Harper speech plagiarized; Tory staffer resigns

There is more controversy surrounding the Conservative party, this time with the Liberals accusing Stephen Harper of plagiarizing a speech he delivered back in 2003, on the war in Iraq.

CTV News: Roger Smith on the war room attack

Tory campaign worker Owen Lippert has resigned, after the Liberals showed a 2003 speech by Stephen Harper that plagiarized sections of an address by then-Australian prime minister John Howard.

Mike Duffy Live: Bob Rae, Liberal foreign affairs critic on why the speech should be a concern to Canadians

The Liberals have accused Stephen Harper of plagiarism in a speech he delivered back in 2003, which Rae says shows the character of Harper and the people around him.

Mike Duffy Live: Kory Teneycke, PMO director of communications, on Lippert's resignation and the impact it has on Harper's campaign

Owen Lippert, the speech writer for the Conservative party, has accepted responsibility for the Harper plagiarism scandal and resigned. Lippert then issued a statement regarding the plagiarized speech he wrote for Stephen Harper back in 2003.

CTV Newsnet: Robert Fife on Lippert's confession and how the Tories are handling the latest attack

Conservative Owen Lippert has assumed responsibility for plagiarising part of a speech Stephen Harper delivered as opposition leader a few years ago.

CTV Newsnet: Ken Boessenkool, Conservative Strategist overseeing speeches

A Tory campaign worker has resigned, after the Liberals showed a 2003 speech by Stephen Harper that plagiarized sections of an address by then-Australian prime minister John Howard. Tory staffer Owen Lippert has accepted responsibility for the scandal.

CTV Newsnet: Bob Rae goes on the attack with the 'lifted' speech

Liberal MP Bob Rae discusses the video released by his party which shows Stephen Harper lifting several lines from a speech made earlier by former Australian PM John Howard.

CTV Newsnet: Bob Rae points out uncanny similarities between a speech made by Stephen Harper and Australian PM John Howard

The Liberals reveal two videos which show Stephen Harper repeating a speech by John Howard almost verbatim.. This furthers an argument that Stephen Harper is a man who is free of independent thought and follows right wing leaders of the world,

Liberal Video: Very similar speeches delivered by Howard and Harper on Iraq

In a continued effort to link Stephen Harper to far right thinking leaders of the past few years, the Liberals have released a new video which shows the nation's Prime Minister delivering a speech very similar to that of Australia's.

Watch: See all Videos in the Player

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CTV.ca News Staff

Date: Tue. Sep. 30 2008 7:39 PM ET

A campaign worker for the Conservatives has resigned, after the Liberals showed a 2003 speech by Stephen Harper that plagiarized sections of an address by then-Australian prime minister John Howard.

"In 2003, I worked in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition. I was tasked with -- and wrote -- a speech for the then Leader of the Opposition," Owen Lippert said in a press release issued Tuesday. "Pressed for time, I was overzealous in copying segments of another world leader's speech. Neither my superiors in the Office of the Leader of the Opposition nor the Leader of the Opposition was aware that I had done so."

Lippert, who also became a senior policy advisor for the Canadian International Development Agency in 2008, apologized to "all involved."

Just hours before Lippert's resignation, Liberal candidate Bob Rae accused Harper of plagiarizing almost half of Howard's speech, when Harper was opposition leader of the Canadian Alliance

At a press conference, Rae showed video of Harper giving a speech in Parliament on March 20, 2003 -- the first day U.S. forces began bombing Baghdad.

The video is contrasted with a speech two days earlier from Howard, in which he gives a strikingly similar address.

Much of Harper's address matches Howard's virtually word-for-word.

Rae released transcripts and videos of both speeches and suggested they serve as evidence that a vote for the Conservatives is akin to voting for a "Republican-Conservative" government.

"This is a disgraceful performance by the leader of a political party there for all the world to see, and all the world is going to see it. They need to see it because they need to know what we're dealing with here," Rae told CTV Newsnet.

"I would say 35 to 40 per cent of the speech is the same, word for word, statement for statement, paragraph for paragraph, as the speech that was given a day and a half earlier by Mr. Howard."

Meanwhile, the Tories are dismissing the allegations saying the "speech was given by a person who was leading a party that doesn't exist anymore," CTV's Graham Richardson reported Tuesday.

Richardson, discussing what was discussed in a conference call Tuesday with the Tories, said the party has no explanation for where the speech came from.

Tory officials said there's been a 100 per cent staff turnover since the speech, suggesting they don't know the source, said Richardson.

They're also saying they won't answer the question because it's "irrelevant," he said.

The Tories further dismissed suggestions that Harper received talking points from the Republicans in the U.S.

Rae, the Liberal foreign affairs critic, said the revelation raises questions about whether Harper's foreign policy views can be trusted.

"On this critical issue, on this issue on the world stage, this is a man who chose to parrot and to mimic and beg, borrow, steal someone else's voice," Rae said.

He added: "In law and journalism, in politics, if we can't speak with an authentic voice, who the hell are we?"

Rae said even Harper's opponents at the time acknowledged that the speech was eloquent. But he questioned how Harper could have dealt with such an important issue, using someone else's words.

"He made that choice so blindly and carelessly that he ended up delivering a word-for-word repetition of someone else's words and thoughts," Rae said.

CTV's Roger Smith called the revelations "the Liberal play of the day, the Hail Mary" designed to hurt the Conservatives' election campaign.

"The Liberals are using this to show that Stephen Harper is totally in lockstep with the coalition of the willing, with George Bush and his Australian allies on the war in Iraq and that his foreign policy is copycat policy of Washington," Smith said.

"Bob Rae went on to say Stephen Harper would have been expelled from high school for plagiarism."

Comments are now closed for this story

Carly J
said

If I can't copy & cheat in University...then Harper should NOT get away this one...what is that showing students in our education system? Or does education really matter???!!!

Stick a fork in it...
said

It is humorous that Dion relies so heavily on Ignatieff and Rae to speak on behalf of him and the party. These buzzards cannot wait to pick at Dion's carcass.

Harper does not need others to speak on his behalf...he is a true, accountable, leader.

Frank Poncsak, Saskatoon
said

Well, technically, PM Harper did not plagiarize, his speech writer did. And what, exactly was Bob Rae doing 5 years ago? And whose idea was it to hang on to this piece of "news" for 5 years? Just shows how pathetic the left has become.....This had better not show up in the debate or the whole night will be an even bigger waste of air-time...

Kim
said

Gee Liberals going for some American politics again. Wasn't it just a couple weeks ago Obama was caught copying almost word for word a very old speech written for another former president?
WHO CARES about an old speech ? It was A LONG time ago . Lets get to the real topics on Canadian's minds. Not school girl silliness.
Grow up Bob and do something beneficial for your country !

Gerry
said

So? A consistant message is a problem?

C. Martin
said

Stephan Dion, Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff are jerks.
The Liberal party is toast and will have to reorganize before anyone believes anything they say...

Ron
said

Many of you are missing the point...and yes the Liberals are using this...they are politicians after all.

The point is though, that this was not some "run of the mill" everyday speech. This was a "bigger" speech in the sense that it dealt with big issues at the time (the war in Iraq, and USA's flawed foriegn policies).

How can you trust a "strong" leader that uses a pre-writ speech for something of that importance, it also showes that Harper followed suit with all the other Bush loving cronies of that point in time. How can you trust a man that is so careless, and obviously agrees enough with the pro-bush policies speech that was given to him that he would read that speech?

BCer
said

When I was in school my teacher wanted me to write a poem. I did so very quickly. I used part of a song. Guess I shouldn�t have been allowed to go back to school. Unlike Harper, I did handwrite, what I handed in. Maybe the Tories can find who wrote the speech. I wish them well in their quest but doubt that they will be successful. Now on with real issues. like the liberals and their failure in this election.

Al in Rockwood
said

Stephan Harper is the emperor in waiting who has no clothes. He has no agenda so that Canadians can decide if he should be Prime Minister. He won't do one on one interviews and answer questions of ordinary Canadians. He uses the RCMP to guard him against reporters asking pointed questions. Canadians can't trust his re-election.

doug
said

Why is this digging? Or too much? Or laughable? The list of broken promises would be ok if the Conservatives hadn't made openness, tranparency and ACCOUNTABILITY the centrepiece of the last campaign. Many of these 'gaffes' also illustrate the power of a few in the PMO's office. This should be, at least, disappointing to all non-party members thinking about voting conservative.

Pedro
said

Where is Dion??? Should he ever be elected to office there's no roam to hide.Oh, he can hide in Bob Rae's house...LOL

Kerry Jenkins Lindsay Ontario
said

Well this is interesting Mr. Bob Rae! I am horrified to see that Prime Minister Harper gave a speech that was "plagiarized". That is so shameful. I really feel that I should switch my vote to a party with you in it...a person that can't even decide if they are NDP or Liberal!!

Vote for your NDP MP
said

Mr Harper wanted our troops in Iraq. When he was opposition leader of the Canadian Alliance, Harper blasted Chretien saying "Why aren't you sending our troops in Iraq". He was pointing viciously and screaming to the top of his lungs. If Harper was PM back then, then our troops would be in Iraq right now.

MEM
said

I think that this is just evidence of the political parties going on the defensive, instead of finding a way to articulate their party's platforms to the voters. Petty name calling and mud slinging is best left to the playground. Intelligent solutions to today's complex problems is what belongs in the political ring. I ask all four leaders to step up to the plate and really show us why you are fit to lead this country, not why your opponent isn't.

Dave from the borderlands
said

Its unfortunate that this is an issue. Stephen Harper has however no one to blame but himself. As long as he stays in his little bubble and refuses to answer unscripted questions and to debate the issues, then what else is there for the other parties to do.

Stephen, please step out of the bubble. If you're not trying to hide something, then you don't need the bubble.

reid
said

what will the liberals have to whine about after George Bush is gone?Their whole campaign revolves around the standard liberal USA bashing.It is getting pretty stale.

Heather
said

That moment in our history was, and remains, one of the most monumental in terms of sovereignty and diplomacy. While standing there saying we are a sovereign nation and will make up our own minds about going to the war, Harper reached out with the words his puppet master had given him (and all the supposed Bush allies). And you lot don't think this is news? It's not news that Stephen Harper is a reprehensible soulless individual who won't let his ministers -- the people WE elected to speak on our behalf -- answer our questions. That's old. It is news to know the depths to which he'll sink. I am embarrassed every time I see that man anywhere acting on my behalf.

Mike from Canada
said

Geez can they go any farther back and find anything more useless? Who cares, honestly.

James from Vancouver
said

The real story is that Harper and Layton have succeeded at canceling opening and closing statements from all the leaders to talk more on the economy.

In doing so democracy has been derailed as we are not going to get a feel for the leaders apart from their sparring at one another.

A tragedy, and on the eve of the debates.

matthew - London, Ontario
said

It's unreal how far this searching for skeletons in the closet thing is going. OK it was wrong. But man, come on. This tattle taling has to stop. Everyone has dirt - everyone. The Canadian public is growing tired of this nonsense.

Paul in Brantford
said

if i am reading these comments correctly, those on the left believe it is a severe crime to rip off somebody's speech, but it is ok to rip off the Canadian public of millions of dollars?
thank you for proving to me once again just how arrogant and elitist you are. nothing has changed since the liberals were in power.

Rod
said

"Bob" - its the economy, stupid!

You spent all this time and effort to find a 2003 speech, hello earth to Bob!

JK Ontario
said

Big deal. A lot of pompous blustering on Liberal Rae's part about a five year old speech and everyone knows politicians don't often write their own speeches. All Rae has succeeded in doing is making someone lose his job today, and it isn't Harper. Rae - concentrate on important matters like the economy.

Fletcher
said

Wow! At first I though, who cares, it's plagarism, it won't make a difference to how Harper is perceived, but after watching the video ... it made me cringe. I thought Harper was the head of the hydra, but now it's clear that he gets his orders, rather than just ideas and inspiration, from a higher power - the US government. Canada is a sovereign nation, not an American state, as much as Harper would like it to be. Who will be making decisions for Canada if Harper continues to "lead" the country? I always thought it would be him, but now it's clear that it's a foreign government. This election is about leadership, and as much as I dislike Harper, up until this point, he came off as a good leader. Now, I don't feel that way at all, and I am infuriated that he's taking policy direction from another government, one that was not elected by Canadians and one that does not rule in the interest of our people. I don't like the Libs, but thank God they showed us what we'd be getting into if Harper gets a majority in this election. Scary doesn't even begin to describe it ... I'm still reeling from that video ... who are these people and do we really want them to have full control of our country?

an Educator
said

As far as I can remember plagiarism was and still remains the most heinous academic crime that can be committed. By many of your archaic comments you have not attended a liberal arts post-secondary institution in let say the last 200 years. Coming from an area where integrity is the foundation for which personal growth is achieved I view this as pure laziness on the part of Stevie Boy and his minions. But by most standards on here it appears any one can lead this country as long as he puts a few extra bucks in your pocket...... unbelievable

Andrew Canrinus in SJ
said

You know this is all fine and dandy with me, so what if PM Harper said this when he was the official opposistion, is it that bad that he read a speech that the people who voted for him, and support him were proud to hear him speak. In all honesty this is nothing more than liberal mudslinging. Good old Rae squaking like a chicken, i wonder if the liberals have ever read the story of the boy who cried wolf, because strangly enough this is the 3rd time around we have heard this about harper, and odly enough just like in the fable, no one is listening. Im sorry, but the Libs keep crying wolf, and cry and cry. Ive seen it every election since i was 12 and started to follow politics.

As a young canadian the liberals do not support my veiws, they do not support my parents views, and are so far out of touch with reality (see lib platform for high in the sky fables) that they resort to mudslinging when the polls get worse. Canada has woken up to the Liberal slander, maybe they should actually try bringing something forth that canada as a whole can accept, and promote that. If not i think its time the libs flush the perverbial toilet and start anew

margaretb
said

This little bit of ancient (politically speaking)dirt is NOT going to make me change my vote! I'll take the Conservatives' sensible approach to government to the leftists' "pie in the sky" any day. After all, skill and ability to govern is what the election is about, not a piece of a five-year-old speech written by an assistant.

Lloyd
said

OK, so a speech writer decided to take the fall for this one and resign. No problem, and probably one of the standard procedures. Doesn't change much - Harper still made the speech and surely reflects his world view and alignment with Bush/Howard. When it is so hard to try and discern who a person is because of carefully controlled optics and message then surely the best predictor of a persons future action(s) is their past actions, no?

Fraser
said

Joy in Saskatoon
One of the best indicators of future behaviour is past actions.

Dangerously close to quoting Dr. Phil�. could this be construed as plagiarism? hmmmm

Andrew the Canadian
said

This issue still doesn't make any sense. I don't know how Owen Lippert, at the level he was writing for, could be so callous and dull as to plagiarize the words of a world leader who spoke them just 2 days earlier! He must have been living in terror for about 2 months and then lately thought he had gotten away with it.

Layton B in Moncton NB
said

I bet Stephen Harper is concentrating on preparing for the debates instead of worrying about this irrelevant issue. After all it was the Leader of a different party that no longer exists.
So he's likely picking out the right suit and tie, just the perfect shirt. Practicing looking honest and open in the mirror, studying John McCain's notes....

Gabe
said

This is an example of dishonesty shown by the current leader of our country, regardless of it being said by "a person leading a party that doesn't exist anymore" (what a weak statement, you must admit).

It is not an irrelevant issue - it's not current but nonetheless it's completely relevant. It not only discredits past, present, and future speeches by Harper, but also leads a bad example for our youth.

Anne
said

The past is important as it speaks to the character of the individuals involved. It is funny that many Canadians cheer and credit Mr. Harper over the July economic activity (just today) yet they put the blinders on to his past performance with respect to this speech. Why is it that past performance is only appropriate when it supports what you believe you need to hear? Broaden your view and vote with respect to the big picture so that the majority of Canadians will benefit moving forward.

NBC - Nothing But Conservative
said

Come on people..it's not Harper's fault. He trusted his writer to prepare the speech for him. Or maybe he should have spent tax payers money to google the dialogue to make sure it wasn't someone elses. The writer resigned..he admitted to his mistake. All of these peaknuckle comments from the Liberals are only making the Conservatives stronger. Just goes to show you that they are really trying to keep their heads above water at whatever cost (trying to embarass the PM). It's not going to fly. Harper has the majority. He is an awesome leader! GO HARPER GO! For goodness sake..it was 5 years ago. That's pathetic.

Keith In Brampton
said

Roedy Green wrote: "plagiarism... means using some one else's words without credit or permission and fobbing them off as your own." Roedy then goes on to explain how Harper didn't commit plagiarism.

Read the article again Roedy - when 30+% of your speech is word for word identical to a speech given by someone else, and you don't credit that person, I'm hard pressed to understand how it DOESN'T fit the definition you give.

Latest update to the article shows Owen Lippert has admitted to the plagiarism and has resigned. I'm sure now you'll try to spin it by saying Harper didn't write the speech and thus didn't know - which I'll grant is probably true - but it does raise serious concerns about the people Harper chooses to surround himself with and put into positions of power.

noel
said

So now it comes out that the PM didnt write that speech as is norm with all politicans.The conservative speech writer told the truth right away and did the right thing and resigned.How is this any of PM Harpers fault?These Liberals are getting very laughable,Harper you are and always will be my first and only choice!Point blank!

May
said

Seriously? You seriously consider this front page news? Seriously?

1. In politics imitation is (a) commonplace and (b) the sincerest form of flattery. Jack Layton has been heavily imitating Obama in his speeches and it�s not an issue. Nor should it be. John Howard certainly doesn�t care. So aside from: (a) forcing a staffer to resign for something done in 2003 that appears to be a common practice among all parties (poor thing, staffers seem to get all the flak these days); (b) annoying a lot of people who come looking for real news; and finally (c) making himself look really spiteful for picking on a lowly staffer; nothing has been accomplished here.

2. Why is Bob Rae talking? Isn�t Dion the leader of the party?

3. Last but certainly not least : we are entering a global economic recession; the TSX dropped more than 800 points yesterday; the worst drop on record; and you are putting this tabloid stuff on the front page?

dick
said

I wonder how long they have been sitting on this one. Of course, we know none of the leaders actually write their own speeches, including Mr.Dion. Probably Mr Rae didn't write this speech either. I hope his speech writer wasn't pressed for time and copied something from the leader of, say, Madagascar.

KC #2
said

I can't stand the conservatives, but this is really reaching.

Joy in Saskatoon
said

One of the best indicators of future behaviour is past actions. Plagiarism is stealing. I expect the leader of Canada to be above this regardless of whether it happened yesterday, 5 years ago, 25 years ago....To pawn responsiblitly on a staffer and accept a resignation when his ministers are not even held to such account. Where does it stop???

Linda in Vancouver
said

No one among the posters here who hate Mr.Harper has suggested just exactly who else any sane person can vote for.
I live in BC. We have only two parties with a chance to form government.For a long time the Social Credit were in power.But when they go arrogant and out of line,the only way to get rid of them was to vote in the NDP.We did it three times during my life here.And each time it was another disaster.But that was the price we had to pay to get the "free enterprise" party to sit up and listen.
Federally,I have been Liberal most of my life.I am not a fan of Mr.Harper or his party.Still a bit to far right for me.
But,I will continue to vote for him.I have hope his party will move a bit closer to the political centre.
Really,there is NO PARTY close to the centre,and the left is a disaster.Neither the NDP or the Liberals,(aka NDP Lite) are fit to govern anything more than a pop stand.Both of them are campaigning by saying they are the only ones who can stop Harper.Neither is giving me something to vote "for".They want my vote just to be "against" the Conservatives.
Not good enough.And waaaay to far left for my liking.

Lorne
said

I don't really call this a major election issue.
However, I'm sure that Harper knew part of the speech was copied.
His loyal supporter and writer, took the fall and will be rewarded handsomely, I'm sure.
There has already been pork barrelling before the election and on a large scale.
Something Harper said would not happen before he was elected PM.
It doesn't matter as I am voting ABC.

Solange
said

Students get kicked out of universities and get failing grades for plagiarism. It is completely unethical to steal someone else�s work. Regardless of the content of the speech, of how eloquent and great it was you cannot just take credit for it if was plagiarised. We have high standards for students, but apparently for the Prime Minister it is alright to steal?

Brian from Toronto
said

Plagiarism, at any level, cannot be condoned. Connecting this to a vast right-wing conspiracy between Harper and the Republicans seems a stretch though.

Dennis L. Krahn
said

Feel better now that you done a little dumpster diving Mr. Rae?

Why don't you offer some constructive criticism instead of this tripe?

Annon E. Mous
said

Yes, plagiarism is serious, but isn't it interesting the Liberals didn't bring up this five-year old event before the election? hmm

Jorja
said

Seems the Liberals are looking for any excuse to explain their dismal numbers in the polls, and grabbing frantically at anything they think will help them get elected. Still wouldn't vote for them in a million years.

Bernard Romanycia
said

What did you expect? An original thought from the Tories?

wow
said

Liberals getting all worked up about a speach 5 years ago ... funny since the Liberal at the time were stealing all that tax payers money ... which do I consider worse ...

Brian Alt
said

I guess it is just a coincidence that Stephen Harper is a declared admirer of John Howard and that John Howard was the first head of state to visit Harper when he was elected. Some flunky has taken the fall for Mr. Harper's mistake. People should also not forget that Stephen Harper would have placed Canadian men and women in the midst of the useles Bush inspired war in Irag if he had had his way in 2003.

A Step To The Right
said

This isn't a great thing, but it's pretty small in the grand scheme of things. Dion and Ignatieff were both found to have plagiarized speeches during their leadership races. Pot, meet kettle.

I think the real issue people will vote on is Dion's massive carbon tax. The Libs just don't get it - introducing a huge tax in the middle of economic crisis like we saw this week is the worst thing to do to a country.

No One of Consequence
said

I believe it's an important piece of information and just the right time to bring it up.

Lest we forget Harper got into office essentially buying votes with his Universal Child care Pittance.

At least Chretien had the guts to stand up to Bush.

Don
said

Just another reason why I'll never vote Liberal again - they just keep getting worse

ken
said

Could people stop throwing around that socialist word.. the (c)onservatives and liberals are the same deal for god sakes!! If anyone bothered to actually look up the meaning of that word you would see that the only party that it applies to is the NDP... A socialist government would not want to give 50 bil in corporate tax cuts.. as for the plagiarizing pretty brutal the man can't use his own words or conviction for that matter

Dave from Alberta
said

7.5 hrs after they fianlly found some lowly guy to fall on his sword! He might get a future appointment! If this guy was around for that long, and there was 100% turnover since then, why did it take 7.5 hrs for them to figure this out? A sacrifical lamb is he.

Sherry
said

How can this even be news .. who cares that his adviser took some stuff from another speech. Look how petty the opposition is .. it's sad. Go Conservatives!

Roger T
said

And you think we can trust our PM using a false speech that's not even his! Once a fraud will always be a fraudster!

Where is uncle Layton to rescue us all.

Luc M
said

All of a sudden the Liberals are paying attention to details while millions are still missing from the sponsorship scandal.

Vanessa
said

If I was a political strategist this is how I see it:

The Liberals look slimy for digging so deeply for dirt.

The Conservatives look complacent

The timing couldn't be worse for the Liberals, what do they want for this? A candy? Makes me think, great now Ill vote for the NDP for certain!

Nick
said

In my opinion Harper has given alot of recent examples of his lies (ie..this election). the Liberals didn't have to go that far back.

Nick
Ottawa

Peter
said

Is this really relevant? Did this have an impact on my childs ability to enjoy life,for me to earn a living or for the sun to still shine?

I wish the liberals would spend more time researching GHG emission reductions rather than diiging for dirt. It really speaks to their conscencus building capacity.

Disappointed
said

I am shocked at the dismissive nature with which many of you seem to view such a finding.

From high school, this country's teenagers are taught that plagiarism (or cheating as it would likely be called in such a situation) is unacceptable and wrong. At university, a student who is discovered to have plagiarised a paper would at best receive a grade of zero on the assignment and at worst be expelled from the institution.

And yet Stephen Harper, a former professor at university himself is evidently at little fault in presenting a plagiarised speech in the House of Commons? The fact that it happened over 5 years ago is irrelevant. It is likely that he did not write the speech himself, but as the leader of a major Canadian political party, especially one who has long had a close relationship with Mr. Howard, Stephen Harper cannot escape blame in this situation.

Is it not strange that the Canadian Alliance and the Australian Liberals would hold the exact same views on such an issue? Were the Alliance not capable of developing their own views? As leader of the party, should Stephen Harper not have been aware of the views and responses of other world leaders, and particularly of one with whom he had so much in common? It was after all Howard's advisors who arrived on Ottawa's doorstep upon Harper's initial election to provide him with advice.

And yet despite all of this, what disturbs and disgusts me the most is the apparent uncaring and dismissive view of the Canadian public toward their leader and his unacceptable behaviour and dishonesty. How it saddens me that an apparently intelligent Canadian public can continue to be deceived by such a man.

Selena
said

Why am I not suprized by the actions of the liberals?!?!

Steve the Pundit
said

So Rae claims Harper pretended that a speech he gave was his own.

Big deal. In the 90's Rae pretended to be a competent premier. And now he's pretending to be a Liberal!

John
said

This issue may be a lot of things (Embarrassing, revealing, etc) but it is not �irrelevant�.

Plagiarism is bad enough, but it is the source of the plagiarism that concerns me.

I used to roll my eyes when friends talked about the global conservative conspiracy, American Taliban, yada yada yada� but this is pretty damning.

You�d think if he was going to play the �dummy� he�d at least use a different voice than the ventriloquist.

Canada deserves its own voice in the world. It deserves better than this.

ABC!

ursa
said

What is truly at issue here is the actions (yes, both past and present because they are repeating themselves...over and over) of the PCs. Remember folks this political party is extremely right winged, controlled by a man who ensures that his political party 'followers' are tightly gagged and/or used as the whipping boys when theres a screw up.

Reality is the buck needs to start and stop at the top - I can only continue to hope that the Canadian people will provide Mr. Harper with the same blunt dismissal as he has to others around/below him, both in the PCs and within our greater society.

Roedy Green
said

Some people don't seem to understand the meaning of plagiarism. It means using some one else's words without credit or permission and fobbing them off as your own. Accepting recommended policies from others is not plagiarism. It is not stealing either. Groups like the Suzuki Foundation lobby political parties to get their policies accepted.

so i guess bob rae is the real liberal leader
said

Sooo...
A scriptwriter ripped off John Howard's speech 5 years ago and this is news? And how on earth does this mean Harper is really a US Republican? If anything, he's a wannabe John Howard and that would be a good thing.

Laureen
said

Hey Liberals, can't come up with anything better than that? This is really getting boring

Steve Daly, Mississauga
said

The Liberals change from focusing on the 'Green Shift' to 'It's the Economy' and gain no traction.

The very same day that Stats Can releases a report showing strong growth in July, Rae releases this drivel.

Coincidence, or trying to avoid the obvious fact that the Liberals aren't even close to being connected with reality?

They're just trying to bury news that would crush them. Riding the news cycle for all it's worth.

Greg
said

So what!

FED up
said

Give me a break Rob, Toronto.....

This will certainly sway me. I will no longer be voting conservative. Plagiarism is theft. It is the theft of someone else's intellectual property which is then represented as your own. It is abhorrent and it is illegal. This means that our PM is a common criminal. I think that his own policies vis-a-vis harsh sentences and treatment of criminals should be applied to this case.

You/we don't have all the facts. How strong could your convictions be if you can change your mind at the slightest implication that something "illegal took place"? Are you going to believe Bob Ray and the pathetic Liberals?

I'll hold my decisions until ALL the facts are in and ALL the dirty laundry has aired during this campaign...Thank God that it will only be a few more days!

Sandra Trimble
said

The more desperate the Liberals get the dirtier they get! They will do almost anything to "win".

F Harris
said

Everyone seems to be missing a Big point - Harper didn't write the speech. Harper didn't plagerize. All leaders use speech writers and rarely write their own speeches.

Joe Viscount
said

At what point is a leader responsible for his actions. I'm not buying this explanation one iota.I want a Canadian prime minister not a lackey. Just another example of untrustworthy conduct in my opinion. I wonder if Lippert was offered an incentive for his taking one for the team.

Dave Hierlihy
said

Bob you should resign.....You should be hauled up on the carpet for your assumptions. The fact that Mr. Harper gave a speech written by one of his people does not support your views. I HAD respect for you but guess what??????????Dave in Kamloops, BC

KevBC
said

If you encourage your kids plagiarizing in school and stealing something from their classmates, go ahead and vote Harper.

I don't really care which party will win in this election, because I think there would not be any difference. However, I do care who will win. Harp just doesn't qualify to be the leader of this country.

B mc D
said

The problem is not only that he plagarized, but more that he was so wrong.
He wanted Canadians to fight an ideolical war for George Bush in Iraq.

Could you imagine the veiw that Canadians would have of our military had we followed Harpers advice and entered that war.

I have not heard Harper say sorry I plagarized, Oh yeah and sorry I was so wrong and ideological, and sorry I wanted the taxpayer to pay for my misadventure in Iraq.

We all know Bush and Harper speak from the same brain but we didn't know that Karl Rove had Fox News and the Canadian Alliance on the Fax machine speed dial.

Adam Hunter
said

I believe that this is a desperation move by the Liberal party. They had this information open to them in the last election and didn't use it because they believed that they could win at least a minority government. Now that they know that they know that they are beaten they are grasping at straws in hopes of completely destroying Harpers credibility instead of dealing with the big issues.

V. Barr
said

All these people who are calling Harper a puppet of Bush -- what will you say after Bush leaves office??!!
This reminds me of the saying "a drowning man will even cling to a twig". Is this the best the Liberals can come up with.

Gord C.
said

The Liberal spin machine is working full force I see.

Too bad digging up dirt from 5 years ago has little relevance with respect to the major issues that concern Canadians -- namely the economy.

Obviously with the Liberals, there isn't much of the economy to talk about considering it would be severely crippled with the implementation of their so-called "Green Shift".

And regarding the comparison to Bush, I see none. Besides, in January, the newly-elected President of the United States will be sworn in. I can't wait for Liberal spin doctors to start calling Harper "little Obama"

Pete C
said

I guess no majority for Harper. We need better than this to get rid of the PC's.

Stephen
said

This from a party that claims to be passionate about intellectual property rights. Only blinkered supporters will see this as a non-issue. It speaks to what really happens behind the scenes within the Conservative party. Having seen this type of stuff for myself I can tell you that it is not pretty and rather routine. The core of the shiny new Conservative facade is rotten; no amount of cognitive dissonance can change that fact.

Roedy Green
said

Harper's hypothesised 5 year statute of limitations looks a little hypocritical when the Conservatives baited Bob Rae for his economic
performance 17 years ago, Julian West's skinny dipping 12 years ago, Briony Penn's lady Godiva ride 7 years ago, and liberal fiscal policy 18 years ago.

It took a rather long time to convince Lippert to fall on his sword for Harper.

Stephen
said

What silly nonsense! Doesn't Dion's "team" have something better to do that try to pin a long gone staffer's foolishness on the Prime Minister.

Stephen Harper is far too smart and far too straight an arrow to intentionally copy the Australian Prime Minister's speech, and you people know it! Come on!! Get a grip.

Mary from N.Ontario
said

Isn't this the same party that allegedly violated the intellectual property rights of a private company by naming their de facto platform "The Green Shift" and their website thegreenshift.ca (the company, Green Shift, Stone? Meet glass wall.

Jeff
said

Heads of state and party leaders rarely write their own speeches. I'm not sure where the controversy is. Let's check to see if their ties matched. It might be just as relevant.

my take on this
said

What kind of an example is this for "Little Johnny". The Prime Minister of Canada plagiarizing a speech. How can anyone believe a word that comes out of Stephen Harper's mouth. He doesn't keep his word, he is a flip-flopper and now Canada has to deal with a plagiarizer.

Whose speech did Stephen Harper use at the high school reunion?

Canada needs a Prime Minister that can be trusted.

MB Ont
said

Come on now farmer and all you who are changing your vote against Harper because of this plagiarison that Rae has dig up which took place over 5 yrs ago. These guys have speach writers to write their speaches for them !! And if it wasn't a big issue then, why is it such an issue now when this country has so many more important issues to deal with. grow up people and be mature and don't imitate the behaviour of the Liberals with their dirt digging.

spencer
said

WOW.... I'm impressed !!!

BREAKING NEWS...... The Liberals under Jean Cretien have been acused of involvement in a sponsorship scandal in Quebec......more details to follow.....

Nothing like finding the smoking gun.......before it rusted !!

Why have we not seen or heard from the great wise Liberal Gerard Kennedy, the man with all the intellectual foresight who, at the Liberal leadership convention, threw all his support behind STEPHAN DION.

Time for a major house cleaning

Gerry in markham
said

This speaks to Harper's lack of honesty and integrity.

melvatron-kingston
said

Pretty sad all around.

Despite bringing to light these "important" issues, the Liberals are going to lose this election like never before. I for one didn't vote conservative in the last election but after some consideration my life has actually improved under the Conservatives. I'm not afraid of the boogeyman anymore, but I am afraid of a Liberal party with absolutely no clear direction that appeals to our emotions and fear more than common sense at this time. Maybe with a new leader I'll be a Liberal again but certainly not now.

Joel in Kamloops
said

uh... and people are supposed to care about this? Seems to me like the election should be about the current issues facing our country and citizens. Non issue.

Proud Conservative American!
said

No body is saying anything about Layton copying Obama.
But if PM Harper does it, LOOK OUT!

Echoing some of Mr. Obama's speeches, Mr. Layton says his party's campaign will center on a �vision of hope� and exposing ways Canada is ready for change.

Emmerson
said

There�s no believen� deceiven� Steven.

Mike S
said

Hmm... haper did barrow speeches, makes promises that even his own party is not aware or part of any platform. Why should I vote for someone that is already making and made empty promises. The health care and education are woarst then when the liberals where in power? any thoughts?

tim
said

the last line says it all...

you'd be expelled from high school for plagiarism PERIOD.

stealing, whether money, property, ideas or words is still stealing. i do believe, we as a society frown upon such behaviour.

Science student
said

While the fact that he shares a similar viewpoint with people further on the right in terms of political spectrum, a similar message in the speech is not surprising and does not affect my view of Harper in any way. However, the fact that it was plagiarized word for word with no credit being given is a serious matter. No respectable educational institution would tolerate this. I must admit, this five year delay is somewhat amusing.

farmer fred
said

I see the Conservative spin machine is working overtime already.
Something happened here. This is not a coincidence. At the very least it demonstrates a lack of honesty on behalf of Mr Harper. At the worse it may show that Harper was part of an orchestrated effort to draw Canada into the war in Iraq.
This is not irrelevant. It is germaine to character and judgement. The media has a duty to dig into this further. The more I see in this election the more I am being convinced the real choice is change and Jack Layton. Harper is proving to me that going from Conservative to Liberal and back again is nothing more than same circus - different clowns.

sarah
said

I'm wondering how many of you are foolish enough to believe that Harper actually wrote that speech himself. He has a *speech writer*, as do all senior politicians. At worst, it is a case of a speech writer plagiarizing, and is still a non-issue. big whoop.

NAMU Rising
said

Is committing plagarism and lying in the House of Commons a crime? If so punish Harper as severely as he would like to punish Children, JAIL!

This indicates that Steven Harper is funded and controlled by the smae people who fund and control the Hawkish element of the Republican National Party, i.e. Oil Companies, Banks and and Multi-National Corporations.

This also indicates that the Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld team forwarded speeches, sound bytes and support(financial?) to the Canadian Reform Alliance Party to gain leverage and control over Canadian assets. THIS IS WHAT CANADIANS SHOULD FEAR ABOUT HARPER!

Greg from Nova Scotia
said

When a student in my class copies a part of another piece of work I give them a 0%. Another example of Harpers extreme right wing ideologies.

JJ
said

Oh, what was Ignatieff's stand on the Iraq war? That's right, he supported it then changed his mind. Where's Waldo? Where's Dion? What a great leader the Liberals have!!!

JC
said

Bob Rae plagiarized Donald Trump's hairdo and no one seems to be complaining about that.

Edward
said

Mr. Harper, You just lost my vote. I was still undecided until I saw this. Some may say big deal it was 5 years ago. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHEN IT OCCURRED. The fact of the matter is he plagerized his speech. In school that meant expulsion, in the work place it means being fired. I have never known any workplace that would ever accept plagerism. How can we trust anything he says if he cannot even be honest in a speech about war.

What is wrong with people????
said

People.
Get a life here ABC'ers!

By the time Harper gets elected, Bush will be on his way out.

Man are you that stupid?
Why would you align yourself with someone who has less than a moth till they are turfed?

Jeez!

Jose
said

Your kidding me? Why wasn't this an issue in the last election. Much ado about nothing. Get on with real issues. Does the meida hate Harper this much to think its news worthy. Let us dig up some dirt on Rae from 15 years ago.

Corey in Manitoba
said

I hope some one can answer this question for me as I do not know the answer.

How exactly has Harper copied every policy of the Republican party in the US??
I know most people will say the war in Afganistan but that is not true. Deregulation of the banking industry? Haven't heard about any deregulation in Canada. Iraq? Was not in power so that is not the answer.
Someone please help me out as I am confused as to whom to vote for.

Can somebody say Hypocrite?
said

1) Dion said he doesn't sling crap - HE DOES USING HIS PATSY BOB RAE

2) Dion stole the "GREEN SHIFT" name

3) Dion stole his policies from the Suzuki Foundation

Quelle hypocrisy!!

Do these loser Liberals not have any better issues like the economy to discuss?

Duane Oshawa
said

I get breifs all the time, and use many parts of it word for word, rather than risk mitgating the intent, this was a Nato party line and meant to be followed. Can you imagine a leader who first was unable to follow. The Liberals with their new left mouth peice is grasping in desperation!!

Andy
said

Hopefully no one here commenting downloads music or movies from the net. That would be wrong just like plagerism.

Larry NL
said

To road robber. Do you think if the liberals did win the election, that there would be enough room for Stephane, Bob and Micheal along with their families at 24 Sussex Dr..I'm sure Bob and Mike would be some upset if they were not included. ...

karen in bc
said

2003? REALLY? should we go and review harper's comments back in high school or university, too?

i am not a harper fan...but get a grip. there has to be something more relevant and current to debate on..

Trevor Taylor Abbotsford, BC
said

I think that the person giving this parrot-rhetoric still exists, not that the party that he gave the speech for doesn't and that should be the focus of the obvious lack of character of Mr. Harper. If Ronald McDonald switched to Wendy's, everytime you saw him on tv wouldn't you still think McDonald's?

Munro - Brampton
said

Who really cares ? There are far more important issues. We have a friend that has been living with us (from Kitchener) for five years. He needs to see a doctor about something. The clinic doctor today would not give him a physical; walked out on him. Internet search has not found a family doctor yet. Brampton sucks, bye the way.

Eyes Wide Shut
said

Ignorance is not a defence in the eyes of the law. How many laws has Harper broken in the past 5 years, including some passed by his own hand?
Take a closer look 'true conservatives'. For your sake, and the sake of your families,do NOT let these Reformists in Conservative clothing fool you any longer.

Anything
But
Conservative

Trevor Taylor
said

Does the person who headed the now non existent party exist? I think that outweighs any attempt at reasoning this away with logic.

David in Toronto
said

Let's see, the Liberals blatantly plagiarize "Green Shift" from a company of that name and these lefties stay quiet. Someone else wrote a speech for Harper 5 years ago and all of a sudden it's the end of the world. He didn't even write the speech himself. If anybody should be targeted, it should be the speech writer.

I don't know how you lefties can continue to vote Liberal, that whole party should be thrown in jail for all their thievery while they were in power. Seems like this country is lacking common sense.

Andrew Gould from Halifax
said

Mr. Harper is a grown man, and is very intelligent. He could of reworded the dam speech if he felt it was necessary, but obviously he was not worried if people found out he used a similar speech. who cares anyway! All and all, the liberals need new attack ideas.

Shannon in Ottawa
said

Prior to becoming Prime Minister, Stephen Harper had never travelled out of the country, so it is not surprising to me that he would have taken the thoughts and words of a world leader who is supposed to know better.

Regardless, that happened in 2003 and we are in 2008!

These are different times with different issues. It's not time to dwell on the past. During the past few years, Harper has done nothing but impress me (surprisingly!). Everything he's been saying and doing is what matters to me, my family and my wallet.

The Liberals can bend over backwards all they want but Stephen will still have my vote!

Tony Blanks
said

Has anyone asked who wrote John Howard's speech and if it wasn't just something circulated to Neo Cons. Maybe contrived by Carl Rove and team

Fed Up Montrealer
said

Little by little, bit by bit, the underhanded, devious hidden agenda of the Harperites will be exposed. God help Canada if he gets a majority government.

Notice that despite promising to address the issue of tackling high gas prices, to date he hasn't uttered a peep.

Notice how he back-tracked in face of public opposition with respect to cuts for the arts, offering a useless tax credit.

Notice how he makes a concentrated effort to avoid talking about combating poverty in Canada, but there's tons of $$ to feed poor Afghans during their religious festival, and tons of $$ to fund his war machine.
....I'll take my chances with Jack!

Ian - Scarborough, ON
said

Oh, come on. Are we to believe this is such a big issue if we have had 5 years and 2 elections with Harper as leader without hearing a peep about this? Is the Liberal research team that incompetent? Somehow, I don't think so. Another non-story that exposes Liberal desperation. Go Harper Go!

The Bottom Line
said

The Liberals are just trying to take attention away from the ONTARIO LIBERALS WHO YESTERDAY SAID STEPHANE DION's POLICIES ARE BAD FOR THE ECONOMY.....

Everybody agrees Dions policies are bad...

Hunter Mars
said

Two words sum up the Con-clones economic plan .No clue .

Marcel
said

If Mr. Harper had been the PM in 2003, our Canadian troops would be in Iraq. No one should be surprised by these revelations because the PM has the same political tendencies as John Howard and George W. Bush, right wing.

Mike
said

Just as the hopeless liberal supporters have already stated, this is not about plagerism, but, rather the foreign policy of a given political party. The liberals want you to beleive that Harper is a wanna be Bush, and that the Conservatives are wanna be Republicans. The truth is, he is not.

It is fair to say however, that back in 2003 both Harper and the Canadian Alliance did support the Iraq war. This is no secret and really isnt news, its a matter of public record. However what is also a matter of public record is that the Canadian Alliance does not exist. A new party, that IS more moderate emerged and its policies reassessed. In 2003 Harper supported the Iraq war, but so did Ignatieff, and so did many other liberals, I know, because I was a member of the liberal party at the time. In fact, when Chretien decided not to go to Iraq, that is when I quit the liberals. This news revelation doesnt tell you anything about Harper that you didnt already know. This wont change how people vote though. I look forward to posting a very pompous and in your face style victory post on Oct 14th when Harper wins his majority :)

caribou22
said

I'm just waiting to hear...

It was Harper's speech and Howard copied it.

Dion's environmental policies stolen from Suzuki !
said

Is this the BEST the Liebral spinmeisters can do?

The Liebrals need to explain the National Posts expose on Dion taking his environmental policies from the David Suzuki foundation.

Hypocrisy knows no bounds in the Liebral party.

Man, these Liebrals are desperate using the traditional Liebrals dirty tricks and gossip to try and win elections... BY THROWING DIRT AND HOPING SOME OF IT STICKS.

How many days did the Liebrals waste trying to dig this crap instead of fixing their Green shift which was rejected yesterday by the Ontario Finance Minster Dwight Duncan?

The Ontario Liberals reject Dions policies - what does that tell Canadians?

Francine
said

And Bob has never ever utilized anyone else's words in his entire political career... really? I'm supposed to believe that?

What shocks me is - THIS made the top 10 news headlines. Come On! There are more interesting news stories out there, how about we chase those.

Shoe
said

More proof that a vote for Harper, is a vote to follow the USA's policies. He truly is a CON-servative, CON-artist...

Mr. Coles
said

Mr. Harper - do want my coles notes on economic issues??

caribou22
said

I have never heard so many false rationalizations for one man's highly irrational behaviour in my life. It is actually getting quite comical.

Cal in Ottawa
said

Bob Rae, oh yeah, the NDP guy who became a Liberal, after he put Ontario's economy in the tank. I don't see the issue here; since when did agreeing with someones position become plagerism? He didn't publish it. He didn't claim it was original thought. Tempest in a teapot.

dawn5651
said

a question that needs to be answered is how many other world leader speeches did bush lite swipe and use as his own words...bush called for americans to go *shopping* after 9/11 and bush lite has called for canadians to go *shopping*...roflmao...harper has no original thoughts of his own...aides and mp's aren't going to speak to this issue because bushlite has effectively shut them all up...

out west
said

Bob Rae - "This is a disgraceful performance by the leader of a political party there for all the world to see, and all the world is going to see it. They need to see it because they need to know what we're dealing with here"

Yeah, because you were the greatest thing since sliced bread when you were premier of Ontario. I could only imagine the chaos you'd cause with a whole country.

There's an old saying about people who live in glass houses Mr. Rae. I'd suggest you learn it.

As far as the others who are criticizing Harper of plagiarism, it wasn't Harper who did it, it was a SPEECH WRITER. Every party hires them, and many of them don't use original thoughts.

Brett O'Neil
said

My take, and I think, many people would agree that, a current PM, and most likely, our future PM (with Conservative support at around 38%) would never compromise his personal, political and party's reputation and integrity by intentionally plagiarising, especially from a speech from another PM.
I'm fairly certain that in the wake of a short timeframe to deliver the speech, one of his writer's copied large portions of the speech.
This could have happened to any party. The finger- pointing by the opposing parties, whether they are leading or losing in the polls would have been the same.

Karen in 'tha peg
said

TO THE LIBERAL PARTY : Grow the "bleep" up already... You're supposed to be the "watch dogs" on CANADA and how things are run and you're worried about something as stupid as this from 2003?!?

I might be SLIGHTLY interested if this speech happened yesterday AND Letterman had already come out with the "stupid pet tricks" but jeez louise I'm tired of your crying already.

People : Typically I'm a well spoken, articulate person - but this @#$(@ is really starting to pee me off... Do you actually think the Liberals could run Canada when they waste time, money and resources on investigating the words of a speech from 5 years ago?!?

LIBERALS : I bet if you dig deep enough - you could probably find footage of Harper going to the bathroom and NOT washing his hands!!! Wow - *sounding incredibly sarcastic* just who would shake his hand then?!?!? THAT WOULD BE OUTRAGE!!!

All this tells me is... If the PC's do something SERIOUSLY wrong - you might figure out and catch wind of it in 10 or so years....

Yup - *still sarcastic - even rolling my eyes* you really get my vote now...

Sad thing is (can't beleive I'm admitting this) I was actually on the FENCE for awhile as to who was going to get my vote!

Karen

Just Visiting
said

The idea being peddled here that this isn't important is just goofy. It matters.

My question, however, is how did the media, and the blogosphere -- in Canada and in Australia -- miss this for five whole years?

Systemic laziness? What?

Ben
said

Everybody knows that the speeches when delivered are written by writers hired by the respective party. All political leaders just simply tweak the speech that is given to them. I seriously doubt the Harper knowingly did any wrong doing.

Tom Hawley
said

I watched the news release when this first aired.It was very similar.
Not only did the similarity grab my attention but the what "if".
If Harper had his way and we sent more troops to Iraq I wonder how many mothers,fathers,brothers,sisters,uncles,aunts,cousins,would have been lost?

This shows he is a follower and NO leader.
Who will take the shot for Harper ?Who will be blamed?
If Harper is as aware of world issues as he claims I am sure he was aware of Howards speech.He supported it.
Perhaps Harper can use another line from a former world leader.
Remember Nixon?
"I'm not a crook".
Harper:
"I'm not a plagiarist".

Glen Staples, Courtenay, B.C.
said

McKays betrayal of a written aggreement with David Orchard. Emmerson switching to Harper within hours of election. Vicious personal attacks on public servants doing their job or family of slain soldier. Harper passing a law on fixed election date to suit himself then being the first person to break his own law when it suited him.
Now, not only did Stephen Harper support an unnecessary war but he couldn't even find an original speech.
It's true that this is not the most serious of transgressions but it speaks to incompetence in content and method. All the war has accomplished is to make Saddam look good and Harper bad.

Rylan
said

Whether it was five years ago or yesterday is irrelevant...

It is:

a)theft, or;

b)reading from a script that was given to more than one actor.

John
said

Perhaps Harper's speech writer plagiarized the speech, but that doesn't mean that Harper knew about it. All politicians have other people write their speeches.

Victor
said

I am still voting Conservative. I learned in grade 7 that the words in the House of Commons were written by others and that the folks just stand up and read the stuff.

I'm looking forward to what dirt the Conservatives come out with about the Liberals. If you dig long enough you are bound to find something.

I

PETER
said

are we electing a party or are we electing a leader. Harper has not been a leader nor can he lead. what exactly is he going to do about enviroment,economy? he has really done nothing. nor is he going to do anything. look at the amount of auto closers in Ontario. look at the issues the east coast had with him regarding hibernia which is a job maker. the imbalance of funding across the country. he is not a leader if you want more of nothing then vote Harper. if you want change vote someone else.

Tom C
said

Anyone who doesn't think plagiarism is relevant ought to talk to Joe Biden.

I wonder what's worse: If Harper plagiarized Howard's speech, or if they both were working from talking points provided to them by the White House?

I want my Canada back.

caribou22
said

Harper's plagierism is just a small issue compared to his attempt to get us in on the Bush's invasion of Iraq, where in the hell would we be right now if he would have succeeeded.

GFJM in NB
said

Good work detective!

M
said

I love that the conservatives posting here are trying to minimize this issue by saying it's in the past and we should focus on the present, but isn't it you conservatives who still to this day blame the liberals for every little thing they did while in power? If you want to put the past in the past, maybe you should be so kind to the liberals as well. Oh wait, then you wouldn't have a leg to stand on politically.

Ian- Alberta
said

remember folks Harper wants copyright reform that would see you jailed for plagiarism; or in the very least sued rather severely. Yet; he does it himself interesting. Once again Harper thinks he's above his own laws.. kinda like calling this election. Hmmm.

Dave in Waterloo
said

Can we please have another line added to the ballot...Like " None of the above" It would still be a vote!!

Leasa
said

Seems Dion and Rae live in glass houses. They know all about copying copy-righted material. ...So it looks like Stephen Harper might have used the same words as John Howard in 2006 to say that terrorists are bad.

So it looks like Stephane Dion might have used a report by David Suzuki to sell himself as a great thinker on environmental issues even though during Dion's turn as environment minister, greenhouse gas emissions in Canada rose steadily without pause.

So it looks like Bob Rae might have submitted a song derived in large part from a copyrighted work as his own in an official song competition.

If the media runs with this without reporting that a)Harper did not write the speech and b) Dion and Rae have had the same 'problem' before.

Nick in Gatineau
said

Actually the earth is pear-shaped due to fluctuations of the poles and the warping of the axis caused by them. As for the Heritage Front and the Reform Party, Reformers can't hide from that one. Its in the Gazette; its in the archives for ever. Personalism is a bad thing in Politics as well as in real life. Its almost Opus Dei-esque. Failures usually end in erratic and violent actions such as insulting everyone, using someone else's speeches...
Hijacking a political party to forget your past is one thing; trying to make people believe yesterday didn't happen, quite another. Reformers will never walk away from that one unless they destroy our National Archives.

Good luck with that !

Brett in Montr�al
said

Gotta love those CONS saying that this is not important -- au contraire, it`s another perfect example of Harper and his skewed views and lack of transparency. This CONservative government is more dangerous and secretive than any previous Liberal government. Do not vote for the puppet master and his cronies. Dion all the way!

Hanley
said

of course they won't discuss it...they, like everything else, just ignore it and make it go away....

ignorant buffoons,

Andrew Noble
said

The problem is once again that Harper is proving his inherent dishonesty. What Canadians have long suspected and from the same cloth as Brian Mulroney, Harper continues to look smooth but talk out of the sides of his mouth.

To this day he hasn't come clean about election expenses (especially after the sponsorship scandal) preferring to slap a lawsuit on the chief electoral officer. Nor has he come clean about the Cadman affair, slapping his opponents with Lawsuits to hush up the whole thing.

Look at us straight in the eye for once and tell Canadians the truth - Oh and use your own words please, don't steal them!

John from NB
said

Good issue to bring up, but wrong time to bring it up. I was on the fence between the NDP and Liberals, but after this, I don't think I'm going to vote liberal. If this has been around for awhile, why was it brought up now? To me, it's a last ditch attempt to regain the center by the Liberals. One word:DESPERATE

dave
said

Does anybody remember what Iggy threw at the wall yesterday, hoping it would stick? Didnt think so. Tomorrow we wont remember Rae either--liberals are ducking their absurd policies, and no-leader

Motz
said

Barack Obama also copied portions of his speeches from others.

I guess that makes him some sort of evil neo-conservative too.

Boy a revelation like this can only bolster those huge crowds coming out to see Dion.

Dave from Toronto
said

The video is proof! Harper's thoughts and word are not his own! A kid in school would be punished for using someone else's words, why not the PM? If nothing else, it shows he will do "whatever it takes" to gain power. SHAME!!!

Niagara George
said

Interestingly, John Howard was leader of the Australian Liberal Party. In Aussie, the Liberal Party is the right-wing conservative party.

Take a look at the Australian Liberal platform. Harper and all neocons must go to the same election school. Their platform is filled with 'pie-in-the-sky' motherhood generalizations, with absolutely no specifics.

That must be why the Canadian Cons have not released a platform. If they do have one, it doesn't say anything.

Should they possibly win a majority, Harper can propose anything and say it was in our platform and this is what Canadians voted for.

By now, the media outlets should be demanding a platform from these deceivers in sweaters.

Dajo
said

OK, so the coalition of the willing studied together and shared talking points. That's not plagiarism. If Mr. Harper had given his speech first, Mr. Howard would have been accused of plagiarism. If you have listened to Mr. Harper's speeches over the years how can you imagine that he needs to plagiarize? What a bogus and trivial accusation.

Robb in Oilberta
said

Two things I would like to point out. First, this is not university, no one is taking an exam here and no one is marking this speech. If the speech by Howard was so good and made the point Harper wanted to make and Howard gave him the thumbs up to use it, BIG DEAL, a non-issue in my opinion. And how ridiculous to tie Mr Harper to Bush and Howard. I have the same opinion on issues as some others, so what. Shall we now tie Mr Layton to every other Socialist Politician in the world we don't like?? So who does Mr Dion remind you of that you don't like or agree with?? Mr harper represents the "right" wing in this country, obviously he reflects the same type of values and opinions as other politicians in other countries that are of the same philosophy, big surprise!!

Secondly, where is Mr Dion?? Bob Rae almost ruined Ontario and now he is being touted as the man to replace Mr. Dion should the Liberals not do well. Hmmm, I thought Mr Rae was a New Democrat!! Seems the Liberals are no longer the party of the middle, the party of reason between the right and left wing political philosophy.

I think the "left" leaning vote is going to be split between the NDP and Liberals and the Conservatives are going to come right up the middle and form a majority. The same thing happened with the Conservative and Reform party which allowed the Liberals to do the same a few years back. History repeats itself always. Just my 2 cents worth.

michael warren
said

It's too bad that most of the electorate can't see the real Harper in sheep's clothing. Harper is a reformer-alliance wacko who can't think or speak for himself. The Conservatives can only attack the opposition because they have no real platform. Their ads try to invoke a racist slur on Dion and inflame the anti French bigots in the country. Maybe what we really need in Canada is a Liberal-New Democrat union. Dion,Layton,Ignatief,and Rae -now there is a Dream Team.

Will
said

This is extremely well played politics. The Liberals' goal is not only to show that Harper follows Bush's extreme right wing policies but the major goal (and it's working) is to remind Canadians that Harper would have sent us to Iraq. And all the news articles I see about this are reminding readers of this fact. This is playing right into the Liberal's hands...Hopefully, this will remind voters that the Liberals are the only serious party to vote for. How many Canadians would have died in Iraq if Harper was in power then? How many more could die because of cooked up lies by right wing parties in the future if Harper is still in power? Wake up people.

Paul
said

So he mirrored a speech made by another world leader 5 years ago?? Is this the best the Liberals can do? What possible relevance could this have to the electorate today?

I'm embarrassed for them. This is an act of pure desperation. The Tories are right to simply ignore this absurd attack.

Devil's Advocate
said

How this is NOT disconcerting to many individuals on this form is what truly boggles my mind. If St�phane Dion or Jack Layton would have pulled such a stunt, you conservative uneducated morons would be all over them.
As a University graduate student, plagiarism is a serious crime which involves automatic expulsion. If I were to plagiarize and get caught doing so, I would get kicked out of my program and would likely never get the opportunity to practice in my field. So whether it is done in a University faculty or in the House of Commons, it is a very serious matter that many should not be taking so lightly. He read word for word a speach delivered by another and passed it off as his own. I don't care that it happened five years ago; it was wrong then and it is wrong now especially since he is our elected Prime Minister. He was elected by individuals that condone plagiarism and obviously have no issues passing these values on to the children of the next generation.
When Bush was elected the first time around, the American people could not know what to expect of him so they could not be blamed for his wrongdoings. The second time around, they reelected him and as such, deserve all the hardship that has been bestowed upon them.
We have been given the opportunity to rectify our mistake by electing a more competent leader this time around. Let us all make our vote count for the greater good of this country and let us not reelect a leader and a party that is constantly looking (not only they looking, they are down right COPYING) to the South when implementing CANADIAN policies!

Shawn
said

Can any of the Conservative defenders in here explain to us, then, why the past always seems be "in the past" when it comes to Conservative gaffes, but everyone else's pasts seems to be ripe for exploiting as soon as it serves Conservative interests?

The smug hypochrisy of the Conservative's campaign and the lack of media coverage of it should be alarming to many Canadians.

justice
said

OMG.....The stories I have read on here today are sad.

Talk about appointments-well that is how it works. People are appointed to those positions. The Liberals did it for years as well, before and right after an election. That is how they impose their thoughts and wishes in those departments....put in people who think like them. That is how it works.

Then I read a story about the PM not kissing his daughter....well I have a 13 (going on 30) year old daughter and she does NOT want dad kissing her in public around her friends.....so that could be the reason why....

People thinking that Harper is a Bush puppet for supporting some issues and then complaining he is to harsh on the Chinese.....well we can not have our cake and eat it too.

Oh and then there was Layton complaining he wanted to joing the PM on a response regarding the failed bail out in the USA. Well the last I checked our PM is HARPER, not Layton or Dion. Government response should come from the government. When they grow up and possibly for government one day then they can respond to international issues.

This story is also inviting the Harper campaign to dig up dirt on Ray......who was not the best liked Premier in Ontario.

Larry in Wpg
said

And when you thought the Liberals couldn't stoop any lower. Bob, what about how the Liberals stole the trade-marked words "Green Shift" from a private citizen without even asking. Also, Dion has about a trillion times plagerized exact words and phrases from his buddy the fruit fly guy, Suzuki. The Liberals again show what a true bunch of low-life,bottom feeders they really are.

carda
said

Did it occur to anyone that it IS possible that the leaders corresponded on the speech, as well? Ever worked on a project TOGETHER with someone - like an ally? Not that it makes much difference. It is truly grasping at straws. As for tarring Harper with Bush's legacy - its like the first Presidential debate. Sooner or later someone has to address the fact that Harper ISN'T GW Bush, and go by HARPER'S record. This is an incredibly LAME attempt to do that. As for saying the free market caused the economic woes the US faces - ridiculous! It was the government interference in the market which caused it. ...

Jo in Gtown
said

Ever hear of speech writers? All politicians, CEOs and other 'head honchos' employ them.
And if a speech is good, why not use it again? Some things need to be repeated.

James Eh!
said

Given that Harper, Howard and Bush all had the same group of advisors, someone got paid by the Canadian official opposition for a speech they wrote for John Howard.

People went to jail when they got paid twice for the same work in the Lib Adscam..

Can you say hypocracy on the part of Harper?

Don
said

Plagiarism is not only unethical, it's illegal.

Harper would be thrown out of school for copying word for word someone elese's work without giving proper credit.

This is only a non story to those that it embarrasses.

This goes to character, or is Stephen Harper's case, the lack thereof.

UofM
said

Plagiarism is a huge deal, and if he did do this in university he wouldn't even be where he is. Because as soon as you're caught stealing someone else's work without giving credit, your expelled. How is it fair that my future would be ruined for plagiarizing but he can continue to be in contention to run our country?

wiseguy
said

Someone wrote that speech in 2003 and handed it to the PM. If it was plagiarized it wan't by SH: leaders don't often write their own speeches. If it wasn't properly vetted and turns out that it was plagiarized the writer will find himself called to account.

George
said

I realize some of you want to try your best to make light of this. However, plagarism is a very serious offence. If done in university, he could lose all the credits he had earned.

The important sideline to this is that, it is most likely that neither Harper nor Howard wrote the speech. It probably came from Washington.

By the way, you should not be mentioning Harper and economy manager in the same sentence. It was just yesterday that many of you said much of the Canadian economy is controlled by international/American events.

I agree with you, so don't tell me today that we need Harper to manage the economy that gets managed by outside forces.

And I definitely do not want Harper managing the armed forces, government services, international relations, the arts or provincial transfers.

Lart from Above
said

The content of the speech is not relevant. What it says about Harper's lack of originality, honesty, leadership, and character is very relevant.

If Harper were smart, he would immediately respond with some sort of explanation to shut the story down. But as in many cases in the past, he has nothing to say about his own past mistakes. That's the kind of amateurish communications problem that we've come to expect from the Tories.

It's also interesting to note that Harper, unlike John Howard, was not prime minister in 2003. This suggests direct interference in Canadian internal politics by the United States, and it raises the question of how much interference is ongoing since the Conservatives have been in power.

Stan
said

It underscores the point that WE WOULD NOW BE IN IRAQ IF STEPHEN HARPER HAD BEEN PM IN 2003 . If he gets a majority government then you can bet that he will be following the Americans into the next stupid war they get themselves into.

bobsyouruncle
said

The point is that it's quite possible that Howard and Harper were given the speech by Bush's people as a way of getting their countries inline with American policy on Iraq. So, do you really want a P.M. that so easily bows to U.S. pressure? Softwood lumber, immigration, economy - do we just take what the U.S. tells us to? Hate him or love him, at least Chretien stood up for Canada!

FCS
said

It's funny, I never really hated Liberals and the left until I started reading their comments on this forum. I've seen more intelligent arguments from my 6 year old. If you want to talk about whether or not Harper would have sent troops that do not exist to a war we were never asked to participate in fine. You want to call people names like neo-con, CONS etc great. You want to prove to me how infantile and facile your opinions are: mission accomplished.

matt
said

nice shot Bob!!

harmon
said

Let�s consider this bald-faced plagarism for what it is�proof positive that Harper�s conservatism is a George Bush wannabe. He WOULD have had us wasting Canadian lives and resources in Iraq. I voted for Harper last time around and have no desire this time to see the hapless Dion in power. Nevertheless, as Harper�s pronouncements during the war in Lebanon clearly show, he remains a clueless sock puppet of American folly.

al from calgary
said

To Jay
Saying that what they believe in before becoming prime minister is very relevant. Since Dion was once a sepertist you won't vote for him, since Layton once used private health you wont vote for him, so I guess that leaves Ms May until someone finds dirt on her

cambob
said

Ok, people. This "ABC" thing is really childish. I don't like conservatives or liberals, but my vote is the single most powerful tool I have to influence change. Dragging it down to elementary school level and trivializing the process is a shame.

US style politics = Liberal Party of Canada
said

So let me get this right. Howard in Austrailia is really Bush? The left is so desparate to say Bushes name everytime they mention Harper they will come up with anything. Don't you guys get it. It did not work last election, you just make yourselves look foolish by using it this election. The US style scare tactics are very Un-Canadian. When will the Liberals stop acting like Americans. Im am starting to think US style politics = Liberal Party of Canada.

Charles (BC)
said

Many candidates have been terminated for ill fated remarks or actions from their past. Harper should step down or maybe the Canadian people should show him to the door. This is just the beginning. What about the 148 patronage positions to Conservative faithful before the call of the Election. Harper cannot be trusted. Harper equals Mulroney equal huge deficit for Canada.

Paul out West
said

Harper parroting another conservative's leader in another country is not surprising. What is upsetting is that he could have said I agree with George W. Bush and former conservative leader in Australia, John Howard. Instead he stole another person's writing and used it as his own. In University you could be expelled for plagiaring another's writings.

Going into Iraq was wrong anyway - wrong country, wrong time. Al Quaeda was in Afghansitan not Iraq. Jean Chretien knew that and spoke the truth and was smart enough not to go into Iraq.

charlespoore
said

vote for the NDP let them have a try at it. It been a while for the NDP to be in power.

Matt
said

Its funny how these conservative posters tear into the liberals anytime they have something bad to say about their leader, sayig things like "digging at the bottom of the barrel" and "desperate" but oddly enough it is Mr. Stephan Harper who has done nothing but attack Mr. Dion since Dion became leader of the opposition... what would you call that? I mean honestly what sitting prime minister takes out attack ads on an opposition leader? lol its ridicules how irrational people get when they get all partisan

Edb
said

..."Heritage Front" ?????
Please tell me you're joking or just forgot to take your meds! Did we all miss the armed insurrection or white supremacist language in Harper's platform that you picked up on ? I'd say please clarify the connection but after reading your post, I'd rather hear from the flat earth society.
Thanks for the laugh all the same !

JLC
said

Can't wait to see the Conservative War room spin this?? Most of the top 10 messages stink of them.

They've taken a decidely snide, sophomoric tone these days.

I voted Conservative last election. Forgive me.

Carmen Lepage
said

But Rae is right and I am much more inclined to vote for the party that had the guts to stand up to our bullying neighbor and say No to Bush's unjustified war in Iraq. I still do not want a PM that cannot think for himself. Harper has been a parrot to the current U.S. administration...and much like Harpers' it should also be clear to everyone where Howard's speech came from.

Ken
said

Everyone knows this speech was written by David Frum and distributed by the Bush administration to his "allies"...old news, get over it, vote Harper!

JKW in Calgary
said

It's pretty pathetic that the loser of the Liberal Leadship race has to do the "dirty" work for the party....pathetic comes to mind!!

Of course the speech is similar, the viewpoint and opinions of the two people were almost identical too....

Once again, it becomes clear that winning at any cost is all Liberals know.....my question is why did so many people support them for so long....crooks, liars, cheats and corrupt....now desparate!!

Stephen Harris
said

Sounds good Bob. Let's vote for Dion because Stephen Harper copied a speech.

I vote with my wallet.

By the way, John Rae, Bob's brother, has an interesting past with the UN Oil for Food Scandal.

If you search in yawiki.org - I tried google - and enter Desmarais and oil for food, good ole Bob's brother is nicely written up.

How many billions went missing in on this scandal Bob?

Lost Cause
said

It's quite possible Harper had his speech written by someone else who was lazy. Harper is not who I am voting for, but I wouldn't necessarily expect him to hear every single speech on the world stage within the last 48 hours every time he was in the midst of preparing one to deliver himself, or for that matter, having a speech prepared for him to deliver.

If plagiarism does end up being the definitive case, Harper will likely blame it on the speechwriter, just like any smart politician would. All of these guys have speeches written for them, it's the way it works...

What we should really be focusing on is what was said in the speech. I'm glad Canadians are being reminded by this story that Harper, like Howard, is all about doing exactly what the Bush administration and the American neoconservative right wing want done. It's up to us as citizens on voting day to decide whether we want Canada run in a majority by a political party like that. I know I don't.

Dayton
said

HA! HA! HA! next you will be telling us he cheated in school. Where does it end with you guys?

Cynical guy
said

Trying to see the similarities between Jethro Bodine and Steven Harper. Lets see they both know some of their gazintoo's, both have a higher education, both are ustanding citizens. Oooopppss... plagiarism... 12 billion dollar surplus gone...well at least Jethro is proud of his gr 8 education. And a naught naught spy to boot. Hey Jethro is upstanding!! ABC my recommendation is Jethro

RS
said

I don't blame former Liberals from leaving their party. The people haven't left the party, the party has left the people. The current Liberals are a tabloid party. What a joke....

Harry
said

It doesn't surprise me that Steven, would deliever someone else speech. He openly supported the iraq war and he had is way then Canadian soldiers would be dying there also. The fact that two leaders who were members of the coalition of the willing gave the same speech within days of each other suggests outside influence. Remeber Bush identified three members of the Axis of evil that were trying to develop weapons of mass destruction. Will the conservative right wing agenda see canadian soldiers In Iran or North Korera Next if the Americans decide to go that route.

Rob, Toronto
said

This will certainly sway me. I will no longer be voting conservative. Plagiarism is theft. It is the theft of someone else's intellectual property which is then represented as your own. It is abhorrent and it is illegal. This means that our PM is a common criminal. I think that his own policies vis-a-vis harsh sentences and treatment of criminals should be applied to this case.

V/R Ontario.
said

Time to dig out Iggy's speeches. How about Paul Martin, before he changed HIS stance.Does Dion still want to invade Pakistan? Lets see some OLD clips of the Rae Days.
Was the speech Harpers and given to Howard? I saw a one minute clip...not even a half of Howards speech. Man...I am sure going to vote Concervative after this SLIME JOB!

Neil
said

For all you harper chronies and conservative commenntators what you fail to ignore is that the PRIME MINISTER delivered a speech which was plagiarized, the timing is irrelevant the fact is that harper showed no originality and commited a serious lie! as rae says in university or school he would have been EXPELLED!!! this is the PM we want for our KIDS? for our country who is a total puppet of george bush and previously PM Howard's best friend. Its no wonder Harper muzzles his ministers, because they all shoot from their hip! THIS IS A NATIONAL DISGRACE AND PM HARPER IS AN EMBARSSMENT TO CANADIANS for his lack of originality! wonder how many speeches match george bush word for word! for all you reformers posting in defence of your disgracful plagiouristic leader, SHAME ON YOU!!!!

Dale Wilson - Edmonton
said

Two kids sitting in the back of a car, one named Little Bobby Rae and the other Stevie Harper - MOM MOM Stevie won't stop copying me!!

Nick in Gatineau
said

Careful children ! You just might get what you asked for. Harper - Reform party -Heritage Front: ring any bells ?

Harper's name calling is sand-box tactics and nothing more. People say Dion is not understandable. Truth is Dion has no social charisma but if he had a majority, Canada would be in the top 5 countries for pretty much everything. He's an intellectual who knows government better than Harper ever will.

With Harper, we get 9th (Harper riding the Chretien and Martin coat-tails on that one) to 109th. He has no clue as to how to fix the economy or what to do to jumpstart consumer spending. Inflation is going up, unemployment is going up, sectors in the economy are dwindling. He is supposed to be an economist or an accountant ? BTW,most accountants don't invest either. What has Harper invested in ? What has Canada invested in since he came to power ? War. Everything else was already planned by the Liberal government. He highjacked a political party in order to erase his past political beliefs, cut spending to the arts because only HE knows what art truly is, is presenting himself as THE ONLY member of his party, blames his opponents for every problem in the country. Again: Ring a bell ?

I agree with the ABC clan.

John
said

The image of Harper as the independent thinker is false. He says what he is told to say. The only question to ask is "By who?".

matchuk
said

This just re-emphasizes the fact that CONS can't even come up with their own ideas so find it easier to steal them from others. Plagarism, Steve you get a failing grade.

C. Martin
said

Funny if the Harper bunch found something like this on Dion or Layton, I'm sure you all will be praising them for bringing it to light. Right....oh yes and the kinder gentler Harper can't even hug his daughter. What a sham. Pity all you new Conservative think he is of the old conservative cloth.

D King
said

And the relevance of that speech with todays issues are??? Furthermore did Bob happen to check if permission was granted to use the speech? I suspect not. Just the usual desperate measures being adopted by the usual desperate Liberal party. Lots of luck Bob!

Michael Skerritt
said

Cons Supporter look at the tape objectively. How can you dismiss this tape as Harper for 3 solid minutes says the exactly same speech as PM Howard in Austrailia. In all the odds in the world this cannot be talked out of you leader lifted the speech and needs to apoligize for his specchwriters plagurizing this speech. Bye Bye Majority this is a gamechanger!

Robert
said

Ok, after reading the comments I really am starting to believe the Tories must have these commentators on the payroll. Sad.

Trudy Loucks
said

As ex service and a long standing family connection to the old PC Mr Layton is starting to look really good. Where was this information Last election you know that there was one between then and now. I know the liberals are slow but that takes the cake. Mr. Harper you need better staff who know how to use the words and I quote. For someone who is allegedly well educated start thinking for yourself. In the west you are considered a Bush Clone. Maybe that thought process is to be considered. Mr. Layton after much consideration even with your financial oops there are starting to look very very good.

Stephanie
said

The fact that he "lifted" a speech speaks volumes regarding his character. Whether or not it occurred in 2003 or 2008 is not the point.

The point is, Harper can not be trusted nor can the individuals in which he has chosen to surround himself.

We need a Prime Minister who can uphold Canadian values on the world stage.
Harper has shamed & embarrassed this country. He owes all Canadians and the world an apology!

Emmerson
said

Deceivin' Steven at his best.
Hopefully Canadians won't be CONned again.

Jonathan
said

Just a question: Do party leaders write their own speeches or do they have speech writers and staffers who do that job for them?

Jay From The West
said

This is serious. The first and most important question is "Who Wrote The Speech" for John Howard. I don't think anyone can argue Harper copied large sections. Was it written by the Neo-Cons in Washington to be distributed to the like minded around the world.

Our very independance of thought is at question here. How soon we forget the Iraq invasion itself was done through "Lies" and "Falsified information about WMD's".

And to "Steve The Pundit" how long ago something happens is irrelevant to Cons. The NEP is still dragged around in Alberta nearly 30 years later. Albertans say it's because it's a matter of trust. And this isn't somehow?

RobO
said

Here we go, all the people who think that since a leader borrowed words from someone else we should not trust him, HAS ANYONE found out if the Aussie PM gave him the speech or said sure use it.

Gees people, if you are going to base your vote on this, then all of you must grow up,when was the last time that any of us never did this.

As for you folks who keep comparing Harper to Bush, remember Bush is leave.

Also remember we are CANADA not the UNITED STATES. They have a different system and they have different Policies. If you want to keep comparing us to the US, then move there.

John
said

To those who say the Conservative party is not the conservative party of the past: The Liberal party of today is not the Liberal party of the past either. Harper is no more George Bush than Dion is Barrack Obama.

CMQ
said

So was the speech copyrighted? Honestly, when we need to focus on the important issues, like the economy right now and other top stories like the environment? And as several have asked, where is Dion? Oh wait, he's the prof checking all Harper's footnotes!

And wasn't there already an election since then before now? Like 2006!

We don't need a prof, we don't need dirt, we need concrete!

This story completely confounds and astounds me?

Please note: I believe that the above opinions are actually my own but the liberal party may want to check me out too!!!!

Jonathan
said

Ok, so the leader of the opposition opposed what the government wanted to do. Dion should take that as an example instead of rolling over like a dog at every opportunity. Harper's speech matched John Howard's speech in parts. Didn't the liberals rip off the carbon tax green shift from someone else? Perhaps the pot should stop making references to the kettle!

Glo from Ottawa
said

All Liberals can do now is smear, smear, smear. How about the economy, Bob Rae? What are you guys going to do about that? Why should I care what the PM said when he wasn't PM 5 years ago? And guess what... our troops are not in Iraq. So how about talking about something relevant for a change? How about telling me about the issues that concern me and my family now? Like your Green Shift tax plan?

PrairieDog-prairies
said

This is laughable. A different party, five years ago, in a completey different place in time. Is this the high road that the Liberals were talking about?? Keep scraping and digging in the trash Liberals. It will only serve to hurt you further!

Jay
said

People need to remember who the real Stephen Harper is - what he was saying and doing before he became prime minister is very relevant. people need to remember that if he was PM at the start of the Iraq war, our troops would be in Iraq at this time. That it happened 5 years ago, doesn't make it less relevant - but more relevant IMO. It was said before he was trying to get a majority, putting on sweater-vests and being friendly to the media. That was the real Stephen Harper - a right-wing Repulican styled Reformer who would gladly follow George W. Bush's lead anywhere. People need to know.

KC
said

No excuse for Harper but speeches are rarely ever written by the person verbalizing it. I never believed Bush could even write.

Gail (Hamilton)
said

Thank goodness he was guided by the words of the Australian PM. The opposition parties seem to be trying to find fault with anything/everything. I guess they feel this will detract from the real issues, like their major spending policies. How foolish they look!

Anthony, Calgary
said

Plagiarism yields an automatic failing grade. He would have sent Canadian troops to Iraq by not even being able to think the situation through with his own mind: another failing grade. He broke written agreement with Newfoundland about the equalization formula, broke promise about the income trust funds, and broke his own law about set election dates: another failing grade. The squeaky-clean transparency is gone. What is left is relentless hunger for power, at all cost. This what Mr. Harper has become.

dave
said

In case Bob Rae doesnt know, Mr. Harper has been p.m. for 2.5 years, and we are NOT in Iraq, so the speech is irrelevant! No realistic policies from socialist Liberals

JC Kelan (Amherst, NS)
said

So this is what the Liberal election debate on policy and ideas has come down to? Sad, really.

I expect, though, that if Mr. Harper wanted to lift lines from a speech about the Iraq war, he would have drawn on the eloquence of Mr. Ignatief. But then, he's too much of a war-monger for Harper to want to emulate.

Let's see, they hide Bob Rae when they claim fiscal responsibility, hide Ignatief when they want to talk about Iraq and hide Mr. Dion ... well, all of the time.

Too funny.

Northst*r
said

Just a few words for the neoCons Give Harper a majority and you will regret it for a long long time.
Just like you to Malruny...
Ended up with only two (2) seats in the house...
Even the P.M. of the time was defeated...
It's all up to you!!!
Harper cannot be trusted, bottom line...

Mark
said

Typical CONServative hypocrisy.

CONServatives claim to have integrity and responsibility.

This is another example of how Harper has no integrity and refuses to be accountable.

If Harper had any integrity he would immediately apologize for plagiarism (intentional or not). A real leader would accept responsibility.

Tired of CONServative BS

YvonneX, Quesnel, BC
said

Rae is leader of the Libou erals?
The best he can talk about is five years ago?
Dion's plan is to get someone else (like Rae) to sling the mud; so everyone will forget about the "Green Shift" plan. That has been denounced by yet another official. Nice try Rae.

Steve - SW Ontario
said

Proof that Harper cannot be trusted, or maybe he just can't think for himself!

Sam, Richmond Hill
said

The Liberals said they are going to stay on the "high road" through the debate.

Yet they spend their spare time digging up stuff from FIVE years ago.

I have no problem with the speech. After all, at the end of the day, the Liberals ratified sending troops to Afghanistan.

This kind of guilt by association doesn't work on intelligent Canadian voters!

Jocko
said

2003? Who gives a crap about 2003? It's 2008, maybe Rae should be talking about what is going to happen to the value of our houses or if our pension plans are sound, or if the Banks are stable, then I'd listen. 2003? God those Liberals are insulting.

Jim in Edmonton
said

OK, now i'll vote for the liberal green shift and kick myself in the pants! Desperate muck raking and demonizing. Wait until the debate, Harper will be a wife beating, womanizing sleaze bag. Harper wants to save joe six pack money. How dare he, let's make him scary since we have nothing else.

BB in B.C.
said

Wait a minute...didn't England, Australia, USA and others go into Iraq? I think it is very flatering that Harper was invited into the club even when he wasn't PM. Talk about being well connected. A true world leader even 5 years ago.

David in Ontario
said

A lot of Canadians are still waiting to see and hear the Conservative platform.

Two weeks away from the election and it appears they are the only party that has not released one yet. What are people voting for when they vote Conservative?

Could be another list of items just copied from John Howard of Australia. They are using John Howard's approach event to come up with small announcements suited to specific voter focus groups; very bad economic policy. Policy in isolation.

Also sends a strong message to the students and children of Canada that copying someone's work and ideas is "OK" for everyone to do. Simple acid test for a teacher any place - "F" grade for copying. Maybe that is just the "accepted Conservative Way." Be proud!

No innovation and and new ideas coming from this party.

Charlie from Fredericton, NB
said

Come on people! This isn't about plagiarizing, it's about where Steven Harper and the conservative party are taking us.

This party is not the Conservative Party of old. I believe this party wants to allign itself with the US Republican party. That doesn't make me confortable at all.

Matt B
said

Harper was not just speaking in a similar fashion to John Howard (Bush's most stalwart ally) but copying his speech word for word. Either he was a slave to the NeoCon agenda or he was intellectually lazy. Imagine where Canada would be today if we had taken Harper's advice and sent Canadian troops to Iraq? Ask yourself that question before you blindly grant this man a blank cheque in the form of a majority government.

Mike
said

How can someone claim to be a "leader" when they're borrowing words (and ideas?).

Connie
said

This is concerning. I know the tory supporters always attack and discredit the messager, but this is concerning. We do not know who Harper is. I do not want my vote decided on a fraudulent representation of Harper. He needs to show leadership. Take off the mask (and blue sweater) and let us know who he really is. The other leaders are standing on their own merits. Harper is in disguise.

Janice - I admit to shopping in the States
said

Nice to see Canada and Austraila speek with one voice. We have better friends around the world all the time.
Ok I admit it, I shopped in the USA and took a vacation there, I hope that doesn't mean I love everything George W. Bush did.
The Liberals want to spend like George W. Bush. So the Liberals must love George Bush.
I heard some of the Liberals listened to music recorded in America.

andy JSD, Toronto
said

This is not about plagiarism. It's about being "guided" (a generous word) by the agenda of other countries or statesmen of other countries.

R/H Ontario
said

This has really convinced me that the Libs have finally tanked. And B Rae needs to start drawing his Pension (that we working stiffs provided for him). The Conservatives have my vote for SURE. The other "parties" are quite irrelevant in this election, just a name on a piece of paper (ballot) to be ignored, as far as I am concerned. The Libs have tried everything else, now they have to go back years and try to sling some mud. But it's teflon, Rae, it will not stick!

mike
said

I swear IM voting Progressive Conservative now too much s**t going on between conservatives and liberals screw them both. the fact there are so many losers voting for a puppet like harper sickens me. Hell, Danny williams would be better than Harper at least he says no to the puppet masters in the police state of the USA!

DN
said

I'm getting really tired of how every other day of this election campaign so far someone has found some dirt on some politician in a party. Why do we keep giving attention to all this nonsense and let it distract us from real issues? Does everyone running in this election need to confess everything they have done in their past before the campaign begins?
Perhaps Bob Rae stole a candy from a candy store when he was 4, he wouldn't be fit to be an MP if that was the case. Lets get over it, no one cares about a joke someone made 15 years ago, or if a political smoked weed in college, or skinny dipped (even on CBC with Rick Mercer). Let's get over all of the childish antics in this election and get serious about the real issues. With the way things are going in the world right now we sure should be taking it more seriously than this.

David
said

My goodness... Bob Rae is not interested in important issues. He is interested in attacking Stephen Harper about very unimportant ancient news.

Bob turns me off completely! I now write him off because he is irrelevant to Canada and even in his own riding.

Francis
said

Harper, Leader or Copycat ?

marion in ottawa
said

Plagiarism is a serious offence in University, or anywhere else! Anyone, with the education would know that. And to imply that it isn't just shows how low we go as a society! How embarrassing for Canada! Harper is a Teflon Don!

PM
said

Will Mr. Harper sue Mr. Rae now for exposing him for the fraud that he is?

MR from Mississauga
said

So that's the Liberal smear of the day. I guess it beats talking about the carbon tax, or how a Socialist Premier who almost bankrupted Ontario is now the saviour and mouthpiece of the Liberal party. My how the mighty have fallen!

Where is Dion hiding these days? I guess he's taking some Rae days.

Exiled Canadian
said

I agree with Bob Rae! We must pull all our troops out of Iraq NOW!

Oh wait. We're not in Iraq...

Talk about a bomb-throwing non-issue from Bob Rae.

Larry I Ontario and proud of it!
said

Everyone is missing the point. It just shows us that Harper is a puppet of Bush. This is serious right wingers! When Canadian boys lives are at stake fighting an unpopular war this is a slap in the face to them and their families. A lie is a lie just like he lied on income trusts, lied about the election date and lied about the bribes offered Chuck Cadmin. It is time to toss out any leader that lies to the public. We must try to elect an honest leader if there is one out there. ABC! Another reason Harper can not be trusted with a majority....otherwise we will be stuck with a George Bush puppet!!!

Herb
said

Here we go:) I can already hear conservatives:

a) Belittle Rae
b) Belittle Dion
c) Say "Thank you Mr. Harper!"

In any case, they'll completely ignore the fact that this completely aligns Harper with Bush's "Coalition of the willing", surely one of the worst jokes of all time.

Wayne Whig
said

this is how desperate the `Liberals' are...

HE PLAGIARIZED A SPEECH IN 2003!!!!

Dave in Ottawa
said

Oh boy, someone should run Harper's speech through one of those academic honesty services.

Mike Stokes
said

where is Dion?

did the Liberals have a leadership convention that we don't know about?

Rae got something current to complain about like the economy stupid...you know the Canadian economy that is still growing according to the latest figures.

proud conservative
said

HAHA I told you. dig, dig ,dig. We have to find something, They are as bad if not worse. If Harper should be expelled for plagiarism, the Liberals should be in jail for theft. But they are not in jail are they?

J. S.
said

Plagiarism is a rather serious offense. Interesting to hear what Mr. Harper gives us as explanation. Oh wait! Mr. Harper also lied about having an open and accessible government. Okay, well I guess he does as long as journalists write their question in advance and are among the elite to be selected. Not to follow these strict orders could lead to the R.C.M.P. escorting them out in handcuffs. Oh wait that could also happen to you if you ask a question out of turn or look at him or perhaps breathe his air for that matter.

Lowell
said

Why should anyone be surprised by Harper aligning with the neo-cons, Bush and Howard. All of the mistakes that Bush has made and they are getting too numerous to count now, are all in Harper's play book. Harper wants less government in everything. His pal Tom Flanagan even publicly admitted this recently in a newspaper article. Reducing revenues so the government has to downsize, giving control of health testing to the health industry, giving corporate handouts etc. He has been reading up on the Republican laisezz-faire policy of letting free enterprise take control except for one mmall problem. What happens when you have greed as the case with Wall Street. We simply cannot allow Harper to have a majority. It would be the ruin of Canada. Vote for anyone but Harper.

Vince m
said

What's scarier... that this is all the Liberals have left or that it took them 5 years to figure it out?

RobO
said

OH MY GOD! Quick lets call the cops, he stole wording from another man's speech. Now the Liberals are really showing how far they have fallen. They must be hitting the panic button right now.

Gee didn't Jean tell else he was going to get rid of the GST and he was voted in after that lie was proven.

Here's to another fun day on the trail, how much legs will this get.

KJ in Kingston
said

Are you sure -- maybe it was really the other way around due to the time zone differences. The Liberals are in worse shape than I thought if best they can do in this campaign is challenge the originality of a speech made half a decade ago.

Vince M
said

THIS is what they now whittle away the hours doing?

THIS - after saying how inmportant it was to focus on the big issues like the economy and environment.

Liberals must be feeling very nervous about their impending doom.

Dave in Moncton
said

The Liberals will do anything to win an election.
Pretty sad.

arthur
said

Can't wait to see how the Harper war-room spins this one.

Lee in Calgary
said

You're kidding right Mr. Rae? You believe that Mr. Harper is unqualified to continue to govern the country because you believe he gave a speech 5 and a half years ago that echoed a speech given by the Austrailian PM. Wow, you've got me now, I can see the light and will surely switch my vote to a party that will tax the crap out me and the country's leading industries. I'll switch my vote to a party that is trying to convince Canadians that are economy is in the tank ignoring our continuing growth. I'll switch my vote to a party who is lead by a man who doesn't seem to get it or at least can't communicate what he believes in. I'll switch my vote to a party that has you Mr. Rae in it as a leading figure after you nearly destroyed Ontario's economy single handedly.

Yes I'll now vote Liberal after such a damning discovery, thank you Mr. Rae for bringing this serious subject to our attention.

Popo
said

Yet another example of Harper being someone else's tool... leading my country? Not if it's up to me! ABC.

Steve the Pundit
said

Maybe Bob Rae needs to realize he's not in high school. We're pulling things from five years ago as an issue?

How desparate can you get?

Roadrobber
said

Wow. This revelation should get Stephane Dion in 24 Sussex Drive for sure. NOT!

Mr Right
said

Let's dig up Bob's past and study that.

Derek R.
said

Digging at the bottom of the barrel much?

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