June 5, 2000
American politics, the Canadian way - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- Last week, Raymond Chrétien, a relative of our Prime Minister, announced his support for Al Gore in the upcoming November election. Who is Raymond Chrétien, you ask? Well, he’s our ambassador to Washington, and we all know how he got that job. Yet, another example of knowing who to kiss up to.
Anyways, at some bun toss last week, he announced that it would be in Canada’s best interests that Al Gore be elected President this November instead of George Dubya Bush. There isn’t a law (thank God) restricting political jockeying, but I have a problem with this instance. Diplomacy is a touchy subject and as Raymond’s cousin Jéan failed to note on his recent Middle Eastern trip, must be practised by individuals who know exactly what they’re doing.
The Ambassador’s presumptuous endorsement last week, proves he doesn’t know what the hell he’s doing. What happens if George Dubya wins? For one thing, this endorsement will reverberate back to bite Ambassador Chrétien in the ass. He’ll probably be turfed and relations with the US will be uncomfortable to say the least. For us, at least.
I don’t think it’s right that ambassadors and diplomats in other countries (from here that is) be getting involved in the affairs of their host jurisdiction. Ambassador Chrétien was probably acting on the advisement of his cousin, the PM who’s buddy-buddy with the Clinton administration. (That’s advise that all Canadians should never take from.) Canadians have had their reputation shitted upon, yet again. It’s bad enough that Heritage Minister Sheila Copps be going to Boston extolling the virtues of the Molson Joe ads, not knowing that they are an American mockery of us.
It’s bad enough that Mr. Chrétien be hamming it up in the Middle East a couple months back. Bottom line is that Ambassador Chrétien should not have made such an endorsement. Even without an endorsement, it’s clear Al Gore would steamroll Bush, come this November anyways. Canadians will be forever linked as a bit player on the world scene if dim-bulbs like the Messrs. Chrétien be representing you and I this way. The endorsement made Canada look like the unofficial 51st state. Canada doesn’t need this and I’m sure the Americans could give a damn. But what it does do is show how stupid our leaders make us look. One of Rafe Mair’s political axioms is: “You make a very serious mistake in assuming that people in charge know what the hell they are doing.”
We made a serious mistake when we assumed the Prime Minster was doing the honourable thing when he appointed his cousin as our ambassador to Washington. We also made a serious mistake in giving the elder Chrétien two majorities.
Here’s hoping it never happens again.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .