7.05.2005

calling all canadian ex-pats

Canadians, this is war!
Canada's Ambassador Declares War on Fox News

Ambassador Frank McKenna has undertaken a public relations effort to reach the more than 1 million Canadians living in the United States, a group he calls the "Canadian diaspora."

McKenna says the effort is to boost support for Canada here, and to counter what he says is the "Fox factor," referring to the Fox News Channel, America's most popular cable news network, and its most highly rated show, "The O'Reilly Factor."

McKenna told the Toronto Star that he wants to arm Canadians with facts that will enable them to debate Americans and to lobby when Washington makes decisions that can hurt Canadians.

But most importantly, he says, Canadians in the U.S. should counteract Fox News, alleging that the network often spreads disinformation and creates a false picture of his homeland.

"We know we're a bit of prey for the Fox News type of shows," he told the Star.

The ambassador said he has sent out 6,000 pieces of literature to Canadians in his battle with Fox, and plans to mail to some 100,000 Canadians in the weeks ahead.
OK, it's not really war. But it is kind of funny. (Thanks to ALPF.)

17 comments:

barefoot hiker said...

Canada's Ambassador Declares War on Fox News

FOXNews Declares War on Canada

Bill O'Reilly demands, "Send more troops!" then hides up his own tuckus.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I guess now Americans who were wondering about us Canadians will be able to rest comfortably in Fox News reports that we are all in fact communists up here.

Now if only we could receive pamphlets on how to defend ourselves against the Jehovah's Witnesses ... anyone notice how their sending out the attractive ones now? I have to admit, it's hard turning down a hottie at the door, no matter what she wants to yammer on about. Sneaky fuckers.

laura k said...

This is very amusing. Someone who was held captive by the JW's (i.e., was raised as one) might have something to say about that. We shall see.

Anonymous said...

???

Lost me on that one.

It is something I've noticed in my area. They are getting younger (early to mid 20s now as opposed to 30s and 40s before) and cuter.

It's got to be a marketing ploy - and a good one - like I said, it's hard to turn down someone with a cute smile and puppydog eyes at the door. Heck, on a business level alone (forget the message), it's actually a well-conceived plan.

It's just a shame that once they get you talking ... well, we've all been through it. Still haven't found an effective way for them to leave my property before they get headlong into the whole speech. Getting naked might work, though - strip down, right in front of 'em, see how long they can stand the discomfort (or in my case, the sheer horror). Betcha that'll get 'em running.

laura k said...

Lost me on that one.

I was being purposely cryptic. Someone in the wmtc community was raised as a JW.

For my part, I have no problem resisting the temptation of door-to-door religion salespeople, no matter how cute. I have to resist the urge to be impolite as I shut the door in their faces.

laura k said...

Although I admit I haven't tried stripping for them yet. :)

Kyle_From_Ottawa said...

" alleging that the network often spreads disinformation and creates a false picture of his homeland."

Is there anything on Fox news that doesn't spread disinformation and creates a false picture? Foreign relations? Iraq War? Presidential Popularity? Jacko?

Anonymous said...

When a female friend and I visited Vancouver in '97, the first person to approach us as we entered the airport from the plane was a young evangelizer (I don't know if she was a Jehovah's Witness). "Good morning. Visiting Canada? Where are you from?" Ah, we thought, a friendly Canadian greeter! Then, "Are you married?" No. "Are you aware of the dangers of premarital sex?" We politely dismissed her and headed toward the parking lot. We laughed at the irony of the two of us coming to Vancouver in part for a brief respite from Texas fundamentalists only to be accosted by a Christer as soon as we got off the airplane. Joking about it later, we decided that we should have answered that No, we were not married but we were brother and sister fully engaged in premarital sex with each other. Are there really any dangers involved? But hindsight is 20/20, as they say.

Expat said...

I have already enlisted! ;)

Anyone else willing to fight the great American propaganda machine?

laura k said...

Is there anything on Fox news that doesn't spread disinformation and creates a false picture?

Good point, Kyle.

DeanG, that is hilarious. Next time you'll be prepared with a good indecent story. I guess we always think of those things too late...

Expat, I'm not Canadian yet, but I'll help you recruit.

andym said...

I purposely opened the door on a JW while completely naked once. They couldn't run fast enough. I guess I didn't look like I was worth saving.
~~sigh~~

laura k said...

I guess I didn't look like I was worth saving.

LOL :)

allan said...

I purposely opened the door on a JW while completely naked once.

Whoa, that was you?!?!?

...

Yes, yes, yes, I was raised in a cult.

I'm much better now.

Sass said...

I'm not sure if I qualify as a canadian ex-pat or not.

I have duel-citizenship. But I still choose to live here.

But I can say that Fox news can bite my ass.

laura k said...

You qualify, for sure. Ass biting included.

barefoot hiker said...

I have duel-citizenship.

That's an interesting Freudian slip... :)

laura k said...

That's an interesting Freudian slip... :)

I thought the same thing! :)

I didn't want Sassy to think I was correcting her spelling. Glad you picked up on it.