Was Stephen really being sincere?

I saw Michelle K's letter when it appeared in the Post.

The [url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/editorialsletters/story.html?id=... of the letter is this:

quote:

---

National Post
Published: Saturday, September 29, 2007

On Monday, I received a postcard from Stephen Harper. The front of the card featured his lovely family, and on the back, my family was wished a "Happy New Year." Besides the fact that it was 10 days later than the actual Jewish new year, this card raises the question: How does the Prime Minister know I'm Jewish? Did his office acquire this information from the most recent census? If so, is this an appropriate use of this information? Is this gesture strictly for political gain? Going forward, is the PMO now going to send a holiday card to every ethnic family celebrating cultural holidays? Should every Christian household expect a Christmas card this December?

This public relations initiative appears to be using my ethnicity to win support in the pending federal election. Does the PMO really think there is any sincerity there? I hope the development, printing and mailing of this care was paid for by the Conservative party, and not the Canadian taxpayer. And if the intentions were purely genuine, then I expect a beautiful Hanukkah card in my mailbox this December.

Michelle K.

---

[ 06 October 2007: Message edited by: sgm ]

I did miss that discussion, unionist, so I apologize for the superfluous post. The John-Tory-related thread title left me unaware that the Harper-issued letter was discussed therein.

Did you happen to see the follow-up letter in the Post from Winnipegger Phil Rosen?

quote:

---

Thanks for the card

National Post
Published: Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Re: Stephen, Are You Being Sincere?, letter to the editor, Sept. 29.

So letter-writer Michelle Kofman is questioning the "sincerity" of the Happy New Year's card she recently received from Stephen Harper. I was ecstatic to receive the card, my only one -- all my Jewish friends have switched to e-mail.

Phillip Rosen, Winnipeg.

---

I admit it doesn't do much to much to answer your specific questions, but I thought I'd just throw it in here anyway.

I agree, btw, with your estimation of the chances that census data is being manipulated by the Cons.

Politicians sending out Christmas cards (which in recent times have typically morphed into Holiday Greeting cards) to people they have never met is widely accepted as an attempt to woo or retain voters. When Christmas coincides with an election, as it did in 2005, Election Canada considers this to be an election expense which must be reported. Typically politicians send cards to donors, riding association members, business leaders, people who have asked to be added to the mailing list, etc.

One question, MRK, is whether there is any reason you would expect to be on Harper's mailing list? If not, it is puzzling why you would receive any greeting card from him.

Harper is the first PM I have heard of who has chosen to send ethnic or religion specific greeting cards to strangers. It appears that he also sent out cards on Chinese New Year. It is difficult to believe that he would use census data (as this is probably illegal) but simply going by last name is clearly risky and I would be surprised if the Conservatives would take such risks. Perhaps they have some advisors helping them in this task.

From this example and what is posted about the Chinese New Years card, it does seem that Harper has a mailing list which has individuals marked for ethnicity/religion who didn't themselves ask to be distinquished in this way. While some recipients may be pleased to be recognized in this way and not question how they were identified, I can certainly understand others questioning, and can understand if some would find this offensive. I suspect though that this brings Harper more political benefit than liability, and he likely knows this.

[ 07 October 2007: Message edited by: catherine-l ]

It may be obvious to everyone else, but it still isn't obvious to me what the card said. Why doesn't someone just tell me what the bleeding card said, to satisfy my sick curiosity?

Likewise, jester! Eat just enough but not too much. Life is hard.

quote:

---

"The only time I use my full name is for government stuff - social insurance number, driver's licence, passport," she said.

---

And the voters' list.

But that couldn't be. All candidates agree that they won't use the voters' list for anything other than its intended purpose.

It's against federal law to use the federal voters list for non-electoral purposes. Here's another article on this issue, where more people are speaking out on how they feel about receiving these cards. It seems pretty obvious that people receiving these cards who do not support the Conservatives are unlikely to be won over just because Harper figured out some way to identify them as Jews. Really, what was he thinking? As others have suggested, he should come clean, and at least let the recipients who have voiced concerns know he he identified them.[url=http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=198690d9-d9b8-4... speak out about cards[/url]

quote:

---

Originally posted by remind:
[b]

Any lists that I have used for contacts between elections, have been lists the NDP themselves compiled from contacts identified as NDP supporters/members.[/b]

---

Last time I was involved in one of those initiatives, it was a marked voters list.

Look, I can see why the original poster was curious. IF Harper et al had been referring to census data, that's a pretty big issue, since there is a wide range of information available from the census.

If it's from the voters list, then, frankly, the objection is pedantic. Voter contact between elections (including, arguably, sending selective greeting cards) is not inconsistent with the stated use of the voters list - electoral activity. We regularly get addressed admail from our Tory MP addressed to the three people who were listed as residing here at the last election. Yawn.

It's pretty clear to me that some Tory went through the voters list for a riding with a heavy concentration of Jewish voters, picked out the Jewish sounding names and sent them greeting cards. I have better issues to get worked up over.

This is an entirely separate issue from how effective the practice is. I can see how a non-Jewish voter with a "Jewish sounding" name could take offence. Or a thoroughly secular Jew. And I suspect that getting the greeting card has minimal positive impact on anyone getting it.

If they have you on some mailing list, I would just write to them and request that they remove you. It does not seem like there was any harm intended, Michelle. Probably trying to be friendly. MPs and such often send out Christmas cards. I dont think its anything to worry about.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Marceau:
[b]I dont think its anything to worry about.[/b]

---

You sound as if you have nothing to worry about in life. What a lucky person you are. Just giving thanks for all your bounty, just holidaying, and singing God Save the Queen. Good government, good country, good job, good life, good gracious me. Happy holiday! Welcome to our Positive Thinking Forum! Howdy do!

quote:

---

Originally posted by unionist:
[b]

You sound as if you have nothing to worry about in life. What a lucky person you are. Just giving thanks for all your bounty, just holidaying, and singing God Save the Queen. Good government, good country, good job, good life, good gracious me. Happy holiday! Welcome to our Positive Thinking Forum! Howdy do![/b]

---

Not exactly, but I usually dont get myself all hot and bothered over someone wishing me a Happy this or that. I know it can be pretty hard to withstand the violent onslaught of greeting cards and well-wishing. But be strong and I am sure you can survive it, Unionist. You sound as if you intentionally look for things to worry about. And when there are no big things, you inflate little things.

I have never had a "great" job in my life. I have worked in a fish plant, a peat moss factory, Wal Mart and as a temp data entry clerk. I have done lots of odd labour jobs. I do not even own a vehicle. I am not poor, but neither do I have a luxurious life.

As for worries. Of course I have worries. But(call me old-fashioned) greeting cards and someone wishing me a Happy Thanksgiving do not rank very high among them. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img] lol

[ 08 October 2007: Message edited by: Marceau ]

[ 08 October 2007: Message edited by: Marceau ]

[ 08 October 2007: Message edited by: Marceau ]

lol.... [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img]

happy thanksgiving there unionist.

Such as?

Oh you must do good with the fifth grade crowd. The thing is it occured to me that what you were saying was probably some form of a joke, but then what could it mean. The meaning you intended had actually occured to me, but since it wasn't funny at all, but rather elementary, I thought no he must mean something deeper that I am not getting. So I asked. I guess I overestimated.

Anyhow, it seems your incredibly huge member does nothing to console you with regard to the oppresive militaristic barrage of greeting card fire.

[ 08 October 2007: Message edited by: Marceau ]

[ 08 October 2007: Message edited by: Marceau ]

It is really, really hard to get names of Jewish Canadians.
[url=http://www.cyndislist.com/jewish.htm]This list[/url]took almost a second, but [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Canadian_Jews]luckily this one was easier.[/url]

What is your point, Fellowtraveller? That from the genealogy site, the PMO could trace names and then match these up with addresses on 411 (except as we see not all people were listed) or from the famous Jewish Canadians list, they could get their word of mouth references of not-so-famous Jews?

Obviously there is some way of identifying Canadian Jews, their addresses and ages (to ensure they aren't sending cards to children) and if the Conservative official is to be believed they put together a variety of methods to achieve this. But should they have? When Jewish Democrats got Rosh Hashanah cards from Bush it caused controversy and there is no indication that the Republicans continued this tactic. Perhaps controversy will kill it in Canada too.

I applaud the Canadians who are sending Harper the message that they don't want him digging through records and using word of mouth to identify their religion or ethnicity and matching this with addresses and ages. For those who do want to be so identified, Harper can let them know they should contact his office.

What next? Perhaps his 2007 PMO Christmas card list will be only Canadians who are identified (through word of mouth or otherwise he'll track you down) as true Christians.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Michelle:
[b]
What I think they did was to take riding lists in a couple of targeted ridings and then sent a card to everyone whose name "sounds Jewish".

We were speculating in another thread about some amusing mistakes they could have made using that method!

Welcome to babble. [img]smile.gif" border="0[/img] [/b]

---

I'm curious. What thread?

Usually but not always, last names are a damned good clue. That being said, my closest friend's last name is "Baker" and my wife's maiden name is similarly Gentile. Both are quite Jewish.

Go figure.

Both the CJC and BB have written letters to the National Post lauding Harper for this initiative. Neither seems to see anything wrong with the PMO digging around to compile lists that categorize people by religion/ethnicity without their knowledge or wishes and, in fact, BB questions the motives of those who do. Sort of like some posters on Western Standard who think such people aren't religious enough. Some really awful stuff out there, include a hate blog which has picked this up. Had the CJC and/or BB recognized Unionist's key points above, they could have ensured this doesn't become an ongoing and spreading practice in Canada.

[url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/editorialsletters/story.html?id=... heartened[/url]

[url=http://www.canada.com/nationalpost/news/editorialsletters/story.html?id=... important recognition[/url]

[ 10 October 2007: Message edited by: catherine-l ]

quote:

---

The question of "how did he get this information" is only a corollary to the offensive nature of labelling Canadians by their presumptive ethnicities and religions.

---

Yet those very same Canadians don't seem upset, quite the contrary:

quote:

---

Both the CJC and BB have written letters to the National Post lauding Harper for this initiative.

---

Maybe you should contact them and advise them that they need to be outraged after all.

And hey, Happy Thanksgiving. I know you won't be upset or insulted at that since I have not profiled your gender, sexuality, ethnicity or religion by doing so. I have implied that you may wish to be Happy, and for that I sincerely apologize.

Hmmm... maybe next September Harper will send me a greeting card for [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Talk_Like_a_Pirate_Day]Intern... Talk Like a Pirate Day[/url].

quote:

---

The federal privacy commissioner is examining a public complaint over greeting cards sent from the Prime Minister's Office specifically to Jewish constituents.

A spokesman for commissioner Jennifer Stoddart said the office has begun looking into the issue after someone complained they had received a Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) card from Prime Minister Stephen Harper last month.

Several recipients have reportedly questioned whether the Prime Minister's Office used government data to pinpoint Jewish residents.

"We'll take a look at it," said the privacy commissioner's spokesman Colin McKay. "The question is, where did the mailing come from and where did the list come from?"

---

[url=http://www.edmontonsun.com/News/Canada/2007/10/10/4563814-sun.html]http:...

Michelle K, you say "much to the chagrin of my Mom" and the Conservative representative says they used word of mouth from friends and families. Any chance your Mom had you added to the list? If not, I agree it is a real puzzle and, of course, this whole "word of mouth" explanation is weird for a PM mailing in any case.

This is very similar to what happened in the US, where even after the Republicans gave an "explanation" for how they identified Jews (both Republican and Democratic) some of the recipients felt that method would not have captured them. The NYTs article I linked to above, included this statement:

quote:

---

A Republican official said that the mailing was actually arranged by the New York State Victory 88 group, and the names were received from public lists of Jewish organizations and members of synagogues. The women said that, although she is Jewish, she does not attend a synagogue or contribute to Jewish organizations. She says she's still confused.

---

Perhaps the privacy commissioner will uncover how Harper made the list. For what it is worth, I think you have a complete right to know how your name got on the list. More generally, I don't think the PM (or any politician) should be targetting anyone based on religion/ethnicity who they do not know personally or who has not self-identified in this way for this specific purpose. My impression is that this tactic received bad press in the US and wasn't continued, so I don't know why Harper would try to start it here.

Also, I'm glad to hear you found the responses on both sides enlightening. Some of the responses out there are very mean-spirited (or worse), but they don't know you and are just speaking from their own biases.

Lists have a way of lasting for a long time. Perhaps the lists were mined from info put in a directory when you were a minor. Or maybe something your parents had put down at some point.