Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish stepping a U.S. President George Bush doll. - kicked out of Liberal Party

theglobeandmail article
Outspoken Liberal MP booted from caucus



Liberal MP Carolyn Parrish is shown in this handout still photo from video from a television show stepping a U.S. President George Bush doll.


Thursday, Nov 18, 2004



Carolyn Parrish has been thrown out of the Liberal caucus by Prime Minister Paul Martin, who said Thursday that her behaviour had become "unacceptable."


Ms. Parrish had capped a series of controversial statements with a denunciation Wednesday of Mr. Martin, an attack that shattered the rules of party etiquette.


After meeting with cabinet in Ottawa, Mr. Martin spoke briefly to reporters.


"After speaking with the caucus executive earlier this afternoon, I am announcing my decision, effective immediately, to dismiss Carolyn Parrish from the government caucus," he said.


Mr. Martin, who did not take any questions, said that he had phoned Ms. Parrish to tell her personally.


"I told her that, while I have defended her right to express her views frankly, I cannot, as leader of our party and the government caucus, tolerate behaviour that demeans and disrespects others," he said. "It is unacceptable. There are better, more civil and more effective ways to make your case than those she has chosen."


The move by Mr. Martin removes an embarrassing figure from his party, reducing the chance that George W. Bush will be heckled from the government benches if the U.S. President addresses Parliament when he comes to Ottawa at the end of the month.


It also reduces the already-tenuous position of the minority Liberals. The governing party now has 134 of the 308 seats in the House of Commons. The various opposition parties hold 172 seats and there are now two independents.


Ms. Parrish has refused to tone down her criticisms of Mr. Bush, who she has denounced as a "war-like" leader. But her most serious crime seems to have been rejecting the authority of her party's leader, saying Wednesday that Mr. Martin could "go to hell" if he didn't like her behaviour.


Her attitude received international attention when a photo of her stomping on a Bush doll, filmed as part of a This Hour has 22 Minutes episode, ran on the hugely popular Drudge Report.


Mr. Parrish has long been a thorn in the side of Liberals who want to rebuild ties with the United States. She called the countries contributing to U.S. efforts in Iraq a "coalition of the idiots" and was dismayed at the re-election of Mr. Bush.


She responded to Mr. Bush's election victory by saying that Americans had "reconfirmed [him] as their Commander-in-Chief, and he is a warlike man."


She was scolded then by Mr. Martin but she retorted that she would continue to speak her mind. But on Wednesday she went too far by shifting her criticism to the party's leadership.


"I have absolutely no loyalty to this team. None," she told Canadian Press.


"After what they've put me through and lots of my colleagues, they can all go to hell. But [Mr. Martin's] not going to control me, so all he's going to do is end up looking weak."


Mr. Martin could not, apparently, control her. But he could fire her.