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Kate McMillan puts it in a nutshell:
Where Stormfront leads, others are sure to follow!
When CP reporter/Kinsella stenographer Joan Bryden did her "White supremacists back Keith Martin" story, she got so much critical response that she sent out a form response, as follows:
This news story has generated considerable comment from readers who felt it was unfair and biased to lead with the fact that Keith Martin's private member's motion had won support from a white supremacist group. Some further felt it unfairly implied that anyone who opposes sect. 13 of the Canadian Human Rights Act must be an extremist.
I submit that the story simply related factually a development which caused a stir on Parliament Hill last Friday. Liberals, including Dr. Martin himself, were not pleased to find the MP's motion endorsed on the Stormfront website. At least one rival party gleefully drew reporters' attention to the site. In the wake of the unwelcome publicity, Liberal Leader Stephane Dion's office made it clear that neither the leader nor the party support Dr. Martin's motion.
The factual relation of events does not attempt to judge whether Dr. Martin's motion is right or wrong and it certainly doesn't suggest that he or anyone who agrees with him is an extremist. Indeed, the headline makes it clear that the Stormfront endorsement was unwelcome.
The story gave Dr. Martin considerable space in which to disavow Stormfront and explain his own reasons for introducing the motion. It specifically relates that he was motivated by the concerns of his constituents. The fact that he said wouldn't be deterred by his party's opposition or unwelcome endorsements from "crazy, peripheral groups" like Stormfront speaks to the depth of his conviction.
This was not intended to be the definitive story investigating every angle of the controversy over the human rights act. It was a news story about a specific development that day.
I might note that Paul Fromm, whose endorsement of Martin's motion was featured on the Stormfront website, has caused other parties consternation in the past. Both the Progressive Conservative and Reform parties were embarrassed to find themselves associated with him and had to answer for it publicly. It would seem unfair to exempt the Liberals from similar scutiny now that he is causing them some embarrassment.
I hope this answers some of the concerns.
Best,
Joan Bryden
JOAN BRYDEN
REPORTER-EDITOR
OFFICE: 613-231-8627
FAX: 613-238-4452
thecanadianpress.com
Now that PEN Canada, the Canadian Association of Journalists, The Globe And Mail, Noam Chomsky et al have all signed up for their SS jackboots, maybe it's time for a follow-up story? E-mail Joan here.
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