You Can't Handle The Truth - Listen To The Sheep Bah

March 1, 2013

Pundit rebuked over child porn comment

"Longtime conservative strategist Tom Flanagan apologized [pity] Thursday for comments questioning the harm [sic] of child pornography, but academic, political and media organizations moved swiftly to cut their ties with the controversial commentator.

Responding to a question about 2009 comments he had made on child pornography, the University of Calgary professor and former adviser to Stephen Harper had told a Lethbridge, Alta., audience Wednesday night he had "grave doubts about putting people in jail because of their taste in pictures."

"It is a real issue of personal liberty, to what extent we put people in jail for doing something in which they do not harm another person," Flanagan said in a video posted online."

http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/Pundit+rebuked+over+child+porn+comment/8033076/story.html

Wildrose dumps campaign manager Tom Flanagan over child pornography comments

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Wildrose+dumps+campaign+manager+Flanagan+over+child/8029677/story.html

Ex-Harper advisor Tom Flanagan fired from CBC after saying viewing child pornography does no harm

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/02/28/ex-harper-advisor-tom-flanagan-fired-from-cbc-after-saying-theres-nothing-wrong-with-viewing-child-pornography/

Former political adviser Tom Flanagan says viewing child porn shouldn’t be a crime

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2013/02/28/former_adviser_to_harper_tom_flanagan_ok_with_viewing_child_porn.html

Tom Flanagan: Watching Child Porn Does 'Not Harm Another Person' (VIDEO)

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/02/28/tom-flanagan-child-porn_n_2780550.html?

Former Tory strategist Tom Flanagan apologizes for child porn remarks

http://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/former-tory-strategist-tom-flanagan-apologizes-for-child-porn-remarks-1.1175925

Amid controversy over child porn comments, U of C announces Flanagan's retirement

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/article9152587.ece

Christie Blatchford: Tom Flanagan paying a high price for his outdated concept [sic] of child porn 

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/03/01/christie-blatchford-tom-flanagan-paying-a-high-price-for-his-outdated-view-on-child-porn/

Friday, March 01, 2013 4:46 PM

Academics defend Flanagan's child porn views as public debate

"CALGARY - Some academics are coming to the defence of former Stephen Harper strategist Tom Flanagan.

They say the well-respected political scientist should not have been so widely condemned for his comments on child pornography.

Barry Cooper, a colleague at the University of Calgary, says people need to debate taboo topics.

And he says it's a shame Flanagan has been thrown under the bus by his employers and politicians.

Flanagan was giving a community lecture in Lethbridge when he questioned whether people should be jailed for viewing child porn.

Mark Mercer at Saint Mary's University in Halifax says he doesn't know why people are so upset because Flanagan is allowed to have an opinion."

http://www.globalnews.ca/academics+defend+flanagans+child+porn+views+as+public+debate/6442819523/story.html

Professors defend Tom Flanagan’s right to express views on child porn

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/article9238213.ece

Academics jump to Tom Flanagan’s defence after controversial child porn comments

http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/03/01/academics-defend-tom-flanagan-pointing-to-importance-of-public-debate-around-taboo-topics/

The Week in Review: Tom Flanagan, Child Porn, and Questions We Don't Want to Hear

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/marni-soupcoff/tom-flanagan-child-porn_b_2799517.html?

Political strategist Flanagan says he was trapped into child porn comments

http://news.yahoo.com/political-strategist-flanagan-says-trapped-child-porn-comments-174644294.html

Ex-Tory adviser Flanagan says he was trapped into child porn comments

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/article9259987.ece 

Tom Flanagan in his own words: Ex-Harper strategist explains controversial child-pornography comments 

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/03/04/tom-flanagan-in-his-own-words-ex-harper-strategist-explains-controversial-child-pornography-comments/

Today’s letters: If he’s viewing child porn, his offence is not ‘low level’

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/03/05/todays-letters-if-hes-viewing-child-porn-his-offence-is-not-low-level/ 

Child porn remark inexcusable 

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/letters_to_the_editors/2013/03/04/child_porn_remark_inexcusable.html

Op-Ed: Yes, looking at child pornography harms children 

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/op-ed/looking+child+pornography+harms+children/8059011/story.html 

Tom Flanagan's 2009 Child Porn Comments Led To 2013 Uproar (AUDIO)

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/03/06/tom-flanagan-2009-child-_n_2812103.html?

Today’s letters: No place in civilized society for those who view child porn

http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2013/03/09/todays-letters-no-place-in-civilized-society-for-those-who-view-child-porn/

How Prison Shaped My View of Flanagan and Child Porn

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/conrad-black/tom-flanagan-child-porn_b_2837291.html?

*****

Posted: 03/13/2013 3:22 pm

Why We Should Keep Talking About Child Pornography

"I think we sell ourselves short as a society if we do not talk about this issue, or any morally difficult issue, because of fear or repulsion. We are a democratic society whose morals, values and ethics are based on a fine balance between justice and mercy. Not only are we capable of coming to the table with our emotions in check as we think our way through the ramifications of the penalties that we impose on those who turn to child pornography; we must consider ourselves obligated."

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/diane-bederman/child-pornography-flanagan_b_2848855.html

*****

With judges, like this, is there any wonder we are in the ridiculous state we find ourselves?

Posted: Apr 4, 2013 2:58 PM CST; Last Updated: Apr 4, 2013 12:20 PM CST

Saskatoon man gets five years in child porn case

"Judge references Tom Flanagan remarks in sentence

Judge Douglas Agnew made the comments in a written judgement released in provincial court.

Agnew sentenced DDS to five years in prison after the 58-year-old trucker pleaded guilty to possessing and sharing child pornography.

This is S's second conviction.

Agnew said that, by "interesting coincidence," a prominent Alberta professor voiced his thoughts on child pornography at the same time court here heard sentencing arguments in S's case.

"Professor Tom Flanagan of the University of Calgary is reported to have said, with respect to the idea of jailing people who view child pornography, "[i]t is a real issue of personal liberty and [sic] to what extent we put people in jail for doing something in which they do not harm another person."

Agnew says people who view and share pornography are helping [sic] "unspeakable horrors" on children [sic].

"The flesh of these children is being torn apart, their blood is being spilt, [!} because Mr. S and his ilk enjoy watching it. [incorrect and hysterical, of course, but, even if  were true ... your point is, Judge Agnew?]""

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/story/2013/04/04/saskatoon-porn-flanagan-sentence.html

Tom Flanagan's Child Porn Comments Addressed By Judge In Statement 

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2013/04/04/tom-flanagan-child-porn-douglas-agnew_n_3018220.html? 

Judge rebuts Flanagan’s child porn comments during sentencing for Saskatoon man 

http://www.leaderpost.com/news/Saskatoon+judge+rebuts+Flanagan+child+pornography+comments/8196062/story.html