Canadian Libtards getting further from reality

On the same day his closest opponent tried to distance himself from U.S. President George W. Bush, Liberal leader Paul Martin has received a stinging rebuke from the American Ambassador to Canada. In a speech to the Canadian Club in Ottawa Tuesday, David Wilkins didn’t mince words about Canada’s perceived growing sense of alienation from its closest allies. He expressed anger over U.S. policies being brought into the federal election campaign, and decried Canada’s criticism of the States at the recent U.N. environmental conference in Montreal. Martin singled out the U.S. for not doing more to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, a sore point between the two nations. But the Ambassador contends his country is actually doing a lot more than we are. “I would respectfully submit to you that when it comes to a `global conscience,' the United States is walking the walk," he ripostes.But these neighbours are doing more than just feuding over the environmental fence. Wilkins also critiqued the seemingly endless wrangling over softwood lumber duties and continued disparaging comments about the war in Iraq. Guns coming to Toronto from across the border was another sore spot. And while he didn’t specifically mention the Grit leader by name, there was little doubt who he was talking about. "It may be smart election-year politics to thump your chest and criticize your friend and your No. 1 trading partner constantly," he warns. "But it is a slippery slope, and all of us should hope that it doesn't have a long-term impact on the relationship ... "The last time I looked, the United States was not on the ballot for the Jan. 23 election." The Liberals have continually denied using anti-American rhetoric to appeal to voters on this side of the border. But they weren’t unhappy with the coverage given to last week’s chastisement of Canadian Ambassador Frank McKenna in Washington. Martin denies Wilkins' charges, arguing he's calling things as he sees them and isn't using the U.S. for political gain. "I will defend the Canadian position and I will defend our values and I will defend our interests against anybody," he insists. He then turned the accusations around, using them against Conservative leader Stephen Harper -- and possibly proving Wilkins' point. "If the thesis of Mr. Harper is that the only way to have good relations with the United States is to concede everything to the United States, then I do not accept that at all."The Grit boss ventured out west Tuesday, in his first real stops beyond Ontario. He made a speech in Winnipeg, before heading to Vancouver to get ready for Thursday’s first leaders’ debate.It will be held entirely in French, with the English version following the next night.

To read key excerpts from Wilkins' speech, click here.