Mayes in the Running for Wanker of the Year

Joining the ranks of nominees in what will be a huge field this year for Canadian Conservative Wanker of the Year is MP Colin Mayes of the Okanagon-Shuswap riding. He's already on PM Stephen Harper's list of "those who should be spanked" as soon as Stephen gets back from Cancun. Mayes' offense? Read all about it:

Column by Conservative MP Colin Mayes

I was perturbed by media rhetoric regarding the relationship of Prime Minister Harper toward the media. What the Prime Minister has done is to inform the media that when he has something to say he will say it.

The media has blatantly painted a picture that our government is not open and transparent. We were elected just two months ago to run the affairs of the country for the people, not to accommodate the media.

May I remind the media that they are a vital part of democracy. Their role is to communicate to citizens and by doing so keep elected representatives accountable.

We are asking for more accountability from those that have the public trust and we are asking for ethical leadership.
[...]
Not all media, politicians and business executives are bad. Boy, would the public get accurate and true information if a few reporters were hauled away to jail!

Maybe it is time that we hauled off in handcuffs reporters that fabricate stories, or twist information and even falsely accuse citizens.

We know this will never happen because the media would cry `censorship', `authoritarian state', and all would be aghast, but the truth is we need ethical leadership from the media too!

Oh.my.goodness.

Mayes has the audacity to pontificate about ethics?

It seems Harper's efforts at muzzling his members has already failed. We all knew why he imposed such tight restrictions on his Conservatives - one of them was just bound to say something wankerish that would embarrass him sooner or later. We sure didn't have to wait very long. Is that a sunburn, Stephen, or is your head ready to explode?

Via the CBC:

It's believed the MP was reacting to an editorial in the Vernon Daily Courier slamming Prime Minister Stephen Harper for ordering that all comments from federal cabinet ministers must be cleared by the Prime Minister's office.

The Vernon paper is one of several in the Okanagan which have refused to publish columns from local MPs since Harper issued that edict.

The nerve of the press! Exercising their freedom like that. What are those guys? Commies or something?

Mayes has now issued a clarification and apology. Too late! Your wankerishness has already been exposed in all its glory.