이런 해당화 당에 정권을 10년 쯤 맡기는 것도 학습효과 상 좋을 것 입니다. 장기적으로 생각할 때.
A day after an Edmonton-based Wildrose candidate came under fire for controversial religious views, a Calgary-based candidate with the party found himself in the headlines for on-air comments suggesting his chances of victory were better than his non-white rivals.
“I think as a Caucasian I have an advantage,” Ron Leech told a radio station on the weekend. “When different community leaders such as a Sikh leader or a Muslim leader speak, they really speak to their own people in many ways. As a Caucasian, I believe that I can speak to all the community.”
Leech, a longtime pastor running in the multicultural riding of Calgary-Greenway, has previously been at the centre of controversy for some of his religious views against homosexuality and abortion.
On Tuesday at a Wildrose rally, Leech apologized for his radio comments, saying he meant to say that he has no disadvantage as a Caucasian candidate running in Greenway.
“I apologize if something was said in the spur of the moment that may have misrepresented the community or myself,” he said. “As a leader in the community for 30 years, my leadership has involved over 48 different nations I’ve represented. I love all of the people, all the different cultural groups, all of the different faith and religious groups. I have real heart for the people and to serve in the community.”
Asked about Leech’s radio comment, Wildrose Leader Danielle Smith refused to condemn the remarks.
“I think every candidate puts forward their best argument for why they should be the person the way represent the community,” she said in Calgary. “I know Dr. Leech runs a private school that has a large number of people from cultural communities, he has an ethnically diverse riding, he’s made great friendships and inroads with leaders of different cultural communities there so I assume he was probably commenting on his own ability.”
The incident comes a short time after Edmonton-South West nominee Allan Hunsperger, another pastor, came under fire for a blog posting made last year that decried “godless” and “wicked” public education, and questioned the Edmonton public school board’s policy of welcoming and accepting gay students.
“You will suffer the rest of eternity in the lake of fire, hell, a place of eternal suffering,” Hunsperger wrote, suggesting gays and lesbians have chosen a sexual orientation for which they will suffer in the afterlife. The blog was removed Sunday afternoon.
Smith also refused to condemn Hunsperger, calling the controversy a product of fearmongering and saying her party will not discriminate against anyone’s religious views. She said the Wildrose will not legislate on any controversial social issue, though rivals have said Wildrose plans to allow citizen-initiated referendums will open the door to exactly those kinds of debates.
Leech — who goes by the honorific “Dr. Leech,” though his doctorate comes from an unaccredited institution — said he would not have posted the things Hunsperger did.
Asked whether it was fair that Wildrose candidates were facing questions about their religious beliefs, he replied: “I think our party is clear on our social positions. I as an individual have my personal convictions and beliefs, but I am not trying to impose those beliefs as anyone. I have a great love for all humanity.”