Amazing how the media works in this country. The PM's boy genius spin doctor, Scott Reid, is out saying that the "smear campaign" against Michaelle Jean is being orchestrated by "hardline separatists." Great line to try and delegitimize this very legitimate story. Now that line has been picked up directly by the Canadian Press, which starts its new wire story on this matter thusly:
OTTAWA — Hardline sovereigntists are continuing to hammer away at governor general designate Michaelle Jean and her husband Jean-Daniel Lafond, with further allegations that the couple has supported Quebec sovereignty.
In fact, it doesn't matter in the slightest that these allegations are being made by "hardline sovereignists." It's just that these particular "hardline sovereignists" are doing the work that a diligent reporter working this story might have discovered independently. (Note: Is there not a single reporter in any Ottawa bureau doing investigative research into this? Or does Andrew McIntosh's departure for the Sacramento Bee in March mean no one does that anymore?)
What the "hardline sovereignists" released is merely footage from a documentary made by Jean's husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, in which he and Mme. Jean are sitting at a table with FLQ terrorists toasting an independent Quebec, and in which Lanfond explicity says he wants an independent Quebec. Jean makes similar, but more fuzzy, comments.
More than a week ago I asked whether the Martin people had done the proper checks into Mme. Jean's background before offering her the G-G job. Incredibly, it now looks like they didn't. Let's hope this story doesn't die, because Canada deserves better.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 12:03 AM
