Stupid US right-winger also stupid about Canada

Via this story on CBC, I came across this silly little commentary on the Canadian election by American right-winger, Paul Weyrich.

In which Weyrich characterizes Canada as under the sway of "some premises of Cultural Marxism, which Canadians have espoused, such as same-sex marriage and abortion-on-demand."

Um, "Cultural Marxism"? As the CBC article dryly points out, "He does not say how these things are linked in his mind to Marxism, a doctrine better known for concepts of class warfare." Well, "better known" by some, I suppose. The association of Marxism with gay rights is particularly quirky, given what Marx himself said about gay people.

Furthermore, adds Weyrich, "The people of Canada have become so liberal and hedonistic that the public ethic in the Country immediately could not reversed."

Canada? Hedonistic? I never realized that US right-wingers saw us as such a hip people.

Weyrich worries that "Harper would not propose anti-abortion legislation soon, if at all." You don't say. The pro-life movement hasn't been a serious political force in Canada since the 80s; support for abortion rights continues to grow, and is highest in Quebec (82% in 2002)--which is a part of the country in which Conservatives would probably like to continue to be elected in the future.

Weyrich hits the nail on the head when he ends his article with the declaration: "But it is clear that Canada wanted change and enough Canadian voters felt that the Conservative Party was the instrument to realize that change." Indeed, the Conservatives were an instrument, a tool, you might say, with which to punish the Liberals for their corruption and arrogance.

There's also an interesting discussion of the struggle to keep the Conservative campaign from being associated with the American right-wing, which scares the bejesus out of most Canadians--an aspect of the election campaign missing from pretty much all of the American coverage.