Way to go TVO....

Seems to me, she said "I think Canadians are stupid..."

JCL

Welcome to the world of big time politics Elizabeth. Better get used to the idea of watching every word you say as they will certainly come back to bite you in the ass one day. I'm not a lawyer, but I would think showing a person saying something is not a basis for them to sue you for slander.

As far as TVO announcing they would not persue the lawsuit, in the words of Gilda Radner's Emily Litella "Never mind".

Whether or not May used the one word pronoun 'I' or 'They' is no longer the point. What IS the point is her reaction to the tape. It was, in one word - totalitarian.

Her Director of Communications, Bennett, in totally illiterate English, wrote to a blog, threatening to sue them for slander/libel unless they removed the tape.

First, his letter was a threat. He had no legal grounds or right to sue. The tape of May wasn't slanderous or libelous. It was a repeat of a tape of her public appearance on a TV show.

As such, no-one way saying anything to slander May. She was the one speaking!

Second, his threat to sue was a violation of Section 2b of the Charter. We citizens have the right to freedom of speech - and putting up a copy of May's appearance on a TV show and asking about her opinion of Canadians - is a legitimate form of free speech.

Yet, May and her Director of Communications were threatening the blogs - with invalid threats of lawsuits - and attempting to stop free speech

Then, this same Director of Communications, claimed that the tapes were 'doctored'. That in itself is slanderous against Stephen Taylor who put the tape up. It wasn't doctored.

Did May stop her illiterate Director of Communications from his illegal threats? Nope.
Did she apologize for slandering Taylor? Nope.
Did she apologize for trying to deprive us of our right to free speech? Nope.

I guess she does think that Canadians are stupid.

If any of you people repeat what Ellie May said, Barney Fife will arrest you.

So, does Prime Minister Stephen Harper or a spokesman for the CPC get invited onto one of CTV's or CBC's shows the night after a gaffe to be able to put in perspective some of the nonsense being said about him and his party?

'Not gonna happen.

Of course, TVO's given Eliza May a perfect "out" for her gaffe. Maybe she wasn't in fundamental agreement about Canadians being stupid but, rather, in fundamental agreement with her questioner's comment.

If I were her, I'd definitely say I was in fundamental agreement with her questioner. It's a perfect solution to a sticky conundrum. And then I'd quietly thank TVO for giving me this alternative.

And as for Stephen Taylor being described as a "partisan Conservative blogger," give me a break. Never have I seen a blogger, newscaster, or commenator described in the media as a "partisan" Liberal blogger.

These guys are shameless shills and shysters for the left. Even Steve Paikin.

Watch out, Ghost of Ed, I'm going to sue you. And Jed Clampett is considering legal action against you. Not to mention Willllllbur ;o)

Did May stop her illiterate Director of Communications from his illegal threats? Nope.
Did she apologize for slandering Taylor? Nope.
Did she apologize for trying to deprive us of our right to free speech? Nope.

Good questions, ET. I hope that Steve Paikin asks them of Missy May and doesn't let her slip under the wire.

The crux of the matter here is what her response and that of her Director of Communication was to the video.

She's got a lot of 'splaining to do.

If you play it (the original video on TVO, where you see her say it, not just the still images) a few times over, you will clearly hear she says "THEY think Canadians are stupid", and with that, she has a valid point about slander and libel since the remake leads people to believe she said it without the They think.....

"These guys are shameless shills and shysters for the left. Even Steve Paikin."

Now Now, we have to be a little sensitive to the media - they are slowly going into a fetal position and rocking back and forth over the daily polling.

The best interpretation would be E.May engaged mouth before brain and parsed phrases together in an unfortuneate sequence. Not exactly what you want in leader.

The worst interpretation is that she thinks Canadians are stupid. But I would argue only about 25-35% (or whatever level would vote for the Liberals) of Canadians are daft. So she may not be totally incorrect.

Steve B.

I heard her say:

"They (meaning the politicians) think Canadians are stupid, and I fundementally agree."

I did not hear her say "with you" (the questioner) or "with them" (the politicians)

Steve B.

Are you a defamation laywer? Just askin'

I think Steve Paikin should first not allow the motormouth to say anything on camera until they have played a slowed down version of the tape and the viewers can determine exactly what she uttered. Then he should ask if she said "I", yes or no. She likely doesn't really know what she said but faced with this choice, she can use the misspoke herself and move on or continue digging. It just goes to show that the usual TV debate advice to "grab the floor and spew until you have nothing left" only works some of the time for some speakers.

If Elizabeth May's Greentard party wins a single seat in this election, I'm going to fly the Red Ensign upside down. What a pack of communists!

Stupid ones too. You're supposed to wait until you're -in- power before you start rounding up your enemies.

I've listened to it several times...Steven Taylor's and TVO's clip.

She clearly says "I" not "they"..

I don't see how "I" and "they" could be confused, they don't sound similar.

BTW, when she's says it, there are definite snicker in the background.

The whole "I", "They" thing is irrelavent. If it is "I", then she stated she thinks Canadians are stupid. If it is "They", then she is agreeing with "They think Canadians are stupid."

The "stupid" part of the quote is not the issue. The issue is the "and I fundamentally agree"

Lizzie said she agreed with 'that assessment'. The interviewer had asked a question, not offered an assessment, so I am sure her agreement was with the assessment that Canadians are stupid that Lizzie had attributed to Canadian politicians. Ergo, Lizzie also thinks Canadians are stupid.

It sounds to me like she said 'I think', but I think that was a mis-statement and she meant to say 'I think they think Canadians are stupid, and I fundamentally agree with that assessment' but stumbled over her words a bit in the heat of the moment.

In any case, I think Lizzie May is rather stupid, and I fundamentally agree with my assessment:)

Slightly off topic, but any word on Dion's hijacking of a private business website to support his carbon tax?

"Good questions, ET. I hope that Steve Paikin asks them of Missy May and doesn't let her slip under the wire."

Bwhahahahaha...thanks for the laugh, batb.He won't let her slip under the wire.How can he,when it is around his own neck?
Please tell me you don't still belive the MSM isn't biased?

"She's got a lot of 'splaining to do."batb

Not really, she doesn't represent anyone:)

I don't think this is a big deal, haven't all of us said the same thing at least once?

We must remember that we are all "unconvinced criminals". As far as I can tell, none of us are qualified to run for public office.

"It needs to be explained, but I think Canadians are smart enough to understand the idea" John Bennett

Even in his apology, he still not sure Canadians are smart enough...

Indian Homez: "As far as I can tell, none of us are qualified to run for public office."

Speak for yourself! I think Stephen Harper is eminently qualified, otherwise I wouldn't vote for him.

Look, Eliza May is running for public office, and she'd love it if she was elected PM so, yes, she does have a lot of 'splaining to do. Does she think Canadians are stupid?

But, even more important, why did her Director of Communications, John Bennett, threaten to sue leftdog for putting a video up with a segment of TVO's The Agenda in which Miss May was a participant?

What's good for Miss May's gander obviously, in her twisted way of thinking, isn't good for our gander. She needs to rethink her modus operandi.

"What's good for Miss May's gander obviously, in her twisted way of thinking, isn't good for our gander. She needs to rethink her modus operandi. "

No batb....her MO is working quite well,with help from the MSM.
Call this callous,racist,sexist,whatever.You DO NOT debate a rabid dog,you shoot it!Which is what the wimpy conservatives are not doing.They are digging their own holes,and they forgot the lipstick.

remember mathematically "50% of Canadians ARE dumber than average"

I would like to thank you all on behalf of Lizzy May , as she has not had so much attention since she won the Miss Goofy award at her highschool prom!!

Does Bessy May wear lipstick?

Justthinkin: "No batb....her MO is working quite well,with help from the MSM."

Well, yes. For the time being. They're paying attention to her and she's getting to bleat and blather before their cameras.

But, I suspect that the more Canadians see and hear from her, the more turned off they're going to become. I don't need more time to be totally turned off by her and her bullying, entitled tactics. She's been around for a long time and the showing of the Green Party is pretty dismal.

But, the MSM is going to give her camera time--why, I don't know, except that she's a partisan on their side of the political spectrum and a woman, for heaven's sake--and let's see what she does with it. I'm heartened.

BTW, how have the CPC been wimpy? You think they shouldn't have "let" May into the debates? Quite possibly, you're right. But they would have been totally crucified by the fembo wimps in the MSM. They're plugging in "the doctrine of reserve," which I think, in the long run, will serve them well.

Oh great now Harper has to lower himself another notch below where Jack and Jills were going to take him before in this debate, this unkempt motormouth with the grey matter of a liberal will hijack this debate with the great failure to launch, climate crisis. This pooch is quite possibly the most annoying idiot since Rosie Odumbell. If PMSH's numbers keep going up at the present rate, the CBC will be grovelling at his feet instead of the constant smears we are presently subjected to, can't wait to see Peter Pan and Kneel Mcdonald sucking up to him, on their knees where they belong. Yes Lizzy Canadians are smart, to bad your arn't the same, not enough oxygen at birth I'm sure.

leftdogs right to free expression is most important here. Whether or not you agree with their opinion, we must all agree to support that right. What is most alarming is that the Director of Communications of a party running candidates in a national election does not appear to agree with this vital freedom, and leads me to ask were the Greens to form government would this attitude prevail?

batb

I think you misunderstood me. Probably because I didn't proof, and obviously can't spell.

We must remember that we are all "unconvicted criminals". As far as I can tell, none of us are qualified to run for public office.

I was being sarcastic(not successfully). I was simply pointing out that today, telling a joke in a funny accent 10 years ago, is enough for someone to call for a public figures resignation. I'd be surprised if S.Harper hasn't laughed at a blond joke, newfi jokes or white guy jokes told by Chris Rock.

Liberal-Green coalition coming soon

After the televised leaders debate on October 2nd, Dion and May will announce a strategic alliance to stop the Harper Conservatives. May will be telling her Green party members they must work to convince Canadians to vote strategically for the Liberal candidate, even though it means sacrificing the Green party for a good cause.

The Green party 8-9% of the popular vote will probably split but some of the votes will go Liberal. Such an alliance will give hesitant Liberal voters hope and energize them to also turn up to vote in spite of Dion's failed leadership.

After the alliance is announced, Dion and May will invite the NDP voters to follow suit and strategically vote Liberal to stop Harper. Together they could be successful at holding Harper to a minority if not forming their own minority govt.

Dion will make a strong appeal to NDP voters, and ask them for their vote if they want to save Canada from a possible Harper majority govt. Layton will be effectively neutered by Dion and Layton will not have enough time to respond to such a Liberal attack on his voting base.

If Layton wants to save his ass from such a political attack, he will have to convince Canadians that the Liberals are not deserving of support and also launch a strong counter-attack with ads trashing the Liberals over a 7 day period leading up to the election. By that time it may be too little too late.

A Liberal-Green coalition will mobilize the undecided vote and revitalize the Liberal vote. Harper and Layton will have to launch a coordinated attack against Dion and May, otherwise the NDP could well be wiped out and Harper left with another minority govt or even back to the opposition benches.

No, I'm no lawyer, but when the quote is "They think Canadians are stupid ..." and then gets headlined with I would think those blogs are borderline libelous.

Ms. May, Mr. Dion and 'the "spadina 'stache" are big enough jokes as they stand, and comments like "not one acre of tarsands have been reclaimed" show their ineptness and ignorance on so many important issues that they don't need drive-by smears to paint them in their true colors.