The Hook

Luke Sywalker: Who DID pay for the ad

You're right that the Tyee story should have mentioned Tam's NDP alignment.

But does Mike Hillman, or you, really think it's enough to say, like Sgt Schutz, "I know nothing!"

The third party who authorized the ad is identified in the ad itself. Has Mike Hillman not been able to contact this individual?

Regardless, what is Hillman's position on the sentiments expressed in that third party ad? Does he reject them, or not?

breaking the mold

I guess I'll be the Canadian mosaic role model and vote for Yuan as a non-Chinese person. On a related matter, I hear that there are some in Quebec who only vote for French Canadians and put out French ads claiming some cultural entity. It's shocking, but myopic views and perceptions of ourselves as belonging to certain faux groups exist, and politicians will use whatever means possible as making you vote for them.

Do the other candidates

Do the other candidates speak Chinese? She does have ethnicity on her side, and the fact that she speaks both Chinese and English. Vancouver-Kingsway has many Chinese immigrants. As a non-Asian who lived for years in a Chinese speaking country, I would suggest the non-speaking Chinese candidates learn some basic Mandarin or Cantonese, hire translators (or maybe they have) when they address Chinese audiences- they'll be surprised how a little effort will go a long way in earning the respect and admiration of immigrant Chinese who don't yet have a strong grasp of the English language (but do have a vote).

Tam's comment is appropriate

I've no axe to grind with either the NDP or Liberals, and I've met and dealt with Patrick Tam often enough to recognize him as a fair dealer, and truth be told I was completely unaware that Mr. Tam was an NDP supporter until today.

However his comments, regardless of his political affiliation, are legitimate.

The translation of one advertisement paid for by the Yuan campaign directly that I find most offensive is:

"Please unite, on 10/14 cast a vote for your ethnic Chinese candidate, Wendy Yuan."

What if Ryan Warawa (or Stockwell Day or Michael Byers or Stephen Harper or ^insert white person here^ were to advertise:

"Please unite, on 10/14 cast a vote for a native born English-speaker of Caucasian descent?"

Or how about:

"Please unite, on 10/14 cast a vote for the only male candidate on your ballot, Joe Blow?"

Or what if Stockwell Day were to advertise:

"Please unite, on 10/14 cast a vote for your white God-fearing evangelical instead of the masses of other lower evolution-loving beings?"

Hyperbole in some examples but I think you get the point.

People don't need to define themselves by their race to be seen as useful leaders of an entire community. If Ms. Yuan wishes to play these games she should be prepared to expect that some feel she's more interested the support, and supporting, one narrow component of the community than others.

From my perspective this incident shows she has a lack of confidence in her abilities and is making up for it with a cultural appeal.

We need people in parliament with abilities and ideas, not merely people who can get elected any ol' way that works.

I'm not impressed.

The incident has also focussed attention on third party advertising and in Ms. Yuan's case it has raised a number of questions. Ms. Yuan has a disproportionate number of individuals advertising on her behalf when compared to all BC candidates. Most BC candidates have exactly zero third parties advertising for them. Ms. Yuan has four. Last I looked there were only seven third parties supporting candidates in BC in total, and Ms. Yuan has more than half of them.

That's a highly unusual coincidence which leaves more questions to ask.

By-The-Numbers

I've put together a by the numbers view of the third party advertising issue in Vancouver-Kingsway.

Wendy Yuan appears to be the only candidate (out of thousands) in the entire country with 3 or 4 third party advertisers working on her behalf is unusual, but that in and of itself implies no wrong doing. Certainly the situation begs more questions be asked.

http://mikewatkins.ca/2008/10/14/wendy-yuan-3rd-party-advertising/

Yet my concern isn't the number of advertisers but the content, in particular the content from the advertisement placed by the campaign itself.

So Much Silliness...

Wendy Yuan, a Chinese-Canadian, has obviously been courting the heavily Chinese-Canadian vote in the riding.

OTOH, Don Davies has been courting the Filipino vote in the riding and one would think he's the "Filipino" candidate.

Heck, he even brought out Flor Marcelino (NDP MLA for Wellington, Manitoba) who is Filipino to court the Filipino vote.

Here's Don Davies further courting the Filipino vote.

http://www.straight.com/article-163462/vancouver-kingsway-candidates-dance-ethnic-vote

So much silliness.

Apples and Oranges

Luke Skywalker wrote:

OTOH, Don Davies has been courting the Filipino vote in the riding and one would think he's the "Filipino" candidate.

Heck, he even brought out Flor Marcelino (NDP MLA for Wellington, Manitoba) who is Filipino to court the Filipino vote.

The fact the Don Davies is courting the support of ethnic groups in Vancouver Kingsway is unremarkable. He's been actively soliciting support from all corners of the community, not just one. More importantly, he is not doing what Wendy Yuan is doing: namely, urging Caucasian voters to vote for one of their own!

Yuan is playing the race card not because she's seeking support from the Chinese community but because of the nature of her message: that Chinese voters should vote for the Chinese candidate and not for the white candidate. That is a very dangerous approach to take in a multi-ethnic society.

Gotta Disagree

Gustav:

And here's the relevant bit in the Chinese newspaper ad translated:

And that's racist??? lol... Come on. It's the silly season.

Methinks that if the Liberals are tanking in BC as the NDP has been constantly messaging, the NDP wouldn't care.

Prediction: Liberal win.

Its a pretty simple ethical

Its a pretty simple ethical and practical issue, my anonymous friend L.S.:

The job of a candidate is to court all votes.

The job of a MP is to represent all constituents.

A candidate which asks ethnic voters to cast their ballot based on race alone is not one that should elected as an MP to represent all constituents.

In the end voters will decide but settling for "whatever works" even the most rabid partisan ought to agree is not good enough for our country.

Unless of course one is of the Stephen Harper ilk which only wishes to elect trained seals who will be ordered to bob, weave, jump, and dive (for cover) and allowed to do precious little else.

BTW

Here's the ad and it's translation:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flungingpictures/2931202950/

As I was saying...

Luke, you omitted the most relevant part of the ad:

“Please unite, on 10/14 cast a vote for our Chinese community candidate, Wendy Yuan.”

We won't last long as a multi-cultural society if politicians start routinely to make such racist, sectarian appeals to the electorate.

Gustav...

Well, read Patrick Tam's original translation on Flickr, which he uploaded under his moniker "Flunging Pictures", whereby he translates the ad as follows:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flungingpictures/2931202950/

And that's racist, putting a Chinese ad in a Chinese newspaper stating that one speaks Chinese and one doesn't? lol

Seems that this guy Tam how now changed his own original translation in this Hook story. Strange isn't it?

Methinks Tam is connected to the Kingsway NDP and one only does goofy stuff like this if a campaign is desperate. 'Nough said.