Spencer Herbert calls on Liberals' Marc Dalton to resign over "disturbingly homophobic" e-mail

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      NDP candidate Spencer Herbert is calling for the resignation of B.C. Liberal candidate Marc Dalton over “disturbingly homophobic comments”.

      Herbert, who is running in Vancouver-West End, is also demanding that B.C. premier Gordon Campbell address the statements made by his party’s nominee in Maple Ridge-Mission.

      In a 1996 e-mail to a fellow school teacher, Dalton wrote: “I am not against homosexuals as people, but I do not support their lifestyle choices. I believe homosexuality is a moral issue. Most of us agree on many morals: respect, honesty, kindness. There are also many behaviours and acts that most of us would not condone: rape, robbery, assault, drunken driving, pedophilia, incest and so on.

      He continued: “There are other moral issues that large segments of our society do not see eye to eye: gambling, abortion, adultery, pornography. I believe that homosexuality fits in this category.”

      The NDP circulated the e-mail today (April 24) in a press release.

      “Gordon Campbell said that his party has a vigorous screening process,” Herbert said in the release. “Either Mr. Dalton chose not to disclose these comments or they are acceptable to Mr. Campbell. If Mr. Dalton hid his homophobia he should be asked to resign. If Mr. Campbell approved the candidacy knowing of these statements he should do the right thing, denounce these comments and fire this candidate.”

      On April 19, NDP candidate Ray Lam withdrew from the election race in Vancouver-False Creek after sexually provocative Facebook photos surfaced and were published by the media.

      You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      Hans Goudzwaard

      Apr 24, 2009 at 7:02pm

      My Opinion. It is everyone's responsibility to address any issue, regardless of public outrage.

      But from 12 years ago, that's bottom of the barrel.

      There were no personal attacks here.

      sleepswithangels

      Apr 24, 2009 at 7:11pm

      Wikipedia defines 'hypocrisy' :

      Hypocrisy means being less critical of oneself than of others. A well-known example is the smoker criticising someone else for smoking:

      Father : You shouldn't smoke.
      Son : But you smoke.
      Father : Yes, but I've had a hard day at work and I need to relax.

      Q) What possible justification could Gordon Campbell concoct for this situation?

      A) What would Patrick do?

      * Alt. Answer: Who gives a fuck....the redneck hicks and my city slicks will eat it up and put us over the top.

      In other words..same old same old
      SMBs

      Colleenc

      Apr 24, 2009 at 11:35pm

      It sounds like ignorance which is the start of all misunderstanding and prejudices. Obviously something to work to wards a better understanding and acceptance of those who do not fit into the packed norm, what ever that is. I mean this is a province that promotes a Premier and a Public Safety Minister that gives the term an accident waiting to happen that just about sums up are public highways and the provincial economy. Which gives drunk with power behind the wheel a whole new meaning to being premier of the province as young children believe they can to can call the shots in this province and make the better drunk.

      Wilfred Laurier

      Apr 25, 2009 at 2:54pm

      This is a far more serious matter than two inconsequential party pics on a Facebook page ... The BC Liberals and Premier Campbell didn't hesitate to call for Ray Lam's resignation - where's their indignation now?

      thecossack

      Apr 26, 2009 at 12:23pm

      It's like this every election. A bunch of little kids throwing sand at each other in the sandbox, not realizing they are running out of sand. Little packs of hyenas following the opposite side around awaiting a morsel to howl over. If it wasn't so hilarious it would be tragic.