[Stephen Dame]

Not to start a political war, but you gotta see this photo.

As a photog, THAT is a once in a lifetime press snap. It should be on the cover of every major daily tomorrow. In my opinion, this is a major story. Harper wants to avoid the social policy issues, but this provides all of us on the other side with a great symbol of why the Conservatives need to be defeated this time around.

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[mrlayance]

Nice Right hook.... But why does gay rights always become a issue...? Just let people do what they want...

I don't think Harper is avoiding social issues, I think he is concentrating on the ones that matter, like health care.

[bauer]

that is some ugly shit. notice it is an old fart taking the swing. I think most of us from the younger generations are a lot more tolerant. Just one more reason to not become a member of the conservative party not that the liberals are any better.

I love blacks, gays and latinos as long as they don't move next door, so love me, love me, love me, I'm a liberal - Jello

let the words fly, the election is just gettin started

[BulletRiddled]

Just one more reason to not become a member of the conservative party not that the liberals are any better.

Maybe the answer is to get some younger and more tolerant people into the parties rather than write them off completly. Come election time we're really just choosing between a bunch of out-of-touch dinosaurs.

[Stephen Dame]

Nice Right hook.... But why does gay rights always become a issue...? Just let people do what they want...

Agreed. Preventing gays from getting married and pledging to remove a Supreme Court question on constitutionality, while also claiming to not recognize rulings that read gay rights into The Charter is not letting people do what they want. It's preventing them from doing what they want.

I don't think Harper is avoiding social issues, I think he is concentrating on the ones that matter, like health care.

Gay rights IMO is among the most important issues facing us right now. It's one thing to crow about being a country that recognizes and cherishes plurality, tolerance and acceptance, and it's another to actually go about doing it.

Enshrining in legislation the tolerance of ALL people, no matter what race, colour, ethnicity, or sexual orientation would further establish Canada as the type of nation we so proudly claim to be. Limiting gay rights, continuing with oxy-moronic "seperate but equal" charter rights, makes us hypocritical.

I don't think Harper is a intolerant monster. I've met him a few times and he's actually been more charming than his cardboard exterior suggested. However, I truly believe that Martin Luther King's quote applies to him:

"And while he may eventually realize the error of his way, an intolerant man believes everyone should have their place in society. And that they should stay in it."

[Stephen Dame]

Just one more reason to not become a member of the conservative party not that the liberals are any better.

Maybe the answer is to get some younger and more tolerant people into the parties rather than write them off completly. Come election time we're really just choosing between a bunch of out-of-touch dinosaurs.

Ms. Biladeau, the Liberal candidate in Chretien's old riding of St. Maurice, is a 25 year old woman. I'm involved, I'm 24. The average age of Green party candidates is 30. David Herle, the embattled head of Martin's campaign is in his 30's. Every Canadian citizen, whether we realize it or not, is affected by the federal government. Are we all dinosaur's too?

[BulletRiddled]

Ms. Biladeau, the Liberal candidate in Chretien's old riding of St. Maurice, is a 25 year old woman. I'm involved, I'm 24. The average age of Green party candidates is 30. David Herle, the embattled head of Martin's campaign is in his 30's. Every Canadian citizen, whether we realize it or not, is affected by the federal government. Are we all dinosaur's too?

Sorry, I didn't mean to be insulting like that. I was referring to the two big guys at the federal level, Paul Martin and Stephen Harper. Either the Librals or the Conservatives will be in power come the end of June, and neither seems to be brining anything fresh or interesting into thier parties. Maybe I'm just cynical, but all I'm seeing is two wealthy older guys telling me they want to improve healthcare and cut taxes.

[prz]

I personally think that the two major political parties agree that the majority of Canadians who are going to vote are not interested in discussing the topic of gay rights and marriage.

Its an issue that is not only oppossed in the conservative party. Last year when the Liberals were looking at putting a law through, alot of Liberal MPs were oppossed to the idea.