Paul Martin's Communications director Scott Reid said on a CBC panel today that direct transfers to parents would be spent on "beer and popcorn". (although the original link is down - can't even find the John Duffy video anymore...hmmm)
This is offensive in the extreme. My wife and I have made made the descision that it is best for our family (and two daughters) if one of us were at home. My wife is a brilliant (and beautiful...hi sweety) person who completed a Physics Degree and Education Degree and gave up a career in teaching to raise our kids.
We gave up her salary and day care tax breaks - but we did so gladly. It is our choice and all we ask is for our government to stay out of our business. Stop saying that we are ignorant. Stop comparing stay-at-home parents to people who would choose not to use a doctor for medical care - as if day care professionals can be a better parent. And stop saying that we would waste our hard earned money on "beer and popcorn".
Hey Scott. Get a clue.
Update: And it looks like John Duffy can start on the ground floor and keep digging.
"Well I don't think that any insult was intended to the Beer or Popcorn producers. Liberals are proud of those people."
Inherent message. Not proud of my wife and I or any other Canadian who chooses to have a stay-at-home parent. Apparently we don't fit in with their Canadian value.
Oh, but it gets worse.
"Ask any mother Jane. What do they need? A few extra bucks or do they need a child care space?".
What? My wife is not a mother anymore? In the infinite wisdom of the Liberal party because our child care space is our house we no longer qualify as quality parent? Do the Liberals think that my wife is a dead-beat mom? Am I an abusive father for not dropping my kids off at institutionalized day care? Keep spinning Duffy. Let Canadians know what you really think of Mom and Dad.
Update: Stephen Taylor has much more on this issue. Including a link to Proud to be Canadian which has the video of both Reid and Duffy (although I think PTBC communist comment goes too far)
