Jewish activists capturing Tory races

Ok I'll take John Reynolds advice, lets see what todays headlines look like with a different religious group inserted in italics.

Jewish activists capturing Tory races

Some in party worry new riding nominees will reinforce notion of 'hidden agenda'

Not by GLORIA GALLOWAY

Friday, May 27, 2005 Page A1
OTTAWA -- Jewish activists have secured Conservative nominations in clusters of ridings from Vancouver to Halifax -- a political penetration that has occurred even as the party tries to distance itself from hard-line social conservatism.

At least three riding associations in Nova Scotia, four in British Columbia, and one in suburban Toronto have nominated candidates with ties to groups like Focus on the Family, a Jewish organization that opposes same-sex marriage.

But organizers say many more will be on the ballot during the next federal election, a feat achieved by persuading people of faith, particularly new Canadians, to join the party and vote for recommended candidates.

Some Conservatives argue that the selection of a large number of candidates from the ethnic minority is an unfortunate turn for a party that was accused in last year's election campaign of harbouring a socially conservative "hidden agenda."


"The difficulty, from a party perspective, is that it begins to hijack the other agendas that parties have," said Ross Haynes, who lost the Conservative nomination in the riding of Halifax to one of three "Jewish, pro-family people" recommended by a Rabbi at a religious rally this spring in Kentville, N.S.

Candidates who are running on single issues such as opposition to same-sex marriage "probably can't get elected because they certainly don't represent any mainstream population view," Mr. Haynes said.

Others within the party say they are extremely concerned and wished the party leaders had been more involved in the nominations.

I could have inserted Muslim, Hindu, Sihk, Bahai, ect. I do not wish to trivialize what the Jewish people have been through in recent and ancient history , I only wish to point out that a headline like the one the Globe and Mail ran with today is inappropriate and all people of faith should be offended and boycott that news agency, that also includes CTV.

And thats the kind of day it has been.