Canada

arikara

(5,562 posts) Tue Oct 22, 2013, 10:13 PM Oct 2013

Mike Duffy claims Harper told him to repay expense money

Senator Mike Duffy finally had his say Tuesday, dropping a political bombshell before the entire Senate, by saying Prime Minister Stephen Harper told him to repay his claimed expense money, whether or not it was claimed inappropriately.

Before a stunned audience of senators and reporters in the Senate gallery, Duffy said Harper told him, in the presence of his then chief of staff Nigel Wright, it was the perception of the "base" that was important, not what Duffy said about his own innocence.

"The prime minister wasn't interested in explanations or the truth. 'It's not about what you did, it's about the perception of what you did that's been created in the media. The rules are inexplicable to our base''' Duffy said.

Harper has always maintained Duffy's expense troubles were handled by Nigel Wright, but Duffy's account puts Harper in the room. After Duffy's explosive speech, the prime minister's spokesman issued a release saying there was nothing new in it.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/mike-duffy-claims-harper-told-him-to-repay-expense-money-1.2158507

I listened to this live today, Duffy was pretty convincing. Harper made a fatal error by not leaving Duffy a way out.

6 replies

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Highlight:

Mike Duffy claims Harper told him to repay expense money (Original Post) arikara Oct 2013 OP

Harper has stepped in it big time... Spazito Oct 2013 #1

You never want to corner a rat or it will attack arikara Oct 2013 #2

I think Harper will hang on, his arrogance wouldn't allow him to do anything else... Spazito Oct 2013 #5

Duffy alleges a major-league conspiracy, and comes within an inch of calling the PM a liar arikara Oct 2013 #3

And one more snippet arikara Oct 2013 #4

Turns out it was a not so brilliant move... Spazito Oct 2013 #6

Spazito

(50,426 posts)

1. Harper has stepped in it big time...

Reply to arikara (Original post)

Tue Oct 22, 2013, 11:26 PM

Oct 2013

Duffy is a snake, couldn't stand him when he was on CTV, Harper appointed him to the Senate because he thought he could control him, now the snake has turned on his handler. I am loving it, lol.

arikara

(5,562 posts)

2. You never want to corner a rat or it will attack

Reply to Spazito (Reply #1)

Wed Oct 23, 2013, 12:53 AM

Oct 2013

Harper got careless, drunk on power or whatever and figured he could just finish the job of kicking ol' Duff into the corner with no repercussions. Duffy made one last ditch attempt to get out of it by going on sick leave but that didn't work out. So now he's got nothing left to lose and Harper is in for it.

This story has so many facets to it. Do you think Harper will last through the convention? I think he'll hang on then have to resign before the next election.

Spazito

(50,426 posts)

5. I think Harper will hang on, his arrogance wouldn't allow him to do anything else...

Reply to arikara (Reply #2)

Wed Oct 23, 2013, 10:26 AM

Oct 2013

Mulroney did the same and decimated the Progressive Conservative party as a result. I suspect there is going to be some backstabbing beginning within the Con inner circle with Peter MacKay who wants to be the leader at the center.

It is going to be fascinating to watch, this scandal isn't going away any time soon, imo, and that's a good thing looking forward to the next election.

arikara

(5,562 posts)

3. Duffy alleges a major-league conspiracy, and comes within an inch of calling the PM a liar

Reply to arikara (Original post)

Wed Oct 23, 2013, 01:23 AM

Oct 2013

a good read

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/karl-nerenberg/2013/10/duffy-alleges-major-league-conspiracy-and-comes-within-inch-ca

arikara

(5,562 posts)

4. And one more snippet

Reply to arikara (Original post)

Wed Oct 23, 2013, 01:36 AM

Oct 2013

...

In one unexpected take on the issue, Sen. George Baker, a senior Liberal, told reporters that passing the motions would be, in effect, a court sentence because the Senate is a quasi-judicial body. He argued that passing the suspensions would thus foil ongoing police investigations of the three senators. He said it would also mean Harper and his office couldn’t be called to testify in the event of a trial.

“You can’t be convicted twice – double jeopardy,” Baker said. “Legally speaking, brilliant move by the lawyers (at PMO) to get them off the hook.”

...

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/10/22/stephen-harper-ordered-me-to-repay-disallowed-expenses-mike-duffy-tells-senate/

Spazito

(50,426 posts)

6. Turns out it was a not so brilliant move...

Reply to arikara (Reply #4)

Wed Oct 23, 2013, 10:28 AM

Oct 2013

it brought out the dirty laundry and backfired badly on Harper and his cabal.

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