By MARTIN O’HANLON
OTTAWA (CP) - Is Stephen Harper an evil galactic warlord? Is he a Bible-thumping Bush backer? We don't know. He won't say. And by the way, we are definitely making this up.
Not everyone is fuming over a controversial Liberal ad that warns Conservative Leader Stephen Harper would put troops in city streets - a lot of people find it quite amusing.
It has already spawned a series of spoofs by everyone from Internet bloggers to Tory insiders.
Conservative MPs were frothing at the mouth Wednesday when the ad was released, claiming it insults Canada's troops by suggesting they pose a threat to democracy. But behind the scenes, things were decidedly less serious.
Within hours of the release, this mock copy was making the rounds in Tory circles:
"Stephen Harper has a dog. You know who else had a dog? Hitler. Adolf Hitler. That's who. Did Stephen Harper train his dog to attack racial minorities on command? We don't know. He's not saying. Choose your Canada."
The original ad, which Liberals say was pulled before it ever ran on television, opens with the sound of a military drumbeat and Harper's blurred face in the background.
As the face comes slowly into focus, a voice warns ominously:
"Stephen Harper actually announced he wants to increase military presence in our cities. Canadian cities. Soldiers with guns. In our cities. In Canada. We did not make this up. Choose your Canada."
The daily news magazine Dose wasted no time tickling readers' funny bones. It published several takeoffs in Thursday's edition, including this lighthearted gem:
"Stephen Harper likes to wear black. You know who else liked black? Darth Vader? We're not making this up."
It was a veritable comedy field day on the Internet. Check out this offering from the weblog of Maclean's columnist Paul Wells:
"Just now at the Subway on Bank Street, I was buying my lunch and there . . . in line . . . standing in front of me . . . was a soldier. In our cities. In Canada. A soldier. He seemed to be ordering the six-inch ham and turkey. With chipotle sauce. In Canada. We're not making this stuff up."
And here's another laugh-out-loud version being circulated among Conservatives:
"Stephen Harper wears glasses. For reading. You know what he reads? The Bible. You know who else reads the Bible? George Bush. Will Stephen Harper turn Canada into a Christian theocracy? We don't know. He isn't saying. Choose your Canada."
Of course, some people can be forgiven for refusing to acknowledge the humour of the situation - especially Liberal MP Keith Martin.
Martin's riding includes CFB Esquimalt, headquarters of Canada's Pacific naval fleet, and he doesn't want to offend the military - it could cost him his job.
He blamed an "idiot" in the party for allowing the release of the original ad. He called it "appalling" and apologized to members of the military who were offended.
Prime Minister Paul Martin said the ad was not meant to target soldiers.
"I support our military," he said. "I've probably put more money into the military than almost any prime minister . . . (The ads have) nothing to do with soldiers."
OTTAWA (CP) - Is Stephen Harper an evil galactic warlord? Is he a Bible-thumping Bush backer? We don't know. He won't say. And by the way, we are definitely making this up.
Not everyone is fuming over a controversial Liberal ad that warns Conservative Leader Stephen Harper would put troops in city streets - a lot of people find it quite amusing.
It has already spawned a series of spoofs by everyone from Internet bloggers to Tory insiders.
Conservative MPs were frothing at the mouth Wednesday when the ad was released, claiming it insults Canada's troops by suggesting they pose a threat to democracy. But behind the scenes, things were decidedly less serious.
Within hours of the release, this mock copy was making the rounds in Tory circles:
"Stephen Harper has a dog. You know who else had a dog? Hitler. Adolf Hitler. That's who. Did Stephen Harper train his dog to attack racial minorities on command? We don't know. He's not saying. Choose your Canada."
The original ad, which Liberals say was pulled before it ever ran on television, opens with the sound of a military drumbeat and Harper's blurred face in the background.
As the face comes slowly into focus, a voice warns ominously:
"Stephen Harper actually announced he wants to increase military presence in our cities. Canadian cities. Soldiers with guns. In our cities. In Canada. We did not make this up. Choose your Canada."
The daily news magazine Dose wasted no time tickling readers' funny bones. It published several takeoffs in Thursday's edition, including this lighthearted gem:
"Stephen Harper likes to wear black. You know who else liked black? Darth Vader? We're not making this up."
It was a veritable comedy field day on the Internet. Check out this offering from the weblog of Maclean's columnist Paul Wells:
"Just now at the Subway on Bank Street, I was buying my lunch and there . . . in line . . . standing in front of me . . . was a soldier. In our cities. In Canada. A soldier. He seemed to be ordering the six-inch ham and turkey. With chipotle sauce. In Canada. We're not making this stuff up."
And here's another laugh-out-loud version being circulated among Conservatives:
"Stephen Harper wears glasses. For reading. You know what he reads? The Bible. You know who else reads the Bible? George Bush. Will Stephen Harper turn Canada into a Christian theocracy? We don't know. He isn't saying. Choose your Canada."
Of course, some people can be forgiven for refusing to acknowledge the humour of the situation - especially Liberal MP Keith Martin.
Martin's riding includes CFB Esquimalt, headquarters of Canada's Pacific naval fleet, and he doesn't want to offend the military - it could cost him his job.
He blamed an "idiot" in the party for allowing the release of the original ad. He called it "appalling" and apologized to members of the military who were offended.
Prime Minister Paul Martin said the ad was not meant to target soldiers.
"I support our military," he said. "I've probably put more money into the military than almost any prime minister . . . (The ads have) nothing to do with soldiers."
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