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NDP candidate apologizes for skinny-dipping

Canadian Press

Latest comment posted at 11:54 PM EST 21/09/08

B.C.'s Julian West says he doffed clothes 12 years ago at environmental retreat in front of minors ...Read the full article

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  1. Art Vandelai from Burlington, Canada writes: I guess now only monks are acceptable as a candidate for Parliament.

    Let's lay off the holier than thou about every supposed wrong that these candidates have done, and stop being so offended by trivial and insignifcant slights. So what if they smoked a doob, told an off-color joke or got nekkid in the past. Human beings do those things.

    Keep the focus on policy please.
  2. CG fr Toronto from Canada writes: Canadians are living in the dark...

    They see Jack talking about kitchen tables and dreaming of

    living at 24 Sussex

    Jack is an old hippy and he cannot fool anybody because his Team

    reflects exactly who they are - A bunch of Dope-Heads
  3. Mark Dip from Canada writes: Well that just goes to show the kind of depraved, immoral and unethical candidates that are typical of this....wait, which polictical party was he from?
  4. The Observer from Stratford, pE, Canada writes: Will Bob Rae apologise next for his skinny-dip with Rick Mercer? This is getting ridiculous!
  5. Centerist Tory From Calgary from Canada writes: This guy has No moral fiber---Layton should fire him immediately!
  6. Ken K from Canada writes: Who cares? The G&M should be ashamed for thinking this article is news worth. Running ancient history of something that really does not matter just encourages other smear campaigns.

    Art Vandelai got it right above. Keep to the issues.
  7. Trudeau's Apricot poodle from Canada writes: Did someone say 'that looks like a prius, only smaller'?
  8. Phil H from Canada writes: bunch of hippies - drugs, skinny dipping... next thing you know, an NDP candidate will be forced to resign for liking the Grateful Dead.
  9. Richard Daystrom from Toronto, Canada writes: Why couldn't this article have been about Julie Couillard skinny dipping???
  10. Don Portz from Trochu AB, Canada writes: Art is absolutely correct. I doubt that there is any person (candidate or otherwise) that not said or done something inappropriate in their lives. As long as it has not seriously affected others and not broken the law, then we need to look upon these individuals as to what they can contribute.
  11. spicydoc of the spring from Canada writes:

    Wow--

    The libs are going after the NDP hard!! I guess I can't blame them. Olivia Chow has already chosen new curtains for Stornoway.

    Jack is right to let the streaker stay as a candidate--the issue is closed.

    He also should have kept the stoners. A sizable number of Canadians smoke pot. Many will vote NDP if they believe that Jack will press for decriminalization while he is opposition leader.
  12. C R from Canada writes:

    You have got to be kidding right?

    Ok, granted at this point I am not a huge NDP fan...however, this is so lame.

    I feel that this just goes to show how truly boring this election really is (its been beaten down to petty gossip and finger pointing by the LIberal party).

    I think its high time that the news reporters actually start reporting the news and keep their noses out of writing gossip columns.
  13. Ricky for a Centrist Canada from Canada writes:
    Skinny dipping ok.

    Skinny dipping as camp counsellor around kids NOT OK.

    Still, this dredging up of past events has gone quite far enough, methinks.
  14. Conservative for lower taxes, cheaper gas, less government from Canada writes: The NDP has to dump this candidate. The facts prove he has a serious problem and is unfit for public office. Another Marajuana party member?
  15. Robert Dryburgh from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada writes: Who cares. A lot of nonsense over nothing. Is the next candidate who blows a phart supposed to apologize. Lets concentrate on the issues that are relevant and leave this petty crap in the schoolyard.
  16. L. W. from Greener Pastures, Canada writes: Where the heck do you find someone that has NOT skinny-dipped?
  17. jack sprat from Canada writes: The Cons are pulling a US strategy by pulling up things from years and years ago.

    Its all done to get our eyes off people like Ritz and Reid and their actual attitudes of today
  18. Bill B from thornhill, Canada writes: Skinny dipping ok.

    Skinny dipping as camp counselor NOT OK.

    Skinny dipping as camp counselor and asking the kids to paint his body. That's way way beyond accepatble. Throw the book at him.

    I'm no prude, but we're talking kids here.

    Seriously! Even if you think this kind of behaviour is somehow ok, is this the kind of guy that Saanich-Gulf Islands want to represent them??
  19. Tom Richards from Canada writes: L. W. from Greener Pastures, Canada writes: Where the heck do you find someone that has NOT skinny-dipped?

    A beady blue eyed, sweater wearing PM, has probably not even gotten naked in front of his wife...please not Debra Gray....
  20. Mariposa Belle from Leacockland, Canada writes: I seem to have missed the announcement that CTVglobemedia have purchased the National Enquirer.
  21. martha stewart from Canada writes: Who can get upset about skinny-dipping?

    But as Bill B from Thornhill pointed out, this was not just skinny dipping and the other details make this not OK at all.

    Getting naked and then asking kids to paint your body sounds closer to perversion to me.

    On the other hand, in terms of just skinny dipping, if this was Elizabeth May that would require counseling for the poor traumatized kids.
  22. S Taylor from Ganges, Canada writes: As a resident of the riding where Julian West is (still?) the NDP candidate, this story explains several things which are happening, or not happening here.

    There are no signs for Julian West visible in my community. Only one large one which supports Jack Layton, and shows Layton's picture.

    On the major north-south highway that runs into Victoria, where large signs are displayed for the Conservatives, Greens, and Liberals, there is nothing for Julian West.

    Now, despite Layton's protests that he is standing by his candidate, it seems apparent that the local ridiing association isn't. They must be having second thoughts about spending several thousand dollars printing signs, when they may be looking for another candidate.

    This Saturday is the local all candidates meeting. It'll be interesting to see who is there for the NDP. In past campaigns, when the 'official' NDP candidate couldn't attend, the local riding assn president read out a party statement and answered questions about NDP platforms. Maybe we'll see that same scenario on Saturday.
  23. KT Ocean from Canada writes: Have to agree, asking kids to paint your naked body is different than simply skinny dipping.

    Not sure what Layton means that the Liberals were tied for
    third place - perhaps that is technically true, but purposely misleading. The Conservatives won and the NDP and Liberals came within a 100 votes of each other with the Green Party far behind. This riding has already seen some controversy because the environmental groups lined up behind the Liberal candidate, Briony Penn, and the NDP was unhappy with that. There had been a movement to get the non-CPC parties to cooperate, but it didn't work out.
  24. Conservatives Lie from Canada writes: I'm torn. I'm sure if this were a woman skinny dipping, we'd be hearing people scream that we were demonizing the female form. But isn't that what we're doing here? So he was skinny dipping, so what? I mean, if it was single gender, I don't see the issue. If it were mixed gender, it might spur some birds and the bees talk, but whoop-dee. As a society, we have way too many hang-ups on the human body. We needn't constantly sexualize it.
  25. Wir sind das Volk from Mootown, Canada writes: Trudeau skinny dipped with Castro (Layton can only dream...) and was celebrated for showing those Americans what for in the 70s. Obvioulsy not a Trudeau fan but are Cdns really that prudish? Swimming in the buff is a rare pleasure in life - and not sexual - unless this guy was making out with someone in the process this is a non issue!
  26. Looking East Driving West from Canada writes: If you're going to show it, ya'd better grow it!
  27. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: Hey I think nude body painting is an advanced idea, esp. 12 years ago!!!!

    It is truly silly season....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  28. Phil M from Toronto, Canada writes: Wow, this was a non-issue 12 years ago... I don't even know what to call it now. Desperation on the part of the liberals?
  29. Ruth Walker from Edmonton, Canada writes: Layton is quite the piece of work.
    First the NDP dumps a couple of candidates for promoting use of entheogens, and now skinny dipping is too much for the socialisti.
    This nonsense is costing the NDP some of their best candidates.
    I seriously doubt that this bout of prudishness is going to help the NDP, but it sure is fun to watch their antics.
    BTW, wasn't that Jack I saw down at Wreck Beach???
    There are always children and adolescents down there, and it is never a problem. Lighten up Jack.
  30. John Hinkley from Canada writes: OMG OMG OMG .................. This is disgusting! It just goes to show what a degenerate party the NDP is.

    Jack better fire this candidate right away!

    This is worse than the Ritz Affair. Imagine how traumatized the other folks must have been.

    I bet there are good grounds to sue the NDP over the pain and suffering.
  31. KT Ocean from Canada writes: Layton didn't dump this candidate and it wasn't just skinny-dipping. The RCMP report said some 'young girls' were upset, and there was the request that they paint his nude body 'all over'. The camp called the RCMP, but there were no charges laid. This was all 12 years ago.
  32. Alastair james Berry from Nanaimo BC, Canada writes:
    OH CANADA what is to become of thee ?... when this raises this amount of wrath and ire from the UNCO-GUID(A Scottisism for the 'self righteous) can be caused by the THOUGHT OF A LIVE HUMAN BEING BEING NAKED!!!

    Of course in hard economic times society, in WESTERN COUNTRIES, becomes very straight laced and rigid in it's views.

    We can see this daily, in the rising tide Anti Immigrant and Anti Semitic commentry in the news media both here and in the USA.

    In boom times society relaxes and is willing to accept that a percentage of the population are in a way, INDIVIDUALISTS, who do not conform to the 'AVERAGE NORM'. These people are accepted as exhibiting society's tolerance to different cultures.

    Just as crows will gang up and kill a crow unfortunate enough to be born an albino and white, so does society gang up against those who dare to be different, when times are hard!

    This BROU HA HA over nudity is just a reflection that CANADA is in a HARD TIMES MODE today.
  33. Wir sind das Volk from Mootown, Canada writes: Alastair james - I agree with you. I bristle at the notion that Canada will become as uptight as the US. Nudity is nothing to be ashamed of - in Ontario women can go legally topless and there are nude beaches in Toronto. I don't want to see naked people walking down the street but this is ridiculous!
  34. kitty kumari from Canada writes:

    'An RCMP officer says police received complaints from the camp that West dropped his shorts in front of a group of teens and asked them to paint his body.'

    ...................................

    ewww.
  35. Shane Thompson from Toronto, Canada writes: Sounds like the NDP really know how to party... What the hell, I think I'll throw moustache boy my vote.
  36. Don Adams, the Conservative Centrist from Canada writes: Guess what? Under our clothes, we're ALL naked! For shame! The knowledge will traumatize kids! :-)
  37. doctor business from vancouver, Canada writes: Why isn't this guy proud of skinny dipping? One should be, it is a glorious way to swim. Smoking pot? Geez, the NDP needs to learn to deal with this type of scandal. Those that actually would be offended by such activity are far fewer than those that would come on board specifically if they were to not give in and be proud of what they've done.

    Take a lesson from the right wingers who try and downplay every rip-off of the public trust as if it were as innocent as smoking pot or swimming naturally.

    Harper put Emerson in his Cabinet as almost his first move. Such public crimes aren't even on the same scale as these individual carelessnesses.
  38. John Hinkley from Canada writes: The Observer from Stratford, pE, Canada writes: Will Bob Rae apologise next for his skinny-dip with Rick Mercer? This is getting ridiculous!

    Hi Observer - yes the standard has been set. Bob Rae must come clean on his skinny dipping episode on The Mercer Report.
  39. R. M. from Regina, Canada writes: Looked at Julian West's site. No mention of this story or apology there...but a tough on crime news release. I did not see though that they were going to include being tough on public nudity and invitations to licentious behaviour with minors.
  40. I. Antonescu from Canada writes: jeez, will there be any candidates left at the end of this purge?

    yes i agree with some others. although i'd never support the NDP, and i've abandoned the liberals, none of these stories (off colour jokes, skinny dipping, smoking dope etc) is worth reporting. how about real election coverage on the issues for a change????
  41. martha stewart from Canada writes: John Hinkley writes: 'The Observer from Stratford, pE, Canada writes: Will Bob Rae apologise next for his skinny-dip with Rick Mercer? This is getting ridiculous!

    Hi Observer - yes the standard has been set. Bob Rae must come clean on his skinny dipping episode on The Mercer Report.'

    I didn't know that Rae had dropped his shorts and asked young Rick to 'paint his body.' I wonder which part he painted? Was lipstick involved?

    But that's OK. They're both consenting adults. They can paint anything they want. In this case West was asking minors to paint his... his what exactly?
  42. Robert Wiseman from Scarborough, ON, Canada writes: I think that this is dumb. Are we going to ban nudist camps, where many parents apparently take their children? Grow up folks and stop being so prudish. This isn't even a story except the NDP is starting to do well and the press and their opponents are desparate to find something to discredit them. It must say a lot for the NDP that the only things they can dig up are twelve year old non-stories. No charges were laid and neither was anyone else. Move on to some real issues.
  43. aging oldtool from Canada writes: Love it. Toss a bit of vaugely defined innuendo out and watch as the flies stick to the carefully place goo strip.

    I'd say there was a rather liberal sprinkling of malice and fear pushing the regurgication of this 'recent' event into a public spectacle once again.

    Obviously, the NDP candidate is a threat to some old guard candidates. What's wrong with that.?
  44. Out West from Calgary, Canada writes: NPD believes in exposure to minors. It was Svend Robinson who requested the age of consent be lowered to 14 from 16.
  45. George Kovacic from Burnaby, Canada writes: NDPer Bill Siksay did not support raising the age of consent from 14 to 16, I wonder why? He also did not support childcare benefit, child tax credit, etc. Perhaps he should explain in this on his website and in the pamplets he is distributing.
  46. Stephen 62 from Vancouver, Canada writes: I would have thought the Globe and Mail was above printing this sort of prurient nonsense. By what standard of quality journalism is this non-issue of a story considered newsworthy? Shame on the Globe for stooping to the level of a trashy tabloid.
  47. Rollo T from Purple Kush, Belgium writes: I smoke pot but I would never vote for the NDP.

    In my experience, kids do not want to see naked adults of either gender--gross, yuck. Doubtless they'd look away rather than stare and probably just ignore. I don't condone nudity on public beaches, especially after having spent some time on naked beaches myself. Generally, I agree with the kids, I'd rather not look.
  48. Grey Geese from toronto, Canada writes: skinny dipping? oh my!
  49. Mark Stewart from Canada writes: This election is proving Parkinson's law (politicians will argue endless about the money spent on coffee will paying no heed to the 200 trillion dollars to run the country)...so this week we slay a Tory who made an amusing crack (how unusual for a Tory) in private (of course all of us who criticize him send far worse through email....then there is Jack Layton who seems forget whether he and Marc Emery inhaled..and horror of horrors, a candidate who once skinny dipped, geez the Canadian version of Elliot Spitzer...but I'll bet in the upcoming debate all the leaders will put on the serious face and tell us how there are serious issue that are pivitol for the countries...are the politicos to blame..or is it the dumbing down of the media...give the masses but let the Ottawa elites worry about the real issues
  50. D Kanaschwiiz from Switzerland writes:
    This is so sad - have we Americanised that far?
    This is a political scandal worth apologising for?
    12 years ago? If he swam naked this morning it would be irrelevant. This is not Afghanistan or Alabama!
  51. Randal Oulton from Toronto, Canada writes: Okay, i was about to say, who cares about skinny dipping, but stripping in front of young teens, presumably a mixed crowd? Hrm. He ain't even anything to look at.
  52. Patricia C. from Toronto, Canada writes: ped·o·phil·i·a:
    n. The act or fantasy on the part of an adult of engaging in sexual activity with a child or children
  53. N. Ontarian from ShangriLa, Canada writes: The NDP's running some real winners, aren't they? And the ones we've seen in the news are probably the GOOD ones!
  54. Clem Brown from Metcalfe, On., Canada writes: Probably wanted the boys to paint him green! So much for the New Derelict Party.
  55. Newfoundland First from Republic of Newfoundland, Canada writes: “We welcome people who have advanced ideas on issues relevant to the environment,” Mr. Layton said Sunday while campaigning in Gatineau, Que.

    “Some campaigns seem to be based on people's efforts to get out the shovel and start digging around.”

    -------------
    Jack it is relevant. Everyone knows the green party and the NDP are full of kooks and weirdos.

    -----------

    The Observer from Stratford, pE, Canada writes: Will Bob Rae apologise next for his skinny-dip with Rick Mercer? This is getting ridiculous!

    -------

    I think this is a little different. When an adult is in a position of trust when it comes to kids I think it is highly inappropiate for him/her to be getting naked with them.

    I am sorry but I would be very angry if my son or daughter were in proximity of this guy. If he doesn't have better judgement that to get naked around a bunch of kids and ask them to paint his body he has no place in parliment. He should be charged.

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