Thursday, September 15, 2022

Who He Is

If there are those still among us who don't know who Pierre Poilievre is, his first press conference after becoming the leader of the Conservatives should settle the matter. Karyn Pugliese writes:

By now the video has gone viral. At least by Canadian standards.

It shows newly minted Conservative Party of Canada Pierre Poilievre being heckled at his debut news conference by Global News chief political correspondent David Akin.

Before the news conference started, reporters had been told there would be no questions, but Akin asked questions anyway, shouting them out from the floor, drowning out Poilievre’s statement.

At first, Poilievre tried to brush it off as a joke, saying a “liberal heckler” must have shown up. Then he pushed back saying he’d never heard Akin interrupt the prime minister this way. Finally, Poilievre capitulated under pressure and agreed he’d allow two questions from the media. He then restarted his speech without further interruption.

Pugliese asks:

Who the hell calls a press conference, then tells reporters they can’t ask questions?

It’s right in the words: P-R-E-S-S conference.

Dear politicians, if you want to reach the public without the media, you’re free to open a Facebook page or post more of your spicy attack ads to YouTube. Maybe suck up a few million taxpayers' dollars to fund a PR “war room” like Jason Kenney and if your voters keep coming back, more power to you. You can even launch your own news site like Doug Ford did.

However, there are still citizens in this democracy who invest their time and money to support a free press. They want journalists to represent them, to seek truth and demand accountability.
Poilievre demands accountability of others, but he assumes there is none required of him. Make no mistake. He's an authoritarian. And we will see more of the same kind of behaviour.

Image:

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Skippy learned at the feet of the master media manipulator, Stephen Harper. Newsers without questions, screening attendees, consequences for reporters asking inconvenient questions, even his own dedicated propaganda channel. Members of the press talk tough now that PP's not PM, but never forget that they rolled over for Harper like a dog wanting a tummy rub.

Cap

Anonymous said...

Poilievre is just following the Stephen Harper playbook for Press Conferences - he didn't take questions either.

UU

Owen Gray said...

The Conservatives chose Poilievre, Cap. Now all but one of them will have to dance to his tune.

Owen Gray said...

Poilievre is simply following in his master's footsteps, UU.

e.a.f. said...

The last paragraph of your article says it all about P.P.
He also took a page out of Harper's play book. Harper was never one to be open and answer questions if he could avoid it.

P.P. is simply the Canadian version of some of the maga crowd from the u.s.a.

Owen Gray said...

Exactly, e.a.f. He has caught the American Disease.

Saul Alinsky said...

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who previously mandated Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines and face masks, is now calling for everyone to "respect everyone's individual choices."

https://www.naturalnews.com/2022-09-14-medical-tyrant-jacinda-ardern-pushing-health-freedom.html

Owen Gray said...

Respect is essential, Saul. But, as the other Saul Alinsky knew, it takes social solidarity to solve society's problems.

Northern PoV said...

I smell a rat!!

"In fact, Akin told Koch, “We’re not his f------ stenographers. And you can tell him that.”"

Sure David Akin. In fact, he is one of the most reliable CON stenographers out there.

With the silly apology to Lil'PP now on record, the whole thing seems a set-up.

zoombats said...

Has anyone seen Skippy being offensive and shouting down people he is supposedly interviewing? I believe he has on many occasions shown his petulance and combative nature. It is true that he has sucked at the teat of the master Harper who always showed distain for many if not all those who had a differing opinion. I recall being offered a seat at a C.B.C. town Hall where Harper in his very early years was presiding. I was told that no questions were permitted. It was quite eery to sit there and listen this smug politician walk around spouting reform doctrine believing himself to be the smartest man in the room. I had hoped with his expulsion this last time around that we had seen the last of his ilk. He was only getting started with this latest clone

Owen Gray said...

The only incident leaves a bad odor, PoV.

Owen Gray said...

For Skippy, zoombats, Harper was St. Stephen.