Macleans: Tale of the tape redux: How do you deny what was never said?

[tuvor]

A little more than a month after the Conservative Party released its as-it-turns-out-somewhat-less-than-definitive proof that the infamous tape of the interview between the Prime Minister and Cadman biographer Tom Zytaruk was “doctored” comes this explosive headline, courtesy of CanWest News:

The widow of former MP Chuck Cadman has contradicted public accounts by author Tom Zytaruk of what happened the day of an interview that is pivotal in Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s lawsuit against the federal Liberals.

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KAPOW! BOFF! SCRUMPH! There goes Zytaruk’s credibility, and the Liberal party’s main defence against the PM’s defamation suit, in one fell swoop - except that neither of those statements from Dona Cadman contradict Zytaruk’s version of events at all.

...

Zytaruk’s account of what happened that day has been entirely consistent, as far as the sequence of events: he was waiting outsid the Cadman house, he interviewed Stephen Harper, and after Harper had left, he went inside, presumably on Dona’s invitation. The one thing new in his response to the latest affidavit is the implication that he -Zytaruk- was in the house with Dona before he went outside to interview Harper - which the latest affidavit does not directly contradict.

...


http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/07/08/tale-of-the-tape-redux-how-do-you-deny-what-was-never-said/

[daleo]

1. Good reporting by Kady O'Malley

Canwest doesn't come off well here. No surprise.

[Caradoc]

2. Indeed...no surprise...

Canwest is owned by the odious Asper family, a group that simply doesn't hesitate to ingratiate themselves with whomever happens to be in power; complete teflon ethics. Always described as such staunch liberal supporters, Izzy Asper's kids dropped the liberals faster than a boiling tarantula the moment Harper was elected. Never shy about enforcing an editorial position, these are exactly the kind of people who shouldn't be allowed to own media. Pro neo-con and pro hard-right Likudniks, being Canadian is a flag of convenience for this family of what would otherwise be considered nouveau-riche unintelligensia who have pots more money than sense...or class...or tact...or taste. I never miss an opportunity to avoid Canwest Global. I wouldn't watch it if you had me at gunpoint, still less listen to anything they say.

[tuvor]

3. Here's her supplementary affidavit

SUPPLEMENTARY AFFIDAVIT OF DONA CADMAN

I, DONA CADMAN of the City of Surrey, British Columbia, MAKE OATH AND SAY:

1. On September 9. 2005, I met with Stephen Harper in my home located in the City of Surrey, British Columbia. Our meeting was private and we were alone the entire time Mr. Harper was in the house. Nobody came inside my house while Mr. Harper was in the house with me.

2. I did not introduce Tom Zytaruk to Mr. Harper on September 9, 2005.

3. I attach as Exhibit “A” photographs of the front of my house.

Sworn before me in the City of Surrey, in the Province of British Columbia on the 2 day of July, 2008.

http://blog.macleans.ca/2008/07/08/tale-of-the-tape-redux-i-dona-cadman-make-oath-and-say/

[tuvor]

4. Blog: Why release non-relevant affidavits? Here's why

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Lazy headline writers is what they were banking on, and lazy readers. Many people will just read the headline, or the head and the lead. What’s this? His widow denies the author’s story they’ll say. And that will be filed away as a mark against the allegations in their consciousness.

Nevermind she’s not denying the relevant points of the allegations, just that they talked inside the house. Something it's unclear he ever really even claimed, and that doesn't matter anyway. They’ll just see “widow denies” and move on.

So, all in all, a good bit of short-term communications and media management by the Conservatives, all for the cost of an affidavit.

http://bcinto.blogspot.com/2008/07/why-release-non-relevant-affidavits.html