Stephanie Rubec Is In Pain

Yesterday on John Gormley Live Sun Media reporter Stephanie Rubec shared her perception on Paul Martin’s ability to “connect” with people vs a sense that Harper is uncomfortable with one-on-one interactions. (She also spoke on behalf of “urban women” who fear the “secret agenda” of Conservatives who “might hold referendums” on capital punishment and abortion. Oh! The horrors of direct democracy!)
Admittedly, much of the discussion was directed by Gormley (who still seems somewhat unaware of how both the provincial NDP and Liberals seed these phrases into the political discussion through push polling – we really could use more Politics 101 from our pundits), but quite apart from the actual content of the discussion, it’s worth noting how simple turns of phrase provide clues to a reporter’s political leanings (and I’m not talking about her statement that the former Reform party had “extreme” right wing policies).
What caught my attention was her repeated use, without so much as a particle of sarcasm, of variations of the phrase “feels your pain” to draw a distinction between the two leaders – as in, Stephen Harper doesn’t send off vibes that he “feels your pain”, while Paul Martin does.
In evoking a phrase that evolved from the Clinton presidency and citing it as a political asset for Paul Martin, Stephanie Rubek broadcast a little about her own political sympathies – I don’t know many conservatives who look to their politicians to emulate Clinton at his most maudlin.
I’m not suggesting there’s anything untoward with the balance or fairness of her reporting – I’m not familiar enough with her writing to say either way. It was just one of those small moments when a reporter reveals more about themselves than they realize.

25 Replies to “Stephanie Rubec Is In Pain”

  1. Kate,
    Good questions. But dont be too quick dismiss the kernal of truth in this. Look at Bush. Like you he picked up that Clinton was maudlin, remember he wouldnt attend the return of those pilots who the Chinese military downed and held. Saying rightfully that he didnt want to get in the way.
    As well, Bush keeps a lot of his “comforting the bereaved” private. Witness what was not shown of the 9/11 stuff.
    BUT he also knows his fathers presidency was harmed by the perception that he didnt care. A perception driven by an inability and unwilingness to show emotion…different time different man.
    Look, this is not the sole reason to vote for someone or against someone…If you want someone who emotes on cue then vote Mr Layton and bring a box of kleenex.
    People want…and need..to be led by people who they trust….part of trust is empathy. Harper has it he isnt a machine. His current image is a charicature and the good news is thats easily defeated.
    Honestly he should just be himself

  2. Clinton Body Count
    THE CLINTON BODY-COUNT [parthenocarpy.org]; Arkancide – Clinton’s Death List.
    All of these people have been connected with the Clintons in some form or …
    http://www.zpub.com/un/un-bc-body.html – 16k
    Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
    Librano$ Body Count being enumerated/written on the Internet as we post.
    Rubek is on the list.
    Do you feel her pain?

  3. Andrew Coyne has his latest article up on Harper’s leadership — and it’s excellent of course.
    As for Rubec, perhaps she’s of the Paul Wells school of journalism, where if one is writing in Canada, and wishes to have a future, one must tow the Fiberal line and plant the seeds of doubt about the opposition with the usual sound bite phrases. I’m just annoyed that Gormley’s falling for it.

  4. Guest column in today’s Ottawa Citizen by Frazier Moore of AP. It includes this phrase:
    “….journalist Bill Moyers. A longtime presence on PBS, he is the favourite whipping boy for conservatives who insist public broadcasting has a leftward bias.”
    Same thing. The most irrritating part is their absolute refusal to admit their bias.

  5. I am fascinated by the number of women who fall for Bubba Clinton’s crap when by his actions he views women as nothing more than deposit only sperm banks.

  6. “deposit only sperm banks” LOL good one.
    So what do all these left-leaning reporters do if, dare I say it, there were an election and the Libs were tossed? Bumble around for months stepping on themselves as they insult the ruling party? Immediately backtrack?
    That could be fun to watch.

  7. “tow the line”? That might be what a tugboat does, but the correct spelling when applied to maintaining discipline is “toe the line”. CanRev, you’re not the only one I’ve seen making this mistake in the past few days. 🙂

  8. *everybody* who is barking at Harper should read Coyne’s column and digest it before saying another word.

  9. Fears of referenda on abortion or capital punishment? Why do the MSM never point out that even if the CPC won a substantial majority government they would be unable to do anything “radical” or “frightening” legislatively. The Liberal-dominated Senate would have a veto over any such legislation. One can hardly see that Senate forbearing to exercise it. In other words, such a CPC government would not have control over Canada’s Parliament–only the House of Commons. Parliament consists of House, Senate and Crown (GG) and each must concur in all legislation. People need to be reminded of that fact.
    Thus the “scary” parts of “angry” Harper’s “hidden agenda” could not be implemented. Maybe most reporters are simply too ignorant of our political system to know that; if they do know, yet choose not to report that simple reality, then indeed they are biased and fear-mongering conciously.
    Mark
    Ottawa

  10. Kakola….. tow the line or toe the line? if you think about it, both are usable. You could say that towing the line is sort of hauling the party line, while toe the line is not going past the party line. One being a line in the sand while the other being a line of B.S.
    This is what we in B.C. are subjected to…
    In Thursdays Vancouver Province a Heather MacIvour, a political scientist at the University of Windsor was quoted “{Harper}gets up in front of the cameras and he puts on that smug little smirk-which I think is the most irritating smirk this side of George W. Bush-and you know he’s about to say something really nasty. You just kind of brace yourself for it, you watch and you go: ‘Oh, stephen. Ouch!”
    At the end of the article she is quoted as saying Harper is “dead meat” unless his inner circle drastically changes tack.

  11. “I feel your pain” is used universally by American commentators to mock Clintonism.
    Only a Canadian could be such a boob as to use that phrase seriously.

  12. National Post this day includes:
    “MP suspects political arson” by Anne Dawson, [title} Chief Political Correspondent, [holy smoke]:
    “blah, blah, blah, Ms. Bulte, …blah, blah, blag,… the disaster…May 20…She is convinced the cause of the fire was arson and that the culprit is a political “enemy” (sic) who opposes her Liberal (sic) values.” “She said she has long been an advocate for same-sex marriage… blah, blah, blah,….The Toronto MP believes her home was being watched before the fire was set and fears that someone may be stalking her… blah, blah…”
    “Regardless, Ms. Bulte, parliamentary secretary to the minister of Canadian Heritage, said she has no intention of being scared off politics.”
    Now, wonder who she thinks set the fire? The Conservatives? Stephen Harper? Paranoia?
    Meanwhile, the Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ have a fund already set up for your donations to the Ms. Bulte Relief Fund. Cash only in brown envelopes. Tax deductible receipts available – fill in your own amount.
    This story by Chief blahblagblag Anne Dawson.
    Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
    “ANTI-ABORTIONISTS PROTEST AS MORGENTALER HONOURED”
    by Melissa Leong
    Included is: “In 1988, he won a land-mark Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized abortion in Canada.”
    “He won”: a Hero, a Canadian idol; an abortionist; some hero; an abortionist; a hero. Not.
    So, where is the rest of the story, Melissa Leong? Is that ruling still the law of the land?
    Are you appealing to the credulous? Are you skewing your story; it is a story, isn’t it? Tell us if abortion is legal in Canada.
    Librano$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

  13. Whatever one’s views on Clinton he was a very popular president; his favourability numbers were extremely high especially in the latter half of his last term. His popularity stems somewhat from the perception that he did “feel the people’s pain,” that is, he was perceived as empathetic. This isn’t a question so much of ideology because i would argue that GWB has the same sense of empathy, he is seen to listen and to be one of the people. Can we say the same for Harper? I think not.

  14. Stephanie Rubec should be required to watch the video of Martin’s visit to Sri Lanka and then tell us how Martin “feels your pain”. That she can’t recognize Martin for the phoney that he is tells me she is in the wrong profession.

  15. Great post Kate. I heard the interview and thought much the same. The stuff about Martin stopping on his way to the stage to listen to an older gentlemans problem, “looking him in the eye”. What a load of garbage. Perhaps Ms. Rubec didn’t see the Van Dusen CBC piece the night before? PM was filmed “feeling the pain” of a couple being hounded by RevCan while on the hustings. He blatantly lied to the couple saying “Ralph would handle it”.
    Is this what Ms. Rubec wants? An incompetent phony who tells people what they want to hear? A good liar?
    Mind you, I understand where she takes her direction. Greg Weston on today’s Politics roundtable could not have been more transparent.

  16. I also heard the interview with Stephanie Rubec and was appalled at the grandiose statements she was making. Anyone who thinks that Paul Martin or any Liberal feels any pain is a complete fool. And Bill Clinton only felt a persons pain when it was the female he was planning to hit on! That’s right, lets all hope Stephen Harper becomes more like Bill Clinton. Are Canadians sitting on their intellect or what?
    Stephanie is exactly the type of person Paul Martin hopes all voters emulate; someone who is politically ignorant and easily manipulated. As P.T. Barnum said “There is a sucker born every minute!”

  17. Reason #359 for Stephen Harper to ignore the “experts” in MSM/Image Makers:
    Bernie Gauthier, Delta Media on Countdown…..
    …..(Harper) has to be careful. If he’s going to be out shooting a football around…..”
    You so hip Bernie. Me want vote your candidate. Stephen Harper dumb. Pass me beer.

  18. “I’m not suggesting there’s anything untoward with the balance or fairness of her reporting – I’m not familiar enough with her writing to say either way. It was just one of those small moments when a reporter reveals more about themselves than they realize.”
    Perfect irony. Nice self-revelation, Kate

  19. No matter what Mr Harper needs to stand by who and what he is. No matter how he attempts to present himself the media and the Liberal spinmasters will make hay. As I have said in previous comments on other posts – the Liberals know no other way! Constant story telling makes life very compilcated. Sooner or later it catches up to you. The media will truly struggle when the conservatives win! I may actually start reading the papers again!!!!!

  20. I see in today’s Nat Post Warren Kinsella is giving Harper advice, including the following statement: “…Tories should talk up ideas – the things Conservatives are for, and not just the things they are against (e.g., gay marriage)”.
    I’ve asked the question before, and I ask it again. Given the open hostility of certain media types like Craig Oliver and Peter Mansbridge towards Harper – how can Harper “stick to the message” when constantly being asked “why are you so scary?” or “will your party ban abortions?”. If Harper tries to ignore the question and get back to talking about important matters like taxes, military, health care – the media will smell fear and ask “why are you avoiding the question?”. The guy can’t win either way.

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