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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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 Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:31 am Post subject: Obama: Come on up and see us |
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Apparently, it's about us?
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Obama: Come on up and see us
Are we just not important enough or exciting enough for Barack Obama? Are we less sexy to him than some puffed-up Brits? Those questions are on the minds of Canadians who had hoped the charismatic Democratic presidential contender would visit Canada, and Toronto specifically, before the U.S. presidential election in November.
And they are particularly relevant now as Canadians watch Obama on the road, travelling to eight countries as part of his effort to show the world and American voters that he has the credentials to be the next president.
Since February, Canadians with ties to the Democratic party have attempted � and failed � to convince Obama to come to Toronto for a fundraiser or to deliver a major foreign-policy speech either here or in Montreal or Vancouver.
They took pains to ensure he knew that John McCain, his Republican opponent, understood enough about Canada's importance to the U.S. that he visited Ottawa in late June to give a key speech on international trade to an audience packed with the city's business and lobbying elite.
What is it about us that we just don't rate with Obama?
We realize a TV clip of Obama standing in front of the CN Tower isn't as cinematically enticing as a clip of him from Paris with the Eiffel Tower in the background.
And we know a photo of him on Yonge St. wouldn't stand a chance against pictures that will appear today of Obama addressing thousands of Germans in Berlin, with the historic Brandenburg Gate in the distance.
One encouraging sign, though, that Obama's team hasn't totally abandoned thoughts of us is that his half-sister will headline a fundraiser Tuesday at a home in the Cabbagetown district of downtown Toronto.
Maya Soetoro-Ng, who lives in Hawaii, is married to Konrad Ng, who was raised in Burlington and whose parents still live there. When they married in 2004, her half-brother Barack, his wife and their children came to the wedding and stayed in a Toronto hotel.
So, Obama has likely seen the CN Tower and travelled along the Gardiner Expressway and the QEW. Still, he knows so little about us that he spoke last summer about the "president" of Canada.
Ron Hikel, a Toronto consultant who tried to set up a fundraiser here, says it would still be productive for Obama to get know Canada better before the election.
"In addition to all the standard reasons � trading and defence partners, longest border, etc., etc. � I would say the Canadian society demonstrates the success of several of the key values that distinguish him from McCain and other garden-variety politicians," Hikel says.
"These include a less-sharply partisan political atmosphere; the more intelligent use of the state to advance social cohesion; greater racial, cultural and religious tolerance; and a generally more civil tone" to our daily life.
Toby Condliffe, international vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee and a Toronto resident, says that as much he wants Obama to visit Canada, the chances now are slim.
Still, there are lots of good reasons why Obama should visit us.
For the most part, Obama has unformed policies toward Canada. By coming here, he could learn more about us, like he is doing by being briefed by political leaders during his stops in Afghanistan, Iraq, the Mideast and Europe.
Obama could hear our views on NAFTA and he could tell us whether he wants to get rid of the trade pact, keep it or reform it. He could learn where we stand on tar-sands development, Arctic sovereignty, Afghanistan, cross-border security and global warming.
And he could see first-hand the interest his campaign has sparked among Canadians of all ages.
With Obama leading in current polls, there is a good chance he will become president. In that case, Canada may win a consolation prize, albeit a significant one, by becoming the first place he visits once installed in the Oval Office.
Often, a new president will use a quick trip to Canada as a first foreign stop, a sort of "shakedown cruise" for the new crew in the White House. That's what George H.W. Bush did in 1989 when he spent just six hours in Ottawa.
Now is a good time, though, and while timing is tight, there's room for an Obama trip before the Democratic convention starts Aug. 25.
Obama should think seriously about it. |
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/466261
Obama doesn't need to go to Canada to learn about Canada. He also doesn't need to hear Canadian opinions on NAFTA etc as he isn't running for PM. I think Canada is just feeling left out... Especially when Canadians think Obama is modeling his views after us. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah, there would be no benefit for him to visit Canada until he wins the presidency. I can't think of a single advantage to him in doing so. Especially considering that we still have a minority government, within a year or so for all we know Stephen Harper could be out of a job or a weaker PM if they win with less seats, and/or all the leaders of the other parties (except Elizabeth May I assume) could be replaced if they don't do well in the next election. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:02 am Post subject: |
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| come to Toronto for a fundraiser |
Does anyone know the rules on this? I'm appalled that we let the great unwashed influence our elections with filthy lucre. |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:10 am Post subject: |
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| Democrats abroad? |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:09 am Post subject: |
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I remember when I was a kid, watching Carter negotiate with Begin and Sadat, and thinking that it was a scandal that Canada wasn't playing the same sort of pivotal on the global stage. I expressed this sentiment to my dad, and he explained "That's because Canada isn't a global power".
It looks like the people quoted in that Torstar article are sort of stuck in the same geopolitical ignorance that I was in Grade 5, ie. they're assuming that Canada rivals Europe in terms of being an important actor on the world stage.
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"In addition to all the standard reasons � trading and defence partners, longest border, etc., etc. � I would say the Canadian society demonstrates the success of several of the key values that distinguish him from McCain and other garden-variety politicians," Hikel says.
"These include a less-sharply partisan political atmosphere; the more intelligent use of the state to advance social cohesion; greater racial, cultural and religious tolerance; and a generally more civil tone" to our daily life.
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This can be summed up as saying that Obama should visit Canada because it is more liberal than red state America. But Obama has already seen "more liberal than red state America" on his trip to Europe, a continent which also does double-duty as a significant international force. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 10:55 am Post subject: |
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| On the other hand wrote: |
| I remember when I was a kid, watching Carter negotiate with Begin and Sadat, and thinking that it was a scandal that Canada wasn't playing the same sort of pivotal on the global stage. |
I bet no other person your age that went to your school at the time had this same experience. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:38 pm Post subject: |
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Overlooked detail: citizenship
Unless the US has finally annexed Canada without telling me. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:00 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
Overlooked detail: citizenship |
? Did you know that there are American citizens in Canada too? |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, but the article doesn't say anything about coming up to fund raise among the expats. I suppose the writer could have meant that, but it doesn't sound like it.
I looked this up: According to wiki there are between 900,000 and 2 million Americans living in Canada. I'm concluding that that isn't enough to warrant a campaign trip north. |
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mithridates
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Location: President's office, Korean Space Agency
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| Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
Yes, but the article doesn't say anything about coming up to fund raise among the expats. I suppose the writer could have meant that, but it doesn't sound like it.
I looked this up: According to wiki there are between 900,000 and 2 million Americans living in Canada. I'm concluding that that isn't enough to warrant a campaign trip north. |
Certainly not. I just found your previous message a bit odd. Democrats Abroad had 2.5 (I think) delegates during the primaries as well, with the voting done online. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Certainly not. I just found your previous message a bit odd. Democrats Abroad had 2.5 (I think) delegates during the primaries as well, with the voting done online. |
I am taking the article in the OP to mean that Obama could do some fundraising from Canadian citizens and I'm questioning the legality of that. I don't know the rules on accepting funds from non-citizens. mises suggested it might have meant raising funds from Dems Abroad, but I don't think that is what was meant in the article nor do I think there are enough Dems in Canada or any other single country to warrant a trip. |
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ReeseDog
Joined: 05 Apr 2008
Location: Classified
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
Overlooked detail: citizenship
Unless the US has finally annexed Canada without telling me. |
Other than the price of maple syrup dropping, who would notice? |
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blaseblasphemener
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
Location: There's a voice, keeps on calling me, down the road, that's where I'll always be
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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www.votesmart.org
Who Can Contribute?
* Any American citizen can contribute funds to a candidate or a political party except for individuals and sole owners of proprietorships that have contracts with the federal government.
* Foreigners with no permanent US residency are prohibited from contributing to any political candidates at any level.
Of course, I was still able to contribute to the Ron Paul campaign $50 from my Visa card, which had a Canadian mailing address.  |
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mises
Joined: 05 Nov 2007
Location: retired
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 6:39 pm Post subject: |
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| Ya-ta Boy wrote: |
Yes, but the article doesn't say anything about coming up to fund raise among the expats. I suppose the writer could have meant that, but it doesn't sound like it.
I looked this up: According to wiki there are between 900,000 and 2 million Americans living in Canada. I'm concluding that that isn't enough to warrant a campaign trip north. |
A fundraiser could be 10 rich dudes and some lobster. It doesn't have to be a big rally. And anyways, they didn't have it. |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sat Jul 26, 2008 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Of course, I was still able to contribute to the Ron Paul campaign $50 from my Visa card, which had a Canadian mailing address. |
Is $50 enough to qualify you for felon status? |
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