Tory strategist defends promoting terrorism in interview
Conservative strategist Kory Teneycke defended the Conservative Party’s latest ad which promotes terrorism in an interview with Tom Clark on Global’s The West Block.
Teneycke is responsible for most of the Conservative Party’s strategic decisions which includes messaging and narrative.
Teneycke said the use of ISIS imagery and their anthem in the ad was similar to the way news agencies deal with ISIS when their attacks make the news. Clark responded that news agencies don’t use the ISIS anthem in news broadcasts.
Promoting Terrorism was “Part of a choice”
Teneycke went on to explain running the video and anthem of the “barbaric” terrorist organization whose actions are “disturbing” was “part of a choice” the Tories wanted to portray.
Tom Clark: “Why are you showing those videos and running their song?
Kory Teneycke: “Because it’s germane to the choice before us in this election.”
When he was asked how the song and video were germane, Teneycke went on to claim it was part of the contrast between voting for Harper and Trudeau on the basis of their differing opinions on the bombing mission in Syria and Iraq.
Tom Clark: “Now, you said you were going to answer the question but you didn’t. In what way is the ISIS anthem and ISIS video germane to a debate?”
Kory Teneycke: “Well, because that’s who the enemy is. That’s who we’re fighting.”
Tom Clark: “So how are their video and song germane to that discussion?”
Kory Teneycke: “That’s who they are. That’s who the enemy is.”
For the record: You don’t need to use the ISIS anthem to show a contrast in Conservative and Liberal positions – let alone take them out of context. You don’t need to promote terrorism to attack it.
“We are better than the news. We are truthful”
Tom Clark: “Bill C51 was brought in and promoted by your government, as, among other things, to prevent people from putting online any video that promotes terrorism or ISIS. Haven’t you just done that?”
Kory Teneycke: “No.”
Tom Clark: “Why?”
Kory Teneycke: “What we’re doing is no different than what you do on the news.”
Tom Clark: “But you’re not news, you’re there to advertise.”
Kory Teneycke: “We’re better than news. We’re truthful.”
Tom Clark: “Could you say that again?”
Kory Teneycke: “I said we’re doing a version.”
Tom Clark: “What did you just say?”
Kory Teneycke: “I’m saying what we’re doing..”
Tom Clark: “You’re better than us because you are truthful? Is that what you just said?”
Kory Teneycke: “No, we’re putting forward the choice.”
Tom Clark: “No, but what did you just say?”
Kory Teneycke: “Well, let me finish the thought. You interrupt me.”
Tom Clark: “No, I just want you to repeat what you just said.”
Kory Teneycke: “I’m saying is what we’re doing is better than what we’re talking about in terms of the choice that will be before Canadians during the election campaign.”
Tom Clark: “But wait a second, you said you were better than news because you were truthful?”
Teneycke went on to talk about the decision Canadians have between as he says, one party that is dealing with terrorism and two parties that he says would repeal these actions. He recognizes it as a polarizing issue to which he will talk about it in “very real, very truthful, very frank” terms.
A Stark Double Standard Emerges in the Conservative Position
Tom Clark: “If another group that wanted to join this debate that you were talking about decided that they too were going to post online terrorist imagery, terrorist videos and terrorist songs, as you have, are you okay with that? Are you okay with people posting terrorist videos and songs online?”
Kory Teneycke: “Well, I think you are trying to make a false choice here, we’re talking about what the position of the Liberal Party is in this case versus what our position and who the enemy is.”
Tom Clark: “No, I’m asking you because you defended your use of terrorist videos and terrorist songs by saying well that’s ‘part of the debate.’ So I’m asking you, if anybody else wants to be generally part of this debate, presumably you would not object to anybody else doing what you’ve done which is to use terrorist videos and terrorist songs.”
Kory Teneycke: “Well, I’m not going to answer a hypothetical, you’re asking me to comment on some hypothetical other use that I have not seen so I will not going to do that.”
Tom Clark: “But you’ve done something and you’re not prepared to say whether it’s okay for other people to do that?”
Kory Teneycke: “Well you’re asking me to comment on a hypothetical ad or usage of video that i haven’t seen. So do I support our ad and our video and our usage of that in terms of a contrast with the position of the Liberal party in this case? Yes, obviously we support that.”
More Terrorist Promotion to Come?
Tom Clark: “Will you be using more terrorist video as the campaign goes on?”
Kory Teneycke: “Well, wait and see.”
Teneycke’s responses in this interview confirmed that Bill C51 is meaningless to the Conservatives and was just a wedge to pry into people’s private lives. He has revealed the thought process of a government built on entitlement and arrogance that is so out of touch they think they are more truthful than the news – a statement he tried to instantly bury as well. Nonetheless, Teneycke believes that it is alright to promote terrorism, so long as it is done by the Conservatives – and that they did.
