Monday, May 16, 2016

The Attacks on Sophie Grégoire Trudeau Grow More Ugly and Violent



Yesterday I wrote about how disgusted I was by the way the Cons had gone after Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.

And how the smear campaign against her on social media was becoming meaner and uglier.

Well now it's out of control, and getting even more violent.




Because that kind of grotesque misogynistic stuff is all  over the internet.

Along with garbage like this...



Which also couldn't be more disgusting.

And because of that it's attracting the attention of the media all over the world.



Who are reprinting some of the less offensive tweets, like that one from Stephen Taylor, the former Manning operative and co-founder of the Blogging Tories.

While back at Conservative Party headquarters the hideous Con propaganda machine is taking advantage of the situation, to relaunch their foul campaign aimed at her husband and their children...



Which again couldn't be more disgusting.

But then they are the Cons.


And they are bestial...



So I'm glad to see that some progressives are fighting back 



And drawing the obvious conclusions.

As does this Canadian mother.

Dear Sophie Gregoire Trudeau

I don't know what it's like to be you. I don't know what it's like to have three children under the age of eight. I don't know what it's like to be the wife of the Prime Minister and represent Canada on the world stage. I don't know what it's like to be a spokesperson for multiple charities, and I certainly don't know what it's like to have everything I say, wear or do splashed over the media for people to critique.

I do know what it's like to be a wife and a mother, and I do know that society seems to have an issue when a woman asks for help. Women are supposed to be superheroes. We're supposed to do it all and we're supposed to smile and make it look easy. We're supposed to be perfect mothers, wives, friends, employees and citizens, and we're not supposed to admit that we can't do it without a little help.

I don't know what it's like to be you, and because of this I support you. I know that there are others like me out there, but the loudest voices in any conversations are always the angry ones.

Because that is so true, and there are too many angry voices out there.

So I'm also happy to see that the Star editorialists at least, are saying what also should be obvious. 

This should not be a debate about Grégoire Trudeau’s privileged position. Comparing her problems to those of day-to-day working women amounts to a kind of faux populism that ducks the real questions. 

Instead, the focus should be on what we expect of the spouse of our prime minister, and the opportunities her role affords to represent Canada and promote important causes. 

Seen like that, the answer is clear: she should have the help she needs to carry out the work that Canadians want her to do. If that means an extra staff member to organize her appearances and correspondence, then she should have it.

Sophie Grégoire should get the help she needs.

And the Cons and other Trudeau haters should mind their manners and their misogyny.

And leave this family alone....



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32 comments:

Gyor said...

People like you are partly responsible for this, you keep this issue alive, but making her out to be victim. Move on and it will pass, people will lose interest.

Jolly Roger said...

Nobody has mentioned that harper had 3 times the RCMP escort than previous PM's-- at @ 100,000. each a year, I'd think the cost was a lot higher than a few nannies...

lagatta à montréal said...

I'm not surprised; the amount of baseless hatred on social media could make them self-destruct. ANY subject concerning Indigenous people or Québec always brings these mouth-breathers out of the basements where they dwell. As do issues concerning women and/or LGBT people.

They are totally unacceptable, and as we can see, there is a machine behind them.

It does not follow, however, that we have to agree with anything Ms Sophie Grégoire does, says or asks in order not to be falsely accused of "hating" her. I most definitely do not hate this person; I have no opinion about her whatsoever. She is not a public elected or appointed official, and what she does in live does not concern me in the slightest. But I don't have to necessarily support her demands either.

I don't hate PM Justin Trudeau either; I've met him several times, and he is a pleasant person, moreover he was the only elected official in Villeray who actually seemed concerned about the racist NIMBY campaign against a residential centre for Inuit people from Nunavik receiving care in Montréal hospitals. But I don't share the illusions of some about the federal Liberal Party's class base and programme. Yes, it is a relief after the dreadful Harper Cons, but they still serve the same masters. The relief after the Cons is akin to the relief after the fall of a fascistic régime (though there were differences in the type of hard-rightisms). Or here, we could say after the fall of Duplessis.

Anonymous said...

If Rona Ambrose is the great leader she is touted to be she would stop this. She has control of what they say in parliament. They are sick and ignorant and there should be arrests.

Anonymous said...

Great follow-up Simon! I'm hoping this will be the last. It's amazing how Canadians can band together in a crisis, for wildfires at Slave Lake and Fort McMurray, and then turn on a dime into an unruly crowd in white hoodies.

TS

lagatta à montréal said...

Yes, some of those posts and doubtless others are threats of death or bodily harm. One doesn't do that - not even against Harper, Marine Le Pen or leaders of those other xenophobic parties.

Myworld1916 said...

I know I'm still into this category, but the quebec seperatists and conservatives are still spitting into this also. Most of the comments are still refering Justin Trudeau as 'selfie Trudeau'. And it proves my point why I don't even do selfies with anyone by the way, if you know what I mean.

Anonymous said...

Oh boy I follow some right-wing websites and groups on FB for shits and giggles and they are having a field day with this one. From what I gather, it's women who are more angry with her. They are posting the old "I'm a single mom with 3 kids and I get no help" and the Cons are eating it up.

-MK

Anonymous said...

This is sleazy and disgusting politics at its worst. I'm appalled by the opposition Parliamentarians (if we can call them that) for making this an issue. And for the media machine that keeps this going. Justin Trudeau and Sophie Trudeau together are running this f*@king country and a few extra employees here and there are not going to make an iota of difference in the world of Canadian budget expenditures.
Stephen Harper and his corrupt crew were nothing but the embodiment of entitlement and appalling misuse of public funds, so I really wish they would STFU.

e.a.f. said...

there is no defined role for the spouse of a P.M. As we saw with Mila Mulroney and now Sophie Gregoire-Trudeau, they created their own roles in response to requests from the public.

this isn't about tax dollars paying for staff. most of the arguments are about nastiness. the discussion ought to be about the role of the P.M.'s spouse's in Canadian society.

Would the country want a notice to be sent out: Spouses of the P.M. will not be available for any public events so don't ask. Now what type of message would that be?

Most of the events Ms. Georgiore-Trudeau is requested to attend do not have much if anything to do with politics. Its just Canadians asking for her to speak or be present at events. Is that such a terrible thing and would it be such a terrible thing for tax dollars to be spent? In the grand scheme of things the extra money won't be noticed. It wouldn't even buy a seat in a military jet.

If Ms. Gregoire-Trudeau is a positive role model for some Canadians, well good for her and good for them. Its just nice to see someone young in this country doing what she does.

GreazedLitenen said...

I'd be willing to bet the so called "single mom with 3 kids" is really a old, fat, pampered, white dude.

Anonymous said...

Yep.... And Canada is not a racist, ignorant bunch. Holy ginger snaps what an embarrassment to all Canadians. And sorry, but, most of the ignorance can be found between Manatoba and BC!!!! Many of my Newfie relatives that moved to Albertistan have developed the very same ignorant attitude. Sorry Simon but Alberta is a racist, ignorant, province!!!!! A spade is a spade..... Just like you asked me to not call Harper Hitler. I don't understand how someone can say this about a person who is simply helping charities. Albertistan would be a great place for Trump to hang out!!!! Why aren't people arrested for this crap. All of Canada reached out to Alberta during their floods and fires, due to their own self serving GREED and lack of concern about climate change, and this is how they return the favour. That would be Alberta for you!!!!!! FP

Anonymous said...

Liberals are entitled to their entitlements don't you know.

David Dingwall, a liberal if there was one, told us so.

Anonymous said...

Because people care about real, down to earth working folks. Not silver spoon spoiled brats with good looks and famous last names.

Think Justin thinks about Newfies? Think he cares about you?

He doesn't.

Anonymous said...

The request was for some additional support in order to enable donating more of her time to worthwhile charities.Seems like a fair exchange to me but even if it wasn't the discussion should have focused on the reasons instead of being used as a really cheap personal attack.Given the choice in the next election I wonder which cause the majority of the taxpayers will support a)personal attack mud slingers b)Those engaged in improving society.Recent polls suggest it is the latter but because the Reforma-Cons are a one trick pony they have to keep doing the only thing they know how to do until the end.
RT

lagatta à montréal said...

Sophie Grégoire (there is no Sophie Trudeau, unless you think women are men's possessions - we don't here in Québec) has no role in "running whatever country" as she was not elected or appointed to any official office. I agree that the expenses are insignificant in the context of a Federal budget. The problem is creeping presidentialism. Trudeau is NOT a head of state. Ms Sophie Grégoire is a private citizen.

Obviously, there are security issues that concern Ms Grégoire and the Grégoire-Trudeau children.


Utterly agree with you about the HarperCons.

Pierre D. said...

Yep...the pettier the Conservatives become the more I wonder how they will ever get a majority of seats. It's just a bunch of angry people screaming these days. They need to go down to 20-50 seats and realise that we're in an erea of pseudo-civility now and that all this rubbish is useless. Didn't even vote for them but I'm considering it next election.

David said...

If Justin and Sophie are Christians,

http://www.contextwithlornadueck.com/blog/justin-trudeaus-christian-faith

then they should rejoice when others attack them personally:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%253A11-12&version=NIV

David said...

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+5%3A+11-12&version=NIV

"Blessed are you when people insult you..."

Simon said...

hi Gyor...I realize you don't like feminists, but it is certainly not me who is keeping this hate fest alive. I'm only denouncing it wherever I see it rear its ugly head, as I have done all my life...

Simon said...

hi Jolly Roger...of course they haven't because this is just a manufactured controversy, and an exercise in hypocrisy. And it is only a sign of desperation. The Cons are throwing everything but the kitchen sink at Trudeau, and none of it is working....

Simon said...

hi lagatta....nobody is asking you to agree with everything Sophie says or does. She is a model for young Canadians who can relate to her and her husband, and in an aging country where the young are often marginalized that is good enough. As for the class struggle, I've been waiting for it for years, and I will no doubt have to wait even longer. But anything that moves the country in a more progressive direction is worth celebrating. And the party after the fall of Duplessis went on for years, and was the most extraordinary period in the modern history of Quebec. So that's not bad either...

Joeboy said...

For the Cons, the issue is clear. No doubt they see this as a move that will likely make her more visible, more admired, more popular. AND by extension, her husband. Can't have that. She should just do a photo- op with cats or something. That won't cost much!

Simon said...

hi anon...I wish Rona Ambrose would speak out, or stop her hideous Con propagandists from spewing out their filthy stuff. But her modus operandi is to pose at a gentler kinder leader, will he operatives do the dirty work...

Simon said...

hi TS...I'm also hoping this nasty controversy will also die down soon. It's not making us look good, and as our reaction to the Fort McMurray catastrophe showed, we can do so much better...

Simon said...

hi Myworld....look all the leaders are doing selfies these days, from Trudeau to Putin. So I find the outraged reaction of the Cons absolutely ridiculous. I would jump at a chance to have a selfie with Justin, while just the thought of a selfie with Stephen Harper gives me the creeps... :0

Simon said...

Hi MK...I haven't gone back into the sewer, because I found it a very unpleasant experience. But I agree with GreazedLitenen, from the comments I have read most of them are the same bunch of Trudeau haters, and they are mostly angry old men....

Simon said...

hi anon 3:51...it is sleazy and petty politics at its worst. As somebody said it reeks of cheapness, and is devoid of class. For having helped raise our international image out of the gutter where the Harper Cons left it, Sophie deserves all the help she needs...

Simon said...

hi RT...as I said above, it's such a petty issue, and it makes us look small and cheap. The media and the public should keep their noses out of the Prime Minister's household arrangements, and focus on bigger issues...

Simon said...

Hi Pierre...I agree with you, the Cons keeping making the same mistake over and over again and expecting a different result. Which we all know is the definition of insanity. Polls way before the last election showed their attack ads were backfiring, and making them look worse than Trudeau. They can't adapt to this era of pseudo civility, they don't understand that Canadians are tired of their ugly partisan games. And the question I have is who is really running the PMO these days? And why can't they see that more of the same will get them nowhere? It seems like madness to me, but if they want to commit hara kiri I'm not going to stop them....

Simon said...

hi David...I agree that when people insult you they can only make themselves look bad. The problem for me was when I was asked to turn the other cheek, and sadly did fail miserably... ;)

Simon said...

hi anon...Mr Newfoundland please, I'm trying to hold this country together. I actually like that we're all such characters, and that our genius for compromise has prevented us from killing each other. For that was how our country was built. Of course, it wasn't finished or perfect, until Newfoundland joined the rest of us. You know the jewel in the crown... ;)

P.S. thanks for not calling Harper Hitler, but Mussolini would be fine...