Don't let the door hit you on the way out

[Craig S.]

A top aide to Canadian PM Jean Chretien has now resigned after the flap over her calling President Bush a moron:

http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/americas/11/27/canada.bush.ap/index.html

As a Canadian, I was embarassed by her comment. I'm not a supporter of Bush, but there are times and ways to say things, and she chose both a bad time and a poor manner in which to express her feelings. I don't think it's any secret that Canadians in general would have preferred Gore over Bush, but they have to keep relations which Washington moving in the right direction. It's generally not a good idea to offend the most powerful country in the world when you are right next door.

I'm glad to see that Ari Fleischer dismissed the comments, because I really don't think they reflect the Canadian government's view. And I'm glad to see her go.

[satchel]

That is an interesting story. It illustrates the heightened level of responsibility one has in public office. Public officers need to choose their words very carefully when criticising other public officers where people can hear them.

There was an incident a few years back where Rep. Dick Armey referred to Rep. Barney Frank as "Barney Fag" while talking to a reporter. He apologized for the "slip of the tongue" but Frank and everyone else knew that "Barney Fag" is the name that Armey used for him while chatting in his office with his cronies, and he just forgot to censor himself outside that arena.

I don't mind if Chretien's aide does think Bush is a moron (in the colloquial sense), or even if the whole Canadian government thinks so - but I agree with Craig that they have a responsibility to find more constructive ways to comment upon him when you are in a situation where the public might hear about it.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by satchel
That is an interesting story. It illustrates the heightened level of responsibility one has in public office. Public officers need to choose their words very carefully when criticising other public officers where people can hear them. even though we're not exactly a government entity, this is true in every report we write, as we are essentially evaluating governments' economic policies...

[KCBOOMER]

It is certainly an embarassing moment for our neighbors to the north, but it is really of little consequence. Canada has been a wonderful friend to the US over the years.