Toronto News

Rob Ford must be doing something right

Councillor Rob Ford and his wife attended a hockey game at the Air Canada last month after the councillor had consumed a "few" beers. The drunken Ford became involved in a verbal altercation with some other fans, security came and Ford ended up leaving the building.

The glad-handing politico was at least sober enough to hand out a business card to someone in the stands and after Dan and Rebecca Hope of Durham found out that he was a member of Toronto City Council, they wrote a lengthy letter of complaint to city hall. The matter has now been referred to David Mullan, the citys integrity commissioner, for a possible investigation.

When Ford was first contacted by the media over the Hopes complaint he replied that he was being slandered and even denied that he was at the April 15 game between the Ottawa Senators and the Toronto Maple Leafs. After discussing the matter with his family, the outspoken councillor came clean and admitted everything; at least everything that he managed to remember. Ford added that he was experiencing personal problems while adding that that was no excuse for his behaviour on the night in question.

There is no doubt that Fords drunken outburst was one of the most exciting things to take place at a Leafs game since the team last won the Stanley Cup when flower power had not yet reached full bloom and the local Toronto media reported it as such. The media being the media couldnt help make a big deal out of the incident in light of the fact that of all the high crimes and misdemeanors that a politician can commit, none is more serious than lying to the media.

Instead of merely reporting the incident, the Toronto Star went way over the top. But it appears that Fords biggest crime was not being drunk at a hockey game, but was the fact that he is a conservative. On the same day that the story was reported, Royson James wrote a column entitled, "Ford can forget his mayoral dreams. Besides being described as "bumptious" and a "borderline bully" (has this guy never heard of Howard Moscoe or Olivia Chow) James proceeds on a tirade about what Ford thinks about Toronto City Councils spending habits. For James and his pals at the Toronto Star, the taxpayers can never spend enough on issues that are championed by the left. The columnist then goes on to criticize Ford for his views on "car free days" and the fact that he opposes the citys ban on pesticides. James even throws in Fords father, Doug, who at one time was the lowest of the low (an Ontario Conservative MPP). Towards the end of the column, James writes "Councillor Ford needs serious counselling". Unfortunately it is not quite clear whether Royson thinks that he needs counselling for his drunken behaviour or for the fact that he thinks Toronto City Council is squandering too much of the taxpayers money. Well probably never know.

If that wasnt enough, this morning the Star came out with an editorial entitled "Time to park the Ford". Besides opposing Fords possible bid for the mayoralty, the editorial urges Ford not to seek re-election or if he does, for his constituents to see that he is defeated. The newspaper doesnt even try to hide the fact that what has them angered is not Fords behaviour at the ACC, but the fact that his view of the world doesnt coincide with theirs or that of the left leaning council.

Rob Fords actions on the night in question certainly shouldnt be condoned. But by the same token we need some diversity of opinion in our local government. Toronto needs a few city councillors who think like Rob Ford thinks. Okay, so hes a little over the top but if disqualified him from being a councillor, the chamber would be practically empty. The councillors on the left and their buddies at the Star can never stop preaching about diversity; yet diverse opinions at city hall are simply not tolerated.

During the American Civil War some officials approached President Abraham Lincoln to tell him about the fact that General Ulysses Grant was a drunk. Lincoln purportedly responded that they should find out what he drinks and send a case to all the other generals.

Perhaps its time to find out what Rob Ford drinks.

Arthur Weinreb is an author, columnist and Associate Editor of Toronto Free Press. His work has appeared on Newsmax.com, Men's News Daily, Drudge Report, Foxnews.com, Glenn Beck and The Rant. Arthur can be reached at: Columns 2006 '05 '04 '03 '02 '01 '00 1999 Media 2006 '05 '04 '03 '02 Toronto 2006 '05 '04