Monday, April 30, 2007

"By now, we've got to get used to Ralphisms"

Just when you thought the guy was gone for good, Ralph Klein in back in the news:

However, Klein said Sunday that people misheard him during his heavily improvised three-minute speech. He had actually been speaking about a protected parks area near Rocky Mountain House from which a documentary film crew was banned. As premier, he intervened.

"I recall my executive assistant coming to me and saying, 'You know, the natives have been drinking there for years and years there, why can't we shoot a film there,'" he told the crowd, according a recording by CHUM-TV.


Ralph, however, has come up with a very reasonable defense:

Former premier Ralph Klein firmly denied reports he slurred natives at an awards banquet this weekend, insisting he had referred to people drinking water, not alcohol.


Ahhh...that explains it.

He also took the opportunity to explain his famous BSE flap when he said ranchers should "shoot, shovel and shut up", by saying he meant "ranchers should shoot...movies. Near where those natives drink...water."

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10 Comments:

  • A rather stupid comment and if it weren't for the fact his wife was Metis he could probably be labelled as racist. Still the fact he has a Metis wife suggests he cannot be too intolerant against them, never mind he did become an honourary chief for the Blood Tribe.

    I think the problem here is although Indian jokes are tragically still common, people of importance such as politicians, business leaders, and anyone else of influence shouldn't use them.

    By Blogger Monkey Loves to Fight, at 10:35 p.m.  

  • For a guy with a longstanding drinking problem he was quite a piece of work.

    By Anonymous Anonymous, at 12:05 a.m.  

  • miles - I am pretty sure you can still be a racist even if your wife is Metis.

    His bigotry is focussed on the poor and disenfranchised - a class where Aboriginals are disproportionately represented. He gets away with it because many people here share his views.

    By Blogger Gayle, at 12:27 a.m.  

  • It appears to me the reporter got the punctuation wrong.

    The correct quote should have read:

    Former premier Ralph Klein firmly denied reports he slurred "natives" at an awards banquet this weekend, insisting he had referred to "people", [while] drinking water, not alcohol.

    By Blogger The Anonymous Green, at 1:24 p.m.  

  • miles, would you argue that the notorious segregationist strom thurmond was NOT a racist...after all, he did shag a black chick.

    By Blogger canuckistanian, at 1:29 p.m.  

  • Did not everyone read the retraction in the Journal (and I presume it's sister publication, the Herald)?

    The "reporter" was not at the meeting, Ralph's wife was NOT on stage, but at home in Calgary, and his comments were clearly taken out of context.

    Maybe it just has to do with the preponderance for people to assume two things:

    1) If the terms "native" and "drinking" are in any proximity to each other it must abuse of alcohol that is meant and

    2) The segment of the population who never could stand Ralph are pre-programmed to believe any negative report, no matter how wrong.

    Worse yet, is the number of people who perpetuate the mistake by believing it!

    To continue to perpetuate the reporter's mistake is an insult to both natives and Ralph and his family. You may not like the man, but let's not cast disparaging comments that are clearly wrong.

    By Blogger Andy, at 6:02 p.m.  

  • Gayle - I agree Ralph Klein often lacks sympathy for those who are less fortunate.

    Canuckistan - Having sex with someone from a difference race is a little different than being married.

    Mind you Ralph Klein could be tolerant of Metis but not pure aboriginals.

    By Blogger Monkey Loves to Fight, at 6:39 p.m.  

  • Excuse me, Miles, but your own prejudices have outed you. "pure aboriginals" but no capitalization?

    CG, this post is a disappointment. You are better than this.

    By Blogger Candace, at 2:31 a.m.  

  • Pretty effective data, thanks so much for your article.

    By Anonymous sex shop market, at 12:09 p.m.  

  • By Blogger 5689, at 9:44 p.m.  

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