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LIBERAL FEMALE MPS WHINE OVER CHRITICISM OF BELINDA STRONACH

What is it with these female Liberal MPs? Last year, during the nomination process leading up to the 2004 election, these female MPs demanded that their nominations be considered special cases so that they wouldn't have to fight for them. They demanded this special treatment because they were "women". They whined that they needed special protection to ensure their nomination, in effect, because they didn't think they could compete with men in the nomination process - hence the demand for preferential treatment. (See REALity, January \February, 2004, p. 18, "Female Liberal MPs Whining over Their Nominations").

These Liberal female MPs are at it again. When former Conservative Belinda Stronach (Newmarket - Aurora, ON) bolted to the Liberal party on May 18th, the day before the all important non-confidence motion on the budget, which allowed the Liberal minority government to survive, the female Liberal MPs were all over the press claiming that the criticism of Ms Stronach was sexist, hurtful and lacking in respect. The Liberal women's caucus claimed they represented "all Canadian Women" and pronounced that Ms Stronach was a victim of male prejudice. For example, Liberal Deputy Leader, Anne McLellan (Edmonton Central), whose voice is described at the best of times, even by her dearest friends, as strident, launched a tirade over the air waves in a high pitched interminable screech, about the unkind treatment of her newly acquired "friend" and colleague Belinda.

Spare us the histrionics. These women want it both ways. They want to be equal to men, but they want to be treated differently. Which is it? If women are equal to men, they must expect to be treated the same as men. REAL Women believes in equality for women but we do not expect preferential treatment as demanded by these Liberal female MPs.

All politicians must face the consequences of their decisions. Liberal women's caucus' obsession with female victimhood should not overshadow the political turmoil caused by the Stronach defection.

One would not have to be too cynical, however, to believe that these overheated screams of anguish from the Liberal women's caucus were orchestrated by the Prime Minister's office (PMO) - especially Prime Minister Martin's Chief of Staff, Tim Murphy, who did the wheeling and dealing behind the scenes in Ms Stronach's defection. The purpose of this female chorus of protest was to detract from the odious duplicity and opportunism exhibited by Ms Stronach when she crossed the floor to be granted a cabinet post by the ingratiating Prime Minister Martin.

Perhaps, as an indication of Ms Stronach's lack of depth both emotionally and intellectually, the Globe and Mail and the Toronto Star in their May 21st issues both reported that Ms Stronach was seen dancing with Mr. Murphy atop a speaker at an Ottawa bar on the evening of the vote. They were dancing to Madonna's hit "Material Girl" which included the lyrics "boys may come and boys may go, living in a material world and I am a material girl"! The lyrics in that song also included further memorable and some would say, fitting words: "Some boys kiss me, some boys hug me, I think they're OK. If they don't give me proper credit, I just walk away. They can beg and they can plead, but they can't see the light that's right, 'cause the boy with the cold hard cash is always Mr. Right."

Ms Stronach's former boyfriend Deputy Conservative Leader, Peter McKay who put himself and his party on the line at the conservative convention in defence of Ms Stronach (see article, "What Really Happened at the Conservative Convention," page 1), was quoted in the two Toronto newspapers saying that he was returning that weekend to his father's farm located in his riding in Nova Scotia to walk his dog stating that "at least dogs are loyal!"

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