White House warns Parliament to kiss ass

Paul Martin shrugs off White House rebuke

The White House made an unusual foray into Canadian electoral politics Tuesday, scolding Prime Minister Paul Martin for his tough talk on U.S. policies. But rather than quiet the Liberal leader, the rebuke fuelled his fire.

In a speech to the Canadian Club at Ottawa's historic Chateau Laurier Hotel, U.S. President George Bush's envoy to Canada accused Martin of trying to score cheap political points by bashing America.

"I understand political expediency, but the last time I looked, the United States was not on the ballot for the Jan. 23 election," Wilkins told the crowd gathered just steps away from Parliament Hill.

"Just think about this. What if one of our best friends criticized you directly and incorrectly almost relentlessly? What if that friend's agenda was to highlight your perceived flaws while avoiding mentioning your successes? What if that friend demanded respect but offered little in return?" Wilkins asked.

"Wouldn't that begin to sow the seeds of doubt in your mind about the strength of the friendship?"

In his pointed rebuke to campaigning politicians, but aimed principally at the Liberal leader, Wilkins warned them to tone down the rhetoric.

Martin fends off critics

But in his own remarks Tuesday, perhaps bearing in mind the praise his damning remarks earned in The New York Times, Martin made no apologies for the controversy.

Asked to comment on Wilkins' speech by reporters in Surrey, B.C. on Tuesday, the Liberal leader brushed aside the reprimands.

"I have not made the United States a target in this campaign," he said, explaining that his disputed positions on softwood lumber and climate change were adopted "long before any election was contemplated."

"Let me simply say to anyone who wants to question what I have been saying, beginning with (Conservative Leader) Stephen Harper, that I am the prime minister of this country, that our position on climate change will be determined by the government of Canada, that the fact is that we do expect our partners to honour their agreements -- and I will defend Canada. Period."

When asked what right Martin has to speak about others lacking a global conscience when Canada's track record on greenhouse emissions is far from shining, the Liberal leader simply repeated that the world needs a "new multilateralism."

"We live in a world where other countries, China and India, are rising to the fore, and the fact is, before we start having these huge tectonic giants clashing with each other, we have got to basically put in place rules by which the world is going to govern itself."

Martin said he first used the term "global conscience" in the context of preventing a global avian flu pandemic.

"We have to have a global conscience that says, whether it's avian flu or AIDS in Africa... whether it is climate change globally or whether it is softwood lumber -- the fact is we've got to understand this is one world and the leadership of the world has got to speak to that global conscience."

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