When shiny Olympic rings and anthem semantics fail it’s time to look closer to home for distractions

We shouldn’t really be surprised with the fresh round Conservative diversionary shenanigans, but Helena Guergis’ behaviour redefines the meaning of the word diversion.

Yes, another fiasco is brewing and we have minister of state for the status of women Helena Guergis to thank for it. Her immature and despicable temper tantrum at a PEI airport would have landed most people in Jail, but not only was she rushed through security her plane was delayed to ensure she made her flight.

Opposition critics have described Guergis as petulant; calls for her dismissal are coming from both sides of the house; and it doesn’t help her public image that her husband is also the centre of another whirlwind of bad press. Rahim Jaffer had his day in court recently and received what can only be described as one honey of a sweet deal.Even if we do not take into account the fact Jaffer was found in possession of a controlled substance he was operating a motor vehicle at unsafe speeds while under the influence of alcohol.

If you consult Ontario’s demerit point system careless driving nets you 6 points; exceeding the speed limit by 30 to 49 km/h earns you another four; and those are just the traffic offences. Driving under the influence is a criminal offence in Ontario and rightly so. Driving drunk is not careless driving, it’s reckless and irresponsible driving and should be punished to the full extent of the law. If it had been me or you behind the wheel of that car with the same blood alcohol levels it’s unlikely we would have recieved the same lenient treatment.

There seems to be a theme developing here; a pattern perhaps? Stephen Maher of The Chronicle Hearld certainly noticed. Gloria Galloway, with the Globe and Mail, The National Post’s Tasha Kheiriddin and others are focusing mainly on Guergis, but there is a bigger picture here. As Maher puts it Guergis and Jaffer have done Canadians a service by “Drawing attention to the limits of the Conservatives crime agenda.”

There appears to be a complete lack of common sense on Guergis and Jaffers part, or maybe it’s just me. If, hypothetically, I had thrown a tantrum in an airport complete with kicking, cursing, throwing boots and pounding of security glass what would the result have been? Well, after a hypothetical tazering and arrest it would be safe to say I wouldn’t be getting through security, let alone on my plane. Furthermore, I’m pretty sure my hypothetical next move wouldn’t be to sue the airline for talking about an act that I had plainly committed.

Common sense.  act like a mature human being minister Guergis; be the type of strong woman you are so fond of promoting; and for Pete’s sake don’t act like an ignorant child in public that’s what question period is for.