U.S. pundit Tucker Carlson : Canada a 'retarded cousin'

WASHINGTON (CP) - Canada has been described lately by a conservative U.S. television host as "a stalker" and a "retarded cousin."

Another pundit recently asked if Canadians weren't getting "a little too big for their britches." There's been a spate of Canada-bashing by right-wing media commentators in the United States ever since Prime Minister Paul Martin's complaints about lumber penalties and U.S. policy on climate change. His remarks prompted an unusual rebuke last week from the American ambassador.

The attacks on Canada have had web bloggers typing overtime and a non-profit group that's monitoring the trend, Media Matters for America, says it's disturbing.

Last week, MSNBC host Tucker Carlson, a well-known conservative pundit, let loose with a string of anti-Canada rants.

"Anybody with any ambition at all, or intelligence, has left Canada and is now living in New York," he said.


"Canada is a sweet country. It is like your retarded cousin you see at Thanksgiving and sort of pat him on the head. You know, he's nice but you don't take him seriously. That's Canada."

Carlson also said it's pointless to tell Canada to stop criticizing the United States.

CLICK HERE for Canadian Press article on anti-Canadian rants by Tucker Carlson of MSNBC.

Michael McCafferty comments:

That great American President Ronald Reagan cherished America's friendship with Canada -- President Reagan would have been shocked and horrified by the very unfriendly and down right ignorant comments some so called American conservativepolitical commentators are making about Canada.

As a small 'c' conservative who was named an Honorary Citizen of the states of New Hampshire, Montana and New Mexico by their governors I cringe at the anti-Canadian commentary because it certainly does not help Canada-USA relations.