Canadian leaders deny trying to interfere with U.S. election

Oh yeah, I can see Harper's crew trying to fabricate a little conflict to get the Republicans back in power. I can't see them being very good at it, but I can still see them trying.

Canadian leaders deny trying to interfere with U.S. election - International Herald Tribune

Canada's conservative government Monday denied allegations it tried to influence the U.S election by leaking word of a meeting with Barack Obama's senior economic adviser who allegedly told Canadian officials that Obama's comments about the North American Free Trade Agreement were for political show.
In Ottawa, Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper disputed the contention of his political opposition that his right-leaning government leaked word of the meeting to complicate Obama's chances or to favor Republican Sen. John McCain, who strongly supports NAFTA.

Harper told Parliament he was amused by the suggestion "we are so all powerful that we could interfere in the American election and pick their president for them. This government doesn't claim that kind of power. I certainly deny any allegation that this government has attempted to interfere in the American election."

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Tom | March 4, 2008 7:21 PM | Reply to this

In fact, the Canadian government is assisting mostly Democratic candidates. On the Canadian Taxpayers Federation website it was recently revealed that Canada's CIDA gave $18 million over four years to International Planned Parenthood, which is spending $10 million to assist pro-choice candidates in the current U.S. election. So Canadian taxpayers' cash is being used to help mainly Democratic candidates. Both the Canadian media and some in the Obama camp are up in arms over the Canadian Conservative government allegedly helping the Republicans, when in fact it is actually help fund the election of Democrats.

Zuckervati | March 5, 2008 12:13 PM | Reply to this

Huh, news from an officially "non-partisan" lobby group in which all of its provincial directors have roots in conservative parties, and almost all of whom are corporate executives.

Ignoring the right-wing take on this, let's break it down a little. According to the Canadian Taxpayers Federation website the federal government has given a lot of money to other countries and international organizations, one of which is the UK-based International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF).

Note that this isn't the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), which has a political arm called The Planned Parenthood Action Fund. These are the people who lobby for pro-choice candidates (such as they did with Republican nominee Rudy Giuliani).

So, for starters, there's at least 3 degrees of Kevin Bacon on this "funding the election of Democrats". Also, by backing Giuliani, it effectively negates the concept of *exclusively* advocating Democrats.

Also, I'm having problems both locating both the actual "funding" and the $10-million number. By "funding," do we mean campaign donations, or just the usual lobbying and advocating of candidates? Officially, PPFA hasn't yet endorsed any one candidate, though without Giuliani in the race, their support has, indeed fallen on the remaining pro-choice candidates, who are Democrats.

With respect to the $10-million number, a cursory look on the web couldn't confirm or deny it. Even if I search the blatantly right-wing cnsnews.com "news" website, I can't find anything on that. Maybe there's a link to a respectable news agency article somewhere?

Then there's the question of motives? Why should the Conservative government back a Democrat, unless they expect the Democrats to win by a landslide? Isn't it a bit risky? What if the Republicans end up winning the election?

Zuckervati: Huh, news from an officially "non-partisan" lobby group in which read more
Tom: In fact, the Canadian government is assisting mostly Democratic candidates. read more