Oct. 02, 2007 - Issue #624: Fall Style 07
Bill Whatcott is saying things that no other candidates are
But does anybody want to hear them?
Whether or not you’re familiar with Whatcott, you are certainly familiar with the issues he is building his mayoral platform on. Gay rights, the Kyoto Accord, gun control, parental rights and communist China are only a few among the multitudes of heavy issues Whatcott wields in his campaign.
When asked about the affordable housing crisis currently enveloping Edmonton, though, Whatcott said, “I’m a guy who believes a guy shouldn’t intervene too much in the free market.” Whatcott believes a laissez-faire attitude is all that’s needed in the Capital City.
Whatcott’s views are backed by his Christian values, or as he puts it, the fact that “no person can separate their values from the job they do.” (To be fair though, what Whatcott calls “Christian Values” are radical, and represent a very small portion of the Christian community.)
Those values have led to Whatcott raising hell around the country for some
time now. He organized Regina’s first (and last) Heterosexual Pride Day
in 2001. The event was slanted towards anti-homosexual displays and speeches,
prompting the City of Regina to abandon the event since then. He has
travelled to various Canadian cities distributing anti-abortion and
anti-homosexual flyers. His activism has attracted the attention of legal
authorities in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta, leading to multiple arrests
and investigations. The drastic nature of his activities bought him an
interview with Ed Helms on The Daily Show, an interview his supporters
believe was slanderously skewed.
While gay rights are not usually an issue in a mayoral election, Whatcott
said that Mayor Stephen Mandel has ventured into these areas, and Whatcott
believes that Mandel has been the source of heterosexual persecution for some
time now.
“Mayoral platforms have already dealt with these issues, such as hate
crimes legislation, which protects homosexuals,” Whatcott said.
“It’s not like we’re talking about chopping off homosexual
heads—we’re just activists.”
He cites the gay pride parade as a municipal object of support for homosexual
activity, but Whatcott will tell you he isn’t doing this out of a hate
for homosexuals. “Homosexuals are dying of AIDS at 20 because of rectal
intercourse,” he said. “And I want to change that.”
In a campaign flyer distributed to Edmonton homes, Whatcott explains how he
will create a safe, socially conservative climate by disbanding the Edmonton
Hate Crimes Unit, which, according to the flyer, is currently investigating
him for the distribution of flyers criticizing homosexual behavior. The
pamphlet sees the police unit as a threat to free speech and religious
liberty, and a waste of taxpayer’s money. Whatcott would also like to
prevent homosexuals from being placed in positions of influence within the
Edmonton Police Service in order to protect the mandate “To Serve and
Protect.”
A less contentious issue in Whatcott’s campaign is that of parental
rights. “Unfortunately, in Canada, parental rights have been
eroded,” Whatcott said. “A lot of municipalities want to hold
parents accountable for the actions of their children, which is all right and
good except they’ve taken away the tools to discipline your
children.”
He also believes parents need to have more control over what their children
are learning. “Many parents are not comfortable with their children
being indoctrinated into homosexuality,” he said. “Parents are
losing the right to raise their children.
“Other people who ushered in social change, Martin Luther King Jr, had
to respond to critics who called them radical,” he continued,
explaining how he deals with criticism of his political and religious views.
“I believe that my views are right and that Edmonton is ready for it
... Does that mean I’m going to win? Not at all, but you’ve got
to start somewhere ... Scripture is true and unchanging and that’s
where I base my beliefs.”
Another major contention for Whatcott is the problem the Kyoto Accord poses
to the economy. “As mayor, you have to deal with business, [and] when
you can’t find a job, then Kyoto is a real issue,” Whatcott
stated, noting that he doesn’t believe the mainstream inclination that
emitted gases are destroying the ozone or raising the temperature of the
earth. “Before cars were invented, volcanoes, cow farts, erosion and
other sources released carbons into the atmosphere.”
Whatcott is unfailing in his disbelief of scientific facts, even that of some
very reputable scientists. “David Suzuki has been wrong before,”
he said. “He belongs to a group that wants to limit the number of
people on earth, and just have animals running around.
“When I look at common sense, it’s actually lunacy to destroy our
industries and ruin people’s lives,” Whatcott continued,
suggesting that the science backing the greenhouse effect is flawed.
“It’s just stupid to waste public dollars on discredited
information.”
When asked if he intends for his personal beliefs to shape his political
ones, Whatcott doesn’t deny the connection. “We all have morality
that comes from somewhere,” he elaborated. “The teachings of the
church are true and tested.”
Whatcott says that his goal is a simple one: “Bringing people back to
the Creator and Lord.”
“Apart from the grace of God, there goes I,” Whatcott said about
the basis for the ideas behind his campaign. “I was drug addicted and
sexually immoral at one time, but the lord has saved me and I am only
following his teachings.”
Some people are calling this civic election a circus, while others think that
it is boring, suggesting that Mandel has no immediate competition. Whatcott
is putting serious effort into his campaign despite these claims. The
election will reveal, soon enough, how the free market reacts to Bill
Whatcott. V
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