Thankfully, the House of Commons decided to let two provisions of it’s post 9/11 security system elapse yesterday… but that’s not really what I want to talk about. Rather, I want to talk about Harper’s strategy of trotting out some victims of the WTC attacks.
Along with her daughter Erica, Maureen Basnicki (right), whose husband Ken was one of 24 Canadians killed in Manhattan’s twin towers 5½ years ago, said MPs would seriously diminish Canada’s capacity to fight terrorism if they didn’t vote to extend the preventive arrest and investigative hearing provisions of the Anti-terrorism Act. Basnicki made the comments during a news conference in Ottawa today.
Along with that quote the Toronto Star ran a grim picture of this woman, looking stern and resolute, to reinforce whatever ridonkulous point they’re making.
Now, this is not a Tory strategy, but they are certainly milking it for all that it’s worth… and it drives me crazy. I can sympathize with this woman’s plight, but if she’s an expert on security policy then I’m the fucking Pope in Rome. Lets face it, emotional loss doesn’t offer you any insight into law enforcement. The security provisions that expired wouldn’t have saved her husband, and they have never been used to prevent a crime.
A victim should have a voice when discussing justice, and when applicable restitution. But in my experience personal tragedy by itself imparts no particular knowledge or expertise.
Take Jane Doe on the other hand. She has worked tirelessly on the issues victims’ rights, sexual assault investigation, and gender bias in the law enforcement community. She has become an expert based on her work and efforts. More to the point, she doesn’t let her own personal experience define her work. Link.
Jane Doe has mixed feelings about the release from prison of the man who raped her more than 20 years ago, saying that focusing on one “isolated” case gives everyone “permission to forget about the larger problem.”
This strategy of trotting out teary-eyed widows or orphaned children/grandchildren appeals only to our base instincts, and the last time I checked that was not an effective way to engineer intelligent policy.
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This was an appalling attempt to use an emotional reaction to elicit a vote favourable to keeping a freedom restricting legislation. Another bonehead move by Steve that appears to borrowed from the Republican playbook.
Comment by Halden — February 28, 2007 @ 9:42 am
This is not a “republican” or “conservative” strategy. Politicians of all stripes have been doing this for decades.
Comment by Joseph — February 28, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Indeed, but you must admit that the GOP has perfected it as of late, take the “snowflake” kids in the stem cell debate.
Comment by Halden — February 28, 2007 @ 11:55 am
Iggy called it ‘a side show’, guess he won’t be losing any sleep over Canadian victims of terrorism.
Those mean spirited Liberals!!!
Comment by wilson61 — February 28, 2007 @ 12:29 pm
So I guess by your comments about Maureen Basnicki, you had no problem with Ann Coulter’s comments about the 9-1-1 widows.(who BTW, were being trotted out by Democrats, not Republicans.)
Don’t you just hate it when your own words come back to bite you in the a$$?
Comment by chris from winnipeg — February 28, 2007 @ 5:05 pm
Which words exactly are biting me? Coulter said that the women in question enjoyed their husbands’ deaths, which is absurd and offensive, and in no way contradicted by what I have said.
I felt the same way about those women being put on display by the Democrats as I do with the Conservatives’ latest PR stunt.
So perhaps you should stow in the indignation and save it for an occasion when you’re actually correct?
Comment by Joseph — February 28, 2007 @ 5:16 pm
[…] Joseph over at Canada’s Debate puts the family’s involvement into perspective: A victim should have a voice when discussing justice, and when applicable restitution. But in my experience personal tragedy by itself imparts no particular knowledge or expertise. […]
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