You can find the article here, but in case the link is taken down, here is he article as it appeard on the CBC News website.
Can you spell I-D-I-O-T ?? In this age of rampant political correctness, how did he think he could actually get away with saying something like that in public? What was the guy thinking? Twice in a week no less?
"I have a cousin who is gay". Somehow that comment doesn't strike me as the best defense against being called a homophobe, but there ya go.
I love stuff like this, but I sorta feel sorry for the guy - though it's sort of scary that such a bumbling idiot could have been elected in the first place. Doesn't say much for our electorate does it?
Last Updated: Monday, June 22, 2009 | 7:08 PM MT Comments470Recommend170
CBC News
Edmonton-Calder MLA Doug Elniski, seen in a photo posted on Facebook, took down his blog on Monday.
Edmonton-Calder Conservative MLA Doug Elniski apologized late Monday afternoon for controversial comments that he posted on his blog, and insisted that he is not sexist.
Elniski posted the text of a speech on June 13 that he said he gives to junior high school students at Grade 9 graduation ceremonies.
Part of the posting included advice to girls saying, "Ladies, always smile when you walk into a room, there is nothing a man wants less than a woman scowling because he thinks he is going to get s--t for something and has no idea what."
It continues, "Men are attracted to smiles, so smile, don't give me that 'treated equal' stuff. If you want Equal, it comes in little packages at Starbucks."
Elniski's blog was taken down on Monday afternoon.
The "advice" shows Elniski does not believe in women's equality, NDP MLA Rachel Notley said Monday.
"I'm also very concerned that this is the kind of message that may be being given at junior high schools that this particular MLA is visiting," she said. "It's hurtful and it sets the issue of women's equality back."
"What does it say about Alberta when a government MLA is telling young girls that their understanding of equality can be found in a diet sweetener at Starbucks?" Notley asked in a news release. "Equal is a woman's right, not a Starbucks sweetener."
MLAs need to be held accountable for the comments they make in public either verbally or on the web, she added.
MLA said he paraphrased comedian
Notley has asked Conservative Premier Ed Stelmach to make it clear that these kinds of sentiments are not the prevailing opinion of members of his caucus.
Reached late Monday afternoon, Elniski said he was apologetic to those who took offence to his blog: "That's why I took it down," he said.
The comment regarding Equal being a package to pick up at Starbucks was paraphrased from a comedian's routine, Elniski said. The comments have never been part of any speech he gives to students, but simply a preamble on his website, he explained.
"In hindsight, it was a stupid, inappropriate thing to put on the blog," he admitted. "It completely missed the message I was trying to achieve."
Elniski said the message was that men and women should be friendly and approachable in dealing with others.
2nd apology in week
The rookie MLA, who was first elected to the legislature last year, apologized over the weekend for a separate online thread he posted from his Twitter account during Edmonton's Pride Parade on June 13.
Among the tweets he posted were "I am surrounded by bumping and grinding lesbians," and "that guy has size-14 stilettos."
The messages offended some members of Edmonton's gay community. Murray Billet, a gay rights activist and a member of the Edmonton Police Commission, said the comments were embarrassing and "narrow-minded."
Elniski said on the weekend he's not insensitive to the gay community, adding that he has a cousin who is gay.
"The Pride Parade was an awful lot of fun and there were some people there that were really, really, really into what they do," he said Monday.
"I really honestly had no malice or anything with respect to what went on at that parade. Those guys get a rough ride all the time."
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6 comments:
I can't understand why it is with leadership like this to look up to the women in this country still aren't getting equal pay.
They must not be smiling enough.
And really saying the people at a pride parade get a "rough ride".
Methinks he may really not, be anti gay.
He is however pretty stupid. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
I wouldn't want to be stupidist.
Well, it IS Alberta. That's not really Canada, so I don't feel too ashamed. I always find it interesting how some people aren't able to sort through the stuff in their head and divide it into stuff that should stay in their head and stuff that's okay to let out of their head -- especially public figures. You'd think this would be the first lesson in Elected Official School
He's a politician LIl sister and a conservative one in Alberta to boot. What did you expect. If he had said that at my school's grad last Friday, my students would have probably booed him, or maybe not they're too polite, but he would have gotten an earful after that's for sure. Why is it the village idiots who get elected?
LOL I heard about that and thought "oh you idiot, get on with the times already who the fuck do you think you are?" but what made me really laugh out loud was the comment about people at gay pride getting a rough ride...
methinks there are a few at that parade who wouldn't mind getting a "rough ride" but that's another topic altogether... ;)
I can only cite Bugs Bunny and say: "What a maroon!"
At least that's Alberta's tax dollars at work, so that's a bit of a relief.
Bandobras - pretty stupid indeed.
XUP - yeah, I guess Alberta is a universe unto itself.
BB - I'm thinking they wouldn't have been polite.
UA - Ah yes, the rough ride...
Ian - Thank god for small favours eh?
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