| British mp stomps bush doll { November 18 2004 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active) http://www.canada.com/national/story.html?id=03bd20c9-7950-417e-bb84-e011cb8fd2fahttp://www.canada.com/national/story.html?id=03bd20c9-7950-417e-bb84-e011cb8fd2fa
MP assailed for anti-Bush TV stunt Carolyn Parrish: Outspoken anti-American stomps on Bush doll Sean Gordon and Anne Dawson, with files from Robert Fife,Sheldon Alberts in Washington and Peter O'Neil
CanWest News Service November 18, 2004
OTTAWA - Renegade Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish has once again enraged members of the opposition and her own caucus after tossing a George W. Bush doll on the floor and grinding it under her heel on a satirical television show.
Incensed Conservative MPs demanded that Ms. Parrish -- who last year referred to Americans as "bastards" and more recently likened the U.S. war effort in Iraq to "a coalition of the idiots" -- be banished from the Liberal caucus for her anti-American outburst.
Tory House leader John Reynolds said the incident sets the wrong example, particularly for children, and suggested "somebody like that needs some real help."
He also said Prime Minister Paul Martin should "kick her out and make her sit as an independent. Sometimes integrity should win over minority government."
But the outrage did not emanate only from the opposition benches.
Ontario Liberal MP Roger Gallaway called the stunt "bizarre and stupid," and lamented Ms. Parrish's theatrics as "a rather perverse joke."
"It's a pathetic spectacle that someone would behave in this fashion. I would expect more from infants. It's rotten timing ... and I would hope that she would consider mending her ways," said Mr. Gallaway, who nonetheless argued against bouncing Ms. Parrish, a four-term MP who represents the Toronto-area constituency of Mississauga-Erindale.
"I have a fundamental problem with removing someone from caucus because they're being bizarre and stupid. This place allows all kinds of bizarre and stupid behaviour. Stupidity is a defence here," he said.
Liberal caucus chairman Andy Savoy said he spoke to Ms. Parrish yesterday when she said she appeared on the program as a lark and thought the item was funny. Mr. Savoy, for his part, said he disagreed with her view of Americans and felt that stomping on an effigy of the U.S. President was "irresponsible."
The kerfuffle surrounds an excerpt from the CBC program This Hour Has 22 Minutes, which features a host handing a Bush action figure to a gleeful Ms. Parrish, who then drops it on the ground and stomps on it as the camera zooms in. The camera then pulls back to show a beaming Ms. Parrish.
A senior adviser to Mr. Martin said simply the Prime Minister "doesn't share [Ms. Parrish's] sense of humour."
White House spokesman Sean McCormack was diplomatic when asked whether the President had any concerns about criticisms leveled at him by some Liberal members of Parliament.
"The President and his team have the highest respect for the Canadian people and members of the Canadian Parliament. Freedom of expression is a great tradition in our democracies," Mr. McCormack said.
He said details of Mr. Bush's visit to Ottawa are still being worked out and it is not yet clear whether the President will address Parliament.
Conservative leader Stephen Harper said all MPs should behave "like adults" during Mr. Bush's visit, and those who disagree with his views should do so politely. He added that Mr. Martin's refusal to discipline Ms. Parrish suggests the Liberals are happy to pander to anti-Bush feelings, which polls show most Canadians hold.
NDP leader Jack Layton said he has also urged his MPs to refrain from boorish behaviour during Mr. Bush's visit.
With one possible exception, they promised would not heckle Mr. Bush if the U.S. President addresses Parliament. But Mr. Layton said he will not be troubled if his MPs join protests on Parliament Hill during the Nov. 30-Dec. 1 visit.
Officials in Parrish's office did not return phone calls late yesterday. But earlier, before a promo of the doll-stomping segment was aired, she said she would not heckle the U.S. President.
She also hinted she will likely skip Mr. Bush's speech if he does address MPs and senators. Asked whether she has been pressured by the Prime Minister's Office to adopt a more conciliatory tone toward the U.S., Ms. Parrish said: "No, no, no. they have been good."
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