‘Shopping for Votes:’ Baird gets tetchy with CBC reporter over Middle East Twitter gambit

A rather amusing exchange between Minister Baird and Valerie Boyer of the CBC:

Boyer: “Why has the Conservative Party decided to use this conflict in advertising to gain supporters?

Baird takes a drink of water: “I haven’t seen that.”

Boyer: “There’s been a few tweets out there saying, ‘You know we’re on ….’”

Baird interrupts: “So, is it the position of the CBC that a tweet is advertising?”

Boyer: “Well, I mean it’s a form of getting out to supporters though.”

Baird: “I just don’t … If the CBC calls tweets advertising, it doesn’t …”

Inaudible – Baird and Boyer try to talk over each other

Boyer: “It’s a form of getting out to people.”

Baird: “In fairness, you’re a member of our national broadcaster. We deserve better questions than that.”

While the Government’s full-throated support of Israel is deeper than diaspora political calculations, this exchange allowed Baird to reiterate support to Canadian Jews (not all share the Government’s position) while attacking the CBC, and playing to the Conservative base.

Neat trick, but the obvious retort to “We deserve better questions than that.” is “We deserve better answers.”

Baird gets tetchy with CBC reporter over Middle East Twitter gambit (pay wall)