Kennedy hammers immoral Conservative fundraising

When Public Eye Online's Sean Holman broke the story of the Conservative party exploiting the current Middle Eastern conflict in for partisan gain through their email fundraising, many of us in BC were appalled that the Prime Minister and/or his party would sink to such lows.

Many of us were also pleasantly surprised though to see such a strong and speedy response from Gerard Kennedy, who made it very clear he thought Harper had crossed a very serious line.

We have people dying and families being displaced on both sides of this conflict and meanwhile, Stephen Harper is allowing his foreign policy to be used as a partisan fundraising tool," Kennedy said.

Clearly, the Canadian mainstream media had a similar level of interest, placing Gerard's no-nonsense comments and views in over 21 major newspapers across the country.

Here are links to some of those stories, and Gerard's full statement is included below:

"Tories seek donations to defend Ottawa's stand on Middle East"
"Tories draw on Mideast crisis to raise money"

"Tories milk war for cash"

KENNEDY CONDEMNS IMMORAL CONSERVATIVE FUNDRASING TACTICS

Toronto, ON -- Liberal leadership candidate Gerard Kennedy today condemned the Conservative Party of Canada for using the recent conflict in the Middle East as a partisan fundraising tool in reaction to an appeal sent out last night from Conservative Party executive director Michael Donison.

“We have people dying and families being displaced on both sides of this conflict and meanwhile, Stephen Harper is allowing his foreign policy to be used as a partisan fundraising tool. This crosses the line.”

Under the heading, Finally - A Leader who's willing to stand up and take a tough stand, Conservative Party Executive Director Michael Donison emailed party supporters asking for "a special contribution now of $150 or $75" in response to Harper's "principled stand on the new turmoil in the Mid-East".

Kennedy called on the Prime Minister to denounce the email and state clearly that Canada’s foreign policy is not a partisan political tool to be wielded crassly for the sake of Conservative Party gain.

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