(BC NDP MP) Svend Robinson admits to theft - Globe and Mail

[Screaming Lord Byron]

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20040415.wsrobin0415/BNStory/Front/

An emotional New Democrat MP Svend Robinson said he is taking a medical leave — stepping down from his job — after he admitted to stealing jewellery last Friday.

Describing his past few months as a time in which he has experienced "severe stress," an emotional Mr. Robinson said "something just snapped" last Friday when he pocketed a ring at an auction house.

Mr. Robinson said he didn't know why he took the ring, but was in agony over the incident. He tried to contact the auction house owners over the weekend without success before deciding to contact police.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

1. Here's an extract from Svend's statement.

For some time suffering severe stress and emotional pain. The reasons intensely personal and I'm not prepared to discuss them. In part related to near death hiking accident. Culminated last Friday. While attending a public jewelry sale I pocketed an expensive piece of jewelry. I did this knowing that it was public. Something just snapped in this moment of total utter irrationality. Immediately upon leaving the premises I realized I must return the jewelry. I spent a weekend of great anguish. on Tues morning I attempted to contact the owners, but couldn't. I went to the police and turned it in; this is now before crown counsel. I have sought and am receiving medical help to deal with the issues I'm dealing with. While there are outstanding legal and health issues, I am taking time off for medical leave immediately. As you can imagine, this has been a nightmare. I cannot believe it has happened. But I am human and I have failed. I have felt such a sense of incredible priviledge and honour to serve my constituents and the people of Canada and feel an equal sense of sadness that I have let so many people down. As I struggle to deal with this issues, I hope I will have the understanding and support of these people. I would want to be there to support Jack Layton, but in light of the very personal nature of this statement, and the outstanding legal issues, I'm not able to take any questions.

[Minstrel Boy]

10. He's stepping down and taking medical leave, but he hasn't said

he won't run again. Terry Milewski pointed this out on Newsworld at 3:00.

I don't know what to think about that. I have sympathy for him and have appreciated the hell out of him, but running after this could put the party in an awkward position.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

12. I think he needs a lot of time out of politics.

If his job is a big part of the reason for his breakdown, as I expect, he needs to sit out the election, if only for the state of his health.

[Spazito]

2. I watched his press conference, it was quite sad...

but he is doing the right thing in stepping down under the circumstances. I think he will be remembered as someone who always stood on principle when serving in parliament.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Very few things shock me, but this did.

It's utterly bizarre, but he seems to be handling it with honour, so that's good. It sounds like there is a lot more to this beneath the surface. Truly, truly bizarre.

[Minstrel Boy]

4. wow...

just, wow.

Sad for the party, but sadder for Robinson. He's dealing with it as best he can.

[Spazito]

5. I remember when Lorne Nystrom (sp?) went through...

the same thing and he went on to do good things, I am sure Sven will too. I wonder if charges will be laid, if things are as Sven has said, I hope not.

[Sticky]

8. Was just going to post the same thing, Spazito

....There is a link between stress and cleptomania. Svend has a lot of personal integrity to step down and blow the whisle on himself.

I'll always respect him for the support he gave to Sue Rodriguez in her Right To Die (Assisted Suicide) case.

We've haven't see the end of him.

[Hand]

6. Bummer...

Svend's always been a pretty sensitive guy, and he's been through a lot (including no little vilification when he came out of the closet). I'm impressed by his candor, though, as well as his concern for things other than his own political survival.

<SIGH> Kind of reminds me of when Pat Schroeder took herself out of the presidential race years back. Too decent a person to be president...

Go well, Svend, and take care of yourself.

:hug: :cry:

[Screaming Lord Byron]

7. He's dealt with it honestly and promptly,

so I don't think there should be much of a scandal. We'll no doubt hear much more details over the next few weeks.

[Holly]

9. Very sad

Today, I had the privilege of watching the bravest man in Canada, admit that he is human. Human's make mistakes, humans have problems in life that can become overwhelming. He is a true example of what it really means to be an Honourable Member. There is nothing more honourable than a man who is willing to acknowledge that he made a mistake. And brave of him to admit that he has emotional problems. Get well soon!
Of course, I'm sure all the usual suspects on the Right, won't show him a bit of compassion.

[Lisa]

11. I saw him at a nomination meeting just last month ...

And I kept thinking, what a difficult job he has, having to run from one event to another, with people always wanting something from you, and never having enough time. It's very hard on anyone who cares about people and about doing things well -- and the Hon. Mr. Robinson is that kind of a public servant.

I suspect this is a stress reaction because I haven't heard of similar incidents in his past (and I'm sure we would have heard given his public profile). I still think he's a fine MP and a credit to his party, and to Canada.

[Laughing Mirror]

13. Did they let him keep the ring?

The article doesn't say.

[Minstrel Boy]

14. He returned it, and said he'll cooperate if the auction house decides to

press charges.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

15. The auction house will make a statement today.

It would appear the ring was a very expensive item. I've already heard it said in several places that reports were filed before Svend returned the ring, and that he did in fact have intention to commit grand larceny. I would counter with the fact that he was known to the auction house, there were cameras everywhere, and the loss of the ring would have been noticed very quickly. In short, this was not a planned event on Svend's part, clearly. This, obviously was a totally irrational act, a symptom of whatever he is suffering from.
As for those who right now are getting their first kicks in on the man while he is this far down, fuck them. This is clearly a life falling apart, not an opportunity for a lynching.

[Minstrel Boy]

16. A very good editorial in today's Globe and Mail.

Whatever inner demons were driving Svend Robinson last week, he has behaved honourably in wrestling with them. His decision to withdraw from politics "while these issues remain unresolved" was the right thing to do, but Canadian public life will be the poorer for his absence, and we hope he can see his way clear to running again in his B.C. riding of Burnaby-Douglas if circumstances permit.

...

Over the years, this newspaper has disagreed with many of the New Democratic MP's views, and argued with tactics he has used in his opposition to logging in Clayoquot Sound and Israel's treatment of Palestinians. One thing we have not doubted is his integrity, or his willingness to court controversy in his principled pursuit of causes he considered just. In particular, he broke ground for gays and lesbians in publicly declaring his homosexuality in 1988, becoming a role model for others who had hidden their sexual orientation for fear of discrimination or ostracism. His dedicated work on behalf of his constituents has meant re-election six times since his initial victory in 1979.

It is understandable that he would be reluctant to say exactly what has been causing him pain, beyond a reference to his serious hiking accident at the end of 1997, when he fell down a sheer rock face on Galiano Island. The reasons for his "inner turmoil . . . severe stress and emotional pain" are, he said yesterday, "intensely personal and I'm not prepared to discuss them." Yet, if there is a chance that his particular problem is shared by others who might benefit from his public discussion of it, he should be as forthcoming on this score as he has been on so many others.

Canadians should wish Mr. Robinson well, and hope Friday's event will not derail a long and devoted career in public service.

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20040416/ESVEND16/TPComment/Editorials

[Screaming Lord Byron]

17. This from Warren Kinsella's blog.

http://www.warrenkinsella.com/musings.htm
Very positive.

(the bastard wouldn't let me right click on his page!)

[Minstrel Boy]

18. Thanks for the link. I wonder who the "distinguished and

award-winning national journalist" is, who highlighted the difference between how the NDP and the Liberals treat a colleague in trouble?

I've been impressed by the responses I've seen so far to Svend's trouble, from both within the NDP and outside of it. Lots of genuine sympathy and respect. It gives me renewed hope for both the party and the country, and for Robinson as well.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

19. The news just broke in my office. Painful, very painful.

But then, I do work in a brokerage in Calgary, so what can I expect.
Within 30 seconds everyone has the most elaborate theories. Of course, the guy along from me goes 'oh yeah, that's the guy who wanted
to put cocksucking into the Charter of Rights and Freedoms'. Sheesh!

Other than that, reaction has been better than I expected. My wife, the supposed Red Tory was totally defensive of him (she's a big fan of his, strangely enough), so this is something that crosses partisan lines. Good to see Martin handling it well. No word from Harper, although he's probably biting his tongue, as the last thing he needs to do is to look insensitive, particularly to the most famous gay man in the country, that would define him more than any attack could.
I wonder who that journalist is? Jeffrey Simpson? I don't know.

[Spazito]

20. I think the Alliance (faux Conservative) party response will be muted...

they don't dare come out attacking, much as they would probably like to. I hope there is at least one of them, though, that puts his/her foot in their mouth, as has happened in the past, to show their bigoted, anti everything but Bushlite views.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

21. My money's on James Moore, if he hasn't said something already.

Dumb as a sack full of spanners that one. I know a few stories about that guy, I can tell you. He's also a neighbouring MP to Svend.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

22. Conclusive proof that Don Martin of the Calgary Herald is a total shit.

http://www.canada.com/calgary/calgaryherald/news/story.html?id=8242bade-0697-4ba2-a0db-0199832a4747


Self-promoting MP leaves wiggle room

Don Martin
Calgary Herald


Friday, April 16, 2004





For sticky-fingers Svend, this could end up being his best publicity stunt ever.

Vancouver New Democrat MP Svend Robinson has served with unique distinction for a quarter-century as the sultan of soundbites, a specialist of unsubstantiated accusation and the master of many headline-grabbing domains.

Then, a week ago, inexplicable stress took its toll in abnormal fashion.

Instead of coping with high personal anxiety in the usual way, with a good old-fashioned shopping expedition, Robinson engaged in a little spontaneous shoplifting. He snatched a valuable ring and, after a weekend reflecting on the probability he'd been caught red-handed by auction house security cameras, decided to return the stolen property and announce he was exiting politics.

[Spazito]

23. Wow, he must have taken "compassionate conservative" lessons...

from Bush! But it IS from Calgary so no big surprise there, Bushlite country, big time, imo.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

24. Don Martin's comments are indicative of why Calgary is so right-wing.

We have a strong neo-con elite backed to the hilt by the Calgary Herald, The Calgary Sun, Global TV and various other media outlets that pump out relentless gallons of this right-wing propoganda day-in day-out. This elite, serving as it does, the interests of the mostly-American resources companies which dominate our economy, has a stranglehold on almost all political discourse in Southern Alberta. For people like myself, we have to challenge this hegemony or do what so many of our fellow Albertans do and just let the elite do our thinking for us. It's a hell of a job, but someone's gotta do it.
Incidentally, Svend is originally from Lethbridge. A Southern Alberta boy! Whodathunkit?