by Ignatieff, instead of immediately hitting the keyboard trying to dismiss the gaffe as baseless, she would realize Ignatieff stepped in it and needs to apologize. Better yet, Galloway might want to head down to Blockbuster Video and rent the movie "The Cottin Pickin Truth".

So for you Gloria Galloway, a quick summary of the term Ignatieff referenced, and what memories or meaning it has to many people.


"The Cotton Pickin' Truth... Still On The Plantation" is a documentary about slavery in the United States of America and the harsh living conditions for many African Americans today as a direct result of being forced to live in involuntary servitude. The documentary features human rights activist - Dick Gregory, former slave until the 1960's - Mae Louise Miller, Presidential advisor and Harvard Law Professor - Charles Ogletree, Capitol Hill correspondent - George Wilson, Glendora, Mississippi Mayor - Johnny Thomas, and many more.

Producers of the film, Tobias "Profit" Smith and Timothy Smith, are a father and son film making duo who firmly believe in putting "the mission before the money." They set out to produce a documentary on former slave Mae Louise Miller in July of 2009. In the process of researching slavery in America, they uncovered people still living on present day plantations in Mississippi. They also discovered that the average living conditions for people in the Mississippi delta are far below subsistence level.

"The Cotton Pickin' Truth... Still On The Plantation" is a shocking and compelling documentary about slavery that calls for rewriting of American history as we know it.

Conservative War Room Asleep At The Switch Again...

Why is the Conservative communications so absolutely pathetic? Perhaps it's time to make changes in the personnel and ways the party responds to events. Conservative bloggers have done a better job than anyone working for the party in discussing in and out, including providing obvious examples on in and out done by the opposition parties. Now today, the media are inundating the airwaves, print media, and internet regarding the just released report from Kevin Page on the F-35 costs. Guys and gals, come on. The response has been brutal when answering questions in the House or on tv.

Need some prpoer talking points? Here are a few.

1. As pointed out by Alberta Aardvark, Page' cost estimate is based over 30 years, rather than the 20 of the government. Adding 1/3 to the number of years obviously would result in a much higher final number. Maybe mention that.

2. Liberal MP Domenic LeBlanc has repeatedly said the $30 billion is more than we spend on health care. If you watched Evan's show, you would see him mutter quickly under his breath in a year. Yet the Conservative MP doesn't call him on it, by, I don't know, maybe citing how much the government spends per year on health care and how much that would be over 30 years. (hint: it's a lot more than $30 billion)

3. The current jets in use by the armed forces also have daily, monthly, and yearly operating and maintenance costs. Has anyone pointed that out? Nope. Anyone mentioned the current costs of maintaining those aircraft. Uh Uh. Estimated what maintaining those current jets would cost over the next 30 years, and making the public aware? Nope. Apparently that doesn't make sense.

4. When you have Ignatieff and LeBlanc ranting on about cancelling the new jets if they get into power, start quoting what the Liberals said about buying those aircraft carriers Conservatives bought after the 2006 election. You know, the ones that came in so handy during the earthquake crisis in Haiti. Remind them of how the Canadian government had to go begging to other countries to get Canadian troops to Afghanistan.

5. Start mentioning quotes from different individuals in the Canadian Aircraft Industry, pointing out the number of jobs that will result from the purchase. Might want to calculate how much contracts for the F-35 would add to GDP. Not to mention those contracts would be a boon to Quebec, badly in need of said jobs.

6. Remind Canadians of the $500 million Chretien spent to cancel helicopters. Mention the deaths caused by the aging helicopters we are still using many years later. Pull a LeBlanc. Tell Canadians what that $500 million would have bought.

7. Liberals led by Ignatieff are claiming the jets cost $1000 for every man, women and child. Hey. That's true enough. It's also quite misleading. Dividing that $1000 per person over 30 years works out to $33.33 per person per year. And that's assuming no growth in our population for 30 years. That number would probly be somewhere around $20 per person per year over the 30 years. Whereas McGuinty's health tax takes $300+ directly out of your pocket if you live in Ontario.

8. Ask Ignatieff what the Liberals think is a fair cost for jets, and what that works out to per man, woman and child. Ask him wjhat he thinks reasonable maintenance costs are.

You want a majority next election? Better raise your game a little, no, make that a lot. I'm getting sick of seeing sand thrown in our faces.

Canadian Press Quotes NDP Candidate About National Childcare...

Yet seems to omit the fact she ran as a federal NDP candidate. She was also a supporter of David Miller and ran for Toronto council. When quoting someone in an article titled "Canadian economy threatened by lack of national childcare plan, group says", one would think the writer might show a little journalistic integrity and state that persons political affiliations and history of running both federally and municipally.

Oh wait. Canadian Press. Ditchburn, Bryden,etc., etc. Never mind.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/canada/breakingnews/canadian-economy-threatened-by-lack-of-national-childcare-plan-group-says-117492078.html

Hey, maybe someone from the Canadian Press can ask John Baird what he thinks of the National childcare plan. Oh no, wait. Even better. Don Burroughs.

Elections Canada And Liberal MP Mark Holland....

With all the media hoopla over the Conservative Party and Elections Canada, including another lead story on NNW, I have to ask. When one asks Elections Canada about certain candidates and possible violations and complaints filed, EC refuses to give out information citing privacy issues. And yet somehow actions taken by Elections Canada seem to still make there way into the media, albeit only involving Conservative party officials. Think about the media being tipped off to the search of the Conservative Party office.

So perhaps someone in the msm might be able to ask EC if any Liberal MP's or candidates have any current investigations ongoing for campaign transgressions. In the 2008 campaign complaints were filed against various candidates from all parties, which is quite normal.

So what is the status of any complaints that may have arose for my MP, Liberal Mark Holland? I'd like to know before the next campaign, whenever that may be. I'm not alleging Holland did anything to violate Elections Canada rules, nor do I have any proof he did. I heard there were some allegations (unproven as far as I know) made from the rival candidates campaign teams to Elections Canada. One would think that 2 1/2 years is sufficient time to investigate and make a decision on said rulings.

I'm sure those in the media will be quick to investigate. Over to you Kady.

Cancel The Corporate Tax Cuts, Buy Michael Ignatieff His Own Podium...

See previous post for the latest on the list of things to make Liberals outraged.

If Ignatieff Is Going To Give A Speech, And Only Kady O'Malley Knows About It....

Is he really going to talk? In the latest case of faux outrage with the Liberals and their msm buddies, apparently the Conservatives were supposed to have psychic powers to know that Ignatieff would be delivering remarks once the PM finished. Seems the Conservatives never knew, along with most of those in the media:

"Those at the event Friday tweeted about the the media being "kicked out" after the news conference while others say that reporters and organizers didn't know Ignatieff would be speaking.

Dimitri Soudas, Harper's spokesman, said it was "unclear" to those at the event that Ignatieff would be commenting. A Liberal advisory stated that Ignatieff would attend but didn't suggest he would be making remarks."

And who were the journalists tweeting? Well, CBC's Kady O'Malley was quick to tweet. Which begs the question. Liberals never issued a press release stating Ignatieff would speak. Conservatives were unaware as were apparently most of the media in the room. Yet Kady knew, and was one of a handful of journalists who refused to leave. So how did Kady know Ignatieff was going to speak?

NDP MP Pat Martin- Today's Hypocrite Of The Day....

Dipper blowhard Pat Martin up in arms on Power and Politics today screaming about Jason Kenney's parliamentary email being used for partisan purposes, which is definitely a no-no. Perhaps someone in the media might want to ask Martin his comments on this, or is it just against the rules when a Conservative does it ( kinda like the in-and-out bs).

H/T Alberta Aardvark

http://thealbertaardvark.blogspot.com/2011/02/linda-duncan-call-your-office.html