David Emerson

There are a lot of conservatives out there who are trying to rationalize bringing Liberal David Emerson into the fold. To them I have to say that they can rationalize as much as they want if it helps them sleep better at night. It still doesn't make it right though. We all know it.

TDH Strategies has dug up some old Emerson quotes. An interesting read to be sure:

"Mr. Speaker, I have not been in this House for long, but one of the things I have learned is that the members opposite are blatantly opportunistic, partisan and misleading the Canadian people." - April 18, 2005

"I am delighted to be part of the team that has delivered Canadian economic performance that leads the G-7. I am delighted to be part of a government that has delivered seven consecutive balanced budgets, a substantial program of tax cuts, and a reduced debt burden that will continue to fall over the next decade." - October 20, 2004

"Mr. Speaker, the fact is that we are protecting jobs. We are protecting jobs in an industry that has gone through some very hard times. If that party were in power today, those jobs would be gone. They would be gone to the U.S., to the U.K., to Europe and to China." - February 14, 1005, in response to a question about the Technology Partnerships Canada Program

"Mr. Speaker, we are recovering all the money from Bioniche. It will deal with Mr. Dingwall on the recovery of those funds. The use of the language "kickback" is an affront to civilized debate in the House. It suggests illegality. It is illegal to be an unregistered lobbyist. It is not illegal to receive a contingency fee."

"Mr. Speaker, disgusting maliciousness is what it is. There were breaches of contracts entered into by companies. We are correcting those breaches. Those companies have recourse to lobbyists. Wherever a lobbyist is not registered, it is being referred either to the RCMP or the registrar of lobbyists. We are correcting the breaches. All they are doing is muckraking because that is all they know how to do. - both above quotes from October 3, 2005, defending the Technology Partnerships Canada program and one company's decision to provide David Dingwall with a contingency fee for his work as a lobbyist

"Mr. Speaker, for several months in this House I have watched the political chicanery and skullduggery from the other side. - May 13, 2005

"Again, it is a vicious guttersnipe over there. Mr. Speaker, as he crawls through the gutter alleging illegal payments, these are breaches of contracts. They are not illegal payments, they are breaches of contracts. They are being corrected and the money recovered." - also from October 3, 2005, referring to his now cabinet colleague Michael Chong, the new President of the Queen's Privy Council, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister for Sport

"Mr. Speaker, it is pretty disgusting when those members can talk about defrauding taxpayers when in fact we have a relationship with the company and where there has been a breach of contract we are recovering the money. It is that kind of language that brings the House into disrepute and brings the level of debate right down to the gutter." - October 5, 2005, this time referring to the conduct of his new caucus colleague James Rajotte

"Mr. Speaker, this Prime Minister has done more to clean up Parliament and clean up government than any prime minister in the last 30 or 40 years." - May 5, 2005

"They are pretending that they support Kyoto. They have never supported Kyoto. They do not support Kyoto and they never will." - April 18, 2005, referring to his new party

"Mr. Speaker, this government has said right from the beginning, I have said from the beginning and my colleague the Minister of the Environment has said from the beginning that we can achieve Kyoto and we can do it while the Canadian economy is made more and more competitive and that means jobs." - February 3, 2005

"Mr. Speaker, I can confirm to the House that those people's thinking is so inconsistent, they should just sit down." - February 4, 2005, once again criticizing his new caucus colleagues

"Mr. Speaker, I really find it difficult to live with this kind of foolishness." - September 26, 2005, in response to a question from Colin Carrie, Conservative MP for Oshawa

"If we make a deal, we keep a deal. If GM makes a deal, we keep a deal. We are committed to GM." - November 21, 2005, in one of his final question periods before his election campaign as a Liberal candidate (he obviously wasn't referring to his own conduct in this answer

"Mr. Speaker, the hon. member should have the courage to stand in the House and tell his constituents that if the Conservatives were in government today, there would not be $5 billion of investments in the automotive industry in Ontario. Oshawa and the workers in Oshawa would be in serious trouble." - November 22, 2005, in response to another question from Carrie

"Mr. Speaker, I am not stubborn at all. I like to have information and then make sound, reasonable, thoughtful decisions." - October 22, 2004

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Welcome to Cannuckistan, where even the Conservatives are Liberals. I'm sure Mr. Emerson will fit right in with his new party.