Values, indeed

Babble on.

The question of values has been raised once again by Paul Martin and the Liberals. They say Stephen Harper's values aren't Canadian values.

The truth about values in this campaign is that Stephen Harper actually has some and Paul Martin does not.

Worried about abortion? About judicial activism? About same-sex marriage?

Ben Sharma lays out the two leaders' positions. Not just in this campaign, not just what you read on the front page of the Toronto Star, mind you, but their actual words over the course of the past dozen years.

"I am personally against abortion on demand, but I believe it is very clear that there must be legislation brought in that will deal with what is becoming simply a mish-mash of approaches" - Paul Martin (Halifax Daily News, July 20, 1989)

Further, according to the same edition of the Halifax Daily News:

"Martin said the prime minister must immediately recall parliament to introduce new abortion legislation"

and finally, Paul Martin on abortion laws and judicial activism:

"It's very clear that we are going to have 10 different [abortion] laws and that we are going to have these laws made by judges" (Halifax Chronicle-Herald, July 20, 1989)

...

...Johnson pointed to a 1994 Reform Party convention, where Harper opposed a resolution by party members to define marriage strictly as a heterosexual union -- a definition which would deny gay and lesbian couples equal access to spousal and family benefits.

"Eighty-seven per cent voted for it," said Johnson Thursday on CTV's Canada AM. "But Harper stood out and he said: 'these are not party issues ... they're issues of conscience.'" Harper has held steadfast to this belief, said Johnson.

Read it all, and decide whose values merit your respect. Ask yourself if honesty is a value required of a Prime Minister. Then ask yourself which leader deserves your vote.

Babble off.