Warren “Harry Potter Is not a documentary*” Kinsella sees dark spirits at work on the interweb;
“Viral campaign” is a phrase coined, approximately a decade ago, by New York City artist and designer Tim Nolan. A pioneer of what he called “guerrilla art,” Nolan used the Internet as a platform to spread stories, which spread like a computer virus. Nolan promoted his artistic installations using the Web’s social networks — e-mail, Web sites and so on — and created a rhetorical artistic “buzz.” Before long, the marketers were in on the act, promoting brand awareness; naturally, the political consultants weren’t far behind. In the U.S. 2006 mid-term election, we all read many news features about politicians making use of You Tube or the online “encyclopedia” called Wikipedia to promote themselves and denigrate their opponents. That is viral marketing: indirect, insidious, sometimes injurious.
The Stephane Dion dual citizenship story first appeared immediately after the conclusion of the Liberal leadership convention. My friend Ezra Levant, a long-time conservative (and Conservative) activist, revealed the “news.” Wrote he in the Calgary Sun: “When it comes to making decisions about the war on terror, and Canada’s role in Afghanistan, will Dion be unduly influenced by France, a country that has taken up the role of lawyer and arms dealer for every terrorist state in the world, even defending Saddam Hussein until the eve of his overthrow?”
It was vintage Ezra — lots of partisan bombast and hyperbole, but essentially harmless. In a sane world, it would have remained there, but then — inexplicably, abruptly[1]– another friend, Pierre Bourque, devoted the main page of his much-read Bourque Newswatch to Levant’s story. Day after day, Bourque ridiculed Dion, even on one occasion asking respondents to participate in an easily manipulated (and therefore completely unscientific) online “poll.” Conservative bloggers — most of whom couldn’t be counted upon to recite the lyrics of O Canada without professional help — then took up the refrain, regurgitating the anti- Dion talking points with glee.
At that point, the so-called mainstream media had no option but to cover the story, and force Dion to respond.
“Day after day” … until the “mainstream media had no option”.
Like so many experts in 20th century communications, Warren has yet to learn the first axiom of blogging – “Google is your friend”.
On September 6th, Dion’s French citizenship was discussed at some length in a Globe & Mail profile.
On October 11th – six weeks before the convention – Paul Knowles in the New Hamburg Independent wrote a piece that looked primarily at the flaws of Michael Ignatieff. Nearer the bottom, there’s a single line noting a Dion problem;
“Stéphane Dion – it has not been widely reported – holds dual Canadian and French citizenship.”
This was the source noted on October 13th, when it first appeared in the comments here at SDA, submitted by perennial commentor “Maz2”.
Over the next few weeks, Dion’s dual citizenship was mentioned in the comments often enough that most regular readers were well aware of it. As I wasn’t following the Liberal leadership very closely, it remained just a factoid I filed away.
Dec.2 – My first mention liveblogging the Liberal convention;
“The new leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition, and citizen of France… Mr. Anybody But”
So, that was probably the first post-convention blog mention. Truth be told, I just thought it was funny. I didn’t know it was a secret.
Ezra Levant’s Calgary Sun column appeared on Dec.4. I emailed Ezra this evening to ask if he remembered where he first heard about it;
I can’t recall where I first saw it. I heard the rumour somewhere, on the blogosphere I think, on the day he was chosen. I must have visited a dozen sites that day. I used the Google blog search to find a source, but couldn’t. So then I checked the Infomart archives, and found confirmation in an interview he did a few years ago with Montreal Gazette.
Kinsella misunderstands the nature of viruses — that they are natural. Uninteresting ideas don’t catch on, even if they’re forced, while hot news — or interesting revelations — spread spontaneously. This didn’t spread because of Tory black ops. It spread because it was startling news, and then it spread more because of how Dion mishandled it. And now it spreads further because of Kinsella.
Indeed.
By the time other blogs took the matter to their front page, talk radio and mainstream media already had the ball rolling. CBC reported it on the 5th, the Globe & Mail on December 6.
The rest is, as they say, revisionist history.
The Dion dual citizenship story followed no more “viral” a route to the public domain than any other political controversy. And in this case, the path turns out to be a lot more easily traced than the columns and “news” items that originate in the time-honoured journalistic tradition – between drinks (or bed sheets) with party operatives.
Footnote:
[1] The words “inexplictably, abruptly” are hinting at an allegation that appeared at eFrank.ca alleging that Pierre Bourque sells his headline services to whatever party hack is willing to pay the promotional fee. If the figures mentioned were true, someone takes his advertised traffic stats far too seriously.
anti- Bourque whisper campaign update – Why, it looks like TDH Strategies got the same email I did. Don’t you love the way these Liberals try to look as though they’ve just stumbled over these things on their own?
“You silly bigots.”
The last defence of the intellectually challenged.
Nomdenet:
I don’t think holding citizenship granted to your mother from France makes one any less Canadian or committed to our country. And I don’t think it is terribly well related to multiculturalism.
As for Blair, the point of his speech was not that immigrants have to give up everything and become British down to fish and chips and bad teeth. It was that they have to accept British values, possess a command of English, and respect equality. With which no one in their right mind would disagree. But, anyways, I just don’t think Dion’s dual citizenship is any more symbolic than John Turner’s; that is, it is a fact of his birth.
I should not imply that you are questioning his patriotism or loyalty. But certainly Levant and Worthington are, and they are doing so with no evidence of action, just the suspicion that he might be disloyal because, you know, he’s French. Just like a bigot would imply that a Jewish prime minister might be conflicted because of her attachment to Israel. It is without substance and certainly without merit. That is, it is prejudicial. Let’s not hope it’s the best everyone can do.
Peter,
John Turner was pre 9/11. IMO, that would be totally unacceptable today.
My point is, the world has changed. I used to be pretty much a transnational in my thinking too. When I get new info, like an better understanding of what we’re up against.. .Islamofascism.. I’ve change with that new info.
IMO, the Dion thing is about symbolism not patriotism. Cultural Relativism must end, some cultures must die out or reform. Meanwhile we need strong nationalism not transnationalism. Plus we’ve got plenty to cope with in Canada in terms of founding “nations” and distinct societies. Enough.
OK, I see your point (and I sincerely thank you for making it again). My question: why/how does Dion’s dual citizenship indicate that he is any less committed to Canada? And what evidence do you have beyond his citizenship? What actions has he taken to demonstrate that he is not loyal to Canada?
Because if it’s just that you think he will be disloyal, or if it’s that you don’t like the symbol of it, then that’s your problem and not really his.
Now, a hypothetical. Given that we are in this war against Islamofacism, do you think a Muslim could be prime minister, or would they be sending the wrong ‘symbol’ in the current state of affairs?
One poster mentioned a Jewish person being loyal to Israel, now we have a question about a Muslim.
There is, fortunately, separation of church and state in Canada, so a person’s religion should not affect their ability to represent their constituents.
The question about Dion is not whether he’s a great guy, or a patriot, or of a particular religion, in my opinion.
It’s about whether someone with dual citizenship should hold a high political office, most particularly that of Prime Minister of Canada, in the unlikely event that the Liberals win an election.
I believe that a federal politician should not hold citizenship in another country. Whether it is France, the US, Bhutan or Australia is irrelevant, the risk for conflict of interest is obvious. I’m not saying that’s the case with Dion, necessarily, but thinking generally I don’t like the iea.
Caveat:
There is an obvious similarity between those who question loyalty based on birthrights and those who question it based on religion. In both cases it is prejudicial and simple.
Peter what duel citizenship symbolizes is transnationalism or multi-culti or cultural relativism a la Moe Strong and his Koffi-like tranzie buddies.
What the world needs now is strong representative, elected governments. Not institutions representing us such as the un-elected UN. Not the EU form of rule with un-elected representatives in Brussels. Coincidentally that concept has been pushed hard by France, Dion’s other citizenship.
The transnationals and Islamofascists have something in common:
The goal for their respective world movements is not based on representative, elected government. These two movements are partnering, informally because they do not hold representative democracy in high esteem. Tranzie thinking dominates our campuses and it dominates the MSM.
Carrying duel citizenship symbolizes tranzie thinking. Being a duel citizen and running to be Canada’s PM is my problem, your problem and Dion’s problem.
As Blair has now finally made clear, if you want to immigrate to the UK you must assimilate to its values of separation of church and state, equality of the sexes and so on,
If we are to allow duel citizenship of our PM’s and other high office holders, then our immigrants will be rightfully asking us “assimilate to what?”
You’ve asked a good question: could a Muslim be our PM?
I’d like to ask a Muslim like Salim Mansur that question. Along with this one:
If a Muslim believes in the separation of church/mosque and state, can they still be a Muslim?
Dion’s duel citizenship IMO is not about his commitment to Canada. It is about his worldview. Does he still believe in cultural relativism? If he were to denounce that, then I think he’d have to follow up symbolically with making a statement that duel citizenship no longer works.
Finally this ties into the whole concept of how we’ve let ourselves become Hotel Canada. If you want to be a Canadian citizen you should pay your taxes on a world income basis and pay your Medical insurance, don’t just show up when you’re sick or when the despots in your homeland start wreaking havoc. We’re tired of being Hotel Canada and we can’t afford it.
The time has come to end duel citizenship for Canadians. It’s OK to grandfather those that already have it. .as long as they aren’t running for high office in the land.
So you don’t think we should have a Muslim as a PM as a rule?
I think we’ve now reached the end of our conversation.
“So you don’t think we should have a Muslim as a PM as a rule?”
Where did I say that?
I have some questions about it. Even Muslims, such as Salim Mansur a political science Professor at U of Western, have questions about their own issues within their un-reformed religion which is due for enlightenment like Judeo-Christianity has gone through centuries ago.
I will tell you who should not rule – Liberals that are so utopian that they can’t handle a question about their worldview.
I think Dion might fall into that category because he doesn’t even understand the symbolism of duel-citizenship
See you at the polls, we’ll let Canadians decide.
By the way, I just noticed this thread about Dion’s citizenship on your blog.
I posted the info to the Globe’s website on December 2nd. It seems like the editors took about an hour to consider the truth of the post before they put my post up. After I posted this, I posted several more similar items about Dion’s citizenship and a lot of people called me a liar. My posting on the Globe and Mail’s webpage got a lot of attention on December 2nd. But I don’t really care who put the press on to this item. I just don’t want Dion and his cronies (note Chretien) to win the next election. The thought of him winning is frightening. Here is what I said, as well as the link:
You (Lisa Jones of the Celtic nation within a nation, from Canada) wrote:
And oh – here’s an explosive little tidbit for you English Canada. Dion is apparently also a citizen of France. Are you seriously considering electing him to run CANADA??????? And why doesn’t the media report this stuff. Canadians have the right to know if their potential future leaders have loyalties and CITIZENSHIP to another country. Or doesn’t the media know about this?
Posted 02/12/06 at 7:44 PM EST | Link to Comment
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20061202.wlibsfinalballot1202/CommentStory/#comment501755