CP: Conservative effort to limit raid damage leads to bizarre farce

[tuvor]

OTTAWA — The federal Conservatives made "false and misleading" statements in their financial returns for the last election and exceeded their campaign spending limit by over $1 million, Elections Canada says in a warrant that led to a raid on party headquarters.

A copy of the warrant and supporting materials was provided to The Canadian Press.

The warrant was supposed to be made public Monday, but a bizarre attempt by Conservatives to get ahead of the news Sunday by briefing select reporters led to a slapstick scene that saw party representatives switching hotels, slamming doors and scampering down fire exits to escape pointed questions from journalists who were not invited to the meeting.

...

The Canadian Press, the CBC, Maclean's, the Globe and Mail and the Halifax Chronicle Herald were among those who were not invited to the party's briefing at a downtown hotel.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jPRQtIa1y4EtN0bQQ0Vge1jLgdNA

[Spazito]

1. I just love this....

".... led to a slapstick scene that saw party representatives switching hotels, slamming doors and scampering down fire exits to escape pointed questions from journalists who were not invited to the meeting."

Very reminiscent of the "Keystone Kops" comedies on this IS what the faux cons are in reality, geez.

[HeresyLives]

2. This is great stuff

and this was the CPC's GOOD version of things. :rofl:

[Caradoc]

3. And...

...these particular party operatives are the 'good' or organized/capable ones, which is a pretty depressing thought! Not a lot of deep thinkers in this group. This story's gonna be great to watch as it rolls out this week.

[Bragi]

4. Macleans has a good account as well..

Relentless macleans blogger Kady O'Malley joined the festivities, despite the lack of an invitation...

http://forums.macleans.ca/advansis/?mod=for&act=dip&pid=116447&tid=116447&eid=48&so=1&ps=0&sb=1

[glarius]

5. Mike Duffy (one of the chosen few) will be spinning this on his political

show at 5 PM today. You can bet he will slant it towards making the Conservatives look like innocent victims of persecution!

[HeresyLives]

6. What time is the court releasing

the warrant, does anybody know?

[Caradoc]

7. No surprise...

...to see that the Puffster was one of the anointed media flacks invited to the secret party. The guy's lack of objectivity is almost laughable.

[daleo]

8. It would be interesting to see a list of "invitees"

Oddly, the Toronto Star was invited but Canwest wasn't.

I think it is a club that it is honor to not belong to.

[Clintonista2]

9. I was incredibly surprised that the Star was invited

Not so surprised at CBC and Macleans being excluded.

[glarius]

10. The person from the Star they invited was Tonda McCharles who is often

on Mike Duffy's show. I've watched her and she seems to studiously avoid making waves, so as to be invited back by Duffy. They no doubt have noticed that, so they invited her.