Once again Jason Cherniak engages in drive by smearing of the NDP. In this case contrary to all rules of law and of accepted legal process, to say nothing of standard journalistic rules, he uses hearsay. Not even attributed hearsay. In fact the lowest kind of hearsay; rumour. Nor can he attribute the rumours. In fact he may have made it up himself.
And Jason as a lawyer and a blogging journalist knows these rules. He uses a rumour to justify by implication his blog accusation that federal NDP MP Olivia Chow cheated to get elected!
Worse he attempts to weasel out of any responsibility for promoting this rumour and thus this smear, by saying he does not suggest the rumour is true. What B.S. The minute he publishes it he gives it validity. Thus the rumour becomes true. It is there in black and white, to be quoted, to be used out of context, to be referenced back to.
"Let's face it. People cheat in politics. It's not a good thing. It shouldn't happen. But it does.The rumour around TO (Let me be very clear; I am not suggesting that the rumour is true. I am only stating that it is out there.) is that Olivia Chow won because NDP supporters from across the city voted early and often at different polling stations in Trinity-Spadina. I don't know if it's true, but just the rumour led the federal Liberals to fight for a new rule that voters must show ID before receiving their ballot."
Jason Cherniak
The damage is done, he has once again smeared the NDP and this is the second time he has done this. His first smear campaign was against Ontario NDP candidate and now MPP, Christi DiNovo. Notice how Jason aims at NDP Women for his smears. Now he smears Olivia Chow.
The man is sexist. He deliberately attacks women dippers. Worse yet, this is just the introduction to his comment on why veil wearing Muslim women should disrobe to be identified to vote in the up coming Quebec election. Heck Charset who demanded this, is not even a liberal, he is a neo-con and former federal leader of the Progressive Conservatives. And in Jason defending this, he is in effect defending the current racist assault on Muslims occurring in Quebec.
And for that matter he is abetting the anti-Asian racism that has cropped up in the election.
There should be no room in Progressive Bloggers for this kind of sexism or racism, let alone personal slanders that are deliberate and aimed at discrediting political opponents through the use of rumour, innuendo, and slander.
That being said this particular blog post invective with no factual basis deserves an immediate apology and retraction. Failing that I ask the moderators at Progressive Bloggers to review the serious legal implications of this post, which spreads a malicious rumour as fact; "the rumour led the federal Liberals to fight for a new rule", that such slander and defamation should be grounds for banishment from Progressive Bloggers.
Fair is fair. This is his second offense. For that he should be banned from Progressive Bloggers as has been done with other offenders.
For more reactions to Jason's slanderous article see:
Rumour has it that some people on the internet make shit up
dick head award , and the award goes to Jason ...
But he's just the messenger
Bending The Pretzel
For my articles on Jason see: Cherniak
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politics, Cherniak, blogs, bloggers, Canada, progressives, Liberals, NDP,
11 comments:
He's starting to look a bit chubby in that picture of yours...if its really him.
Eugene, hopefully you and the other bloggers who have posted on Jason's latest smear postings, and particularly as they are sexist and racist, have actually contacted the prog moderators. Can you state this, or do you know if complaints have been forwarded? It's just that I have no idea if this has happned and gives me some indication if there is a tainted hierarchy of discrimination allowed here.
Good well thought out post with references not based on heresay.
BCL rumour has it is him.
Jan no I have not yet directly contacted the moderators I thought they would in their omniscient all knowing way read this.
Apparently JC has decided to take "If you can't dazzle them with brillance baffle them with bullshit" as his personal motto.
I went out for a run and came back. Thought about this. Jason is purposely smearing NDP in a sexist and indirect racist way, to show he is immune to any sanctions from prog blogs, thus highlighting his privileged status. Knowing that he is doing this, highlights to all that in fact, there seems to be a overt double standard in progessive bloggers, and moreover, to shove it in the faces of NDP progressive bloggers, and to Robert McLelland who is head if blogdippers.
As you well know Eugene, unless there is a formal complaint lodged nothing is going to happen here.
This is the email I have sent to the PB Moderators I could find email addresses for.
Dear PB Moderators;
I am writing you with a formal complaint. I was unable to get emails for all the moderators so you are the ones I could find.
As I posted in my blog http://plawiuk.blogspot.com/2007/03/rumour-monger.html
Jason Cherniak should apologize for his slanderous attack on Olivia Chow. Comments that I consider as sexist and racist as well.
I am asking the PB moderators to review his article on the basis that he made an assertion of illegality based on an unattributed rumour., and if he does not apologize I ask he be removed from PB.
Eugene Plawiuk
thank you Eugene. I do hope that other bloggers who have prog sites also make similar formal complaints.
Kurchina I see you are one of the moderators as well but could not find your email so please use the comment above to consider yourself officially informed of my official complaint.
good for you eugene for putting in the complaint ...
It appears the Mr. Cherniak has made it clear that he feels that is his divine rite to propagate rumours sans evidence based on a commment he has 'allegedly' left on the thread attached to the post in question.
.
Perhaps this complaint would have more clout if we started some sort of petition?
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