Stephen Harper at the UN

Stephen Harper addressed the United Nations today. Predictably the various opposition parties demonstrated their need to insult our intelligence by looking for a cheap sound bite. Gilles Duceppe, leader of the Bloc, said Harper should have addressed trade, climate change and cultural diversity. Liberal MP Keith Martin said Harper should have addressed Darfur and AIDS, and indeed should have made a plea for intervention in Darfur. Ignoring the fact that intervention in Darfur would certainly involve our troops in another shooting war, we should remember the fact that Harper was given 15 minutes to speak. Yes, in addition to talking about our major foreign policy issue (Afghanistan) Harper should have addressed trade, climate change, cultural diversity, AIDS and Darfur in a meaningful way in the 15 minutes he was allowed. And then of course the very same complainers would be saying Harper showed no leadership, had too many agendas and dealt with problems in a superficial manner. Now it doesn't surprise me when politicians look for a cheap sound bite. My scorn is reserved for those who stick a microphone in the face of these people and then pretend that what they say is really newsworthy.