Full Text of Dion-Murphy Interview

October 10, 2008 · Posted in News, Personalities 

Steve Murphy: Thank you. M. Dion, thank you, good of you to come again.

Stephane Dion: Thank you Steve.

Steve Murphy: M. Dion, the economy is now the issue in the campaign, and on that issue you’ve said that today that Mr. Harper has offered nothing to put Canadians minds at ease, and offers no vision for the country. We have to act now you say; doing nothing is not an option. If you were Prime Minister now, what would you have done about the economy and this crisis that Mr. Harper has not done?

Stephane Dion: If I would have been the Prime Minister two and a half years ago?

Steve Murphy: If you were the Prime Minister right now.

Stephane Dion: Right now.

Steve Murphy: And had been for the past two years.

Stephane Dion: OK, now, if I am elected next Tuesday, this Tuesday, is what you are suggesting?

Steve Murphy: No I’m saying if you hypothetically were Prime Minister today?

Stephane Dion: Today!

Steve Murphy: What would you have done that Mr. Harper has not done?

Stephane Dion: I would start the 30-50 plan that we want to start the moment that we have a Liberal government. And the 30-50 plan, uh, the 30 … in fact, the plan for the first 30 days, I should say. The plan for the first 30 days, once you have a Liberal government. Can you start again?

Steve Murphy: Do you want to?

Technician: Sure

Stephane Dion: Ya.

Technician: Ya.

Steve Murphy: Ya, I’m OK to start again. Because I…

Stephane Dion: Ya. Because I think I’ve been slow to understand your question.

Steve Murphy: I don’t…

[Break]

Technician: OK, I’m recording.

Steve Murphy: M. Dion, good of you to come again.

Stephane Dion: Thank you Steve.

Steve Murphy: M. Dion, you’ve said today that Mr. Harper has offered nothing to put Canadians minds at ease during this financial crisis, and you go on to say that he has no vision for the country. You say we have to act now; doing nothing is not an option. So I’d like to begin by asking you: If you were Prime Minister now, what would you have already done in this crisis that Mr. Harper hasn’t done?

Stephane Dion: I can’t, I don’t understand the question. Because are you asking me to explain sir, at which moment, today, or since a week, or 60 weeks or s…

Steve Murphy: No, if you were the Prime Minister during this time already.

Stephane Dion: We need to start again. I’m sorry, I, if I was the Prime Minister starting when? Today? If I was the Prime Minister today?

Dion Aid: If you were the Prime Minister when, since Harper’s been Prime Minister.

Stephane Dion: Ya, two years and a half, ago.

Dion Aid: At any give time.

Stephane Dion (speaking over aid): Two years and a half, ago.

Dion Aid: What would you have done differently between, between the time that Harper’s been there, to change the country.

Stephane Dion: Ya, but if I had been Prime Minister two years and a half ago, we’d have had an agenda. Let’s start again.

Steve Murphy: OK.

Stephane Dion: We’ll go there.

Technician: I’m rolling. Still recording.

Steve Murphy: M. Dion, thank you for coming.

Stephane Dion: Thank you Steve. Let’s start again, I’m …

[Laughter]

Steve Murphy: It’s a good job that tape is cheap.

Stephane Dion: But give me, give me a first date where I am Prime Minister that I can figure out, but, what your question is about.

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Comments

  • Bryan

    So I wonder if Dion will answer the question? Will he? I think he is afraid to admit he would have done exactly what Prime Minister Harper would have done. I think this will be the topic in front of my turkeys this Thanksgiving! Oh remember buy low sell high, I would if the Ontario’s Teacher’s Pension does that, we should ask Jack!

  • rations

    Are you sure that wasn’t the Abbott and Costello “who’s on first” bit? oh my….

  • http://www.thepolitic.com/archives/2008/10/10/steve-murphy-ctv-asks-stephane-dion-a-poorly-worded-question/ Steve Murphy CTV asks Stephane Dion a poorly worded question | ThePolitic.com

    [...] Hat Tip to Paul Holmes [...]

  • Sean McAllister

    Can you imagine at a meeting with other world leaders?

  • harpermania

    I can’t decide which is worse the video or the written word – he is one bleak prospect…

  • http://www.bluelikeyou.com/2008/10/10/style-vs-substance-does-dion-have-either/ Blue Like You » Blog Archive » Style vs. substance – Does Dion have either?

    [...] is already comparing last night’s airing of Dion’s CTV interview meltdown with Jean Chretien’s facial paralysis, but I think that is quite a disingenuous strategy. [...]

  • Alberta Girl

    Thanks for the transcript; hopefully all the sympathizers will see that this for what it was.

    I simply cannot believe – after all the Harper bashing – that the press are still somehow blaming meanie Stephen Harper for this. Incredible???

  • Jef

    First, thank you very much for posting this. Is this complete? Is there video of this available anywhere?

  • Jef

    For the curious, I found a video of this at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRb624i5tDg

  • Jef

    also http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xbs7wXvh2Q in case the first one gets taken down in the future

  • Jef
  • http://sleepyoldbear.wordpress.com/2008/10/10/wow-2/ Wow. Updated. « Bear Diaries … with Stillman.
  • Doug

    My initial reaction was similar to Paul Holmes’ – until I thought about Steve Murphy’s question. The wording was awkward and almost impossible to understand, and Mr. Dion was perceptive enough to realize this.

    Mr. Dion showed great patience with Mr. Murphy, and excellent insight into the complexity of the question.

    I also don’t like CTV for dishonoring its understanding with Mr. Dion that disputed portions would not be aired. This may backfire on CTV and on Steve Murphy – the credibility of both will suffer.

  • Paul Holmes

    I still hold that not only was the question well worded, but it was relevant AND it was not answered.

    You cannot criss-cross the nation complaining that the Prime Minister hasn’t done enough to stem an economic crisis, then not have an answer about what you would have done differently.

    Dion should have expected this question, and should have had an answer.

  • Anita Sulley

    In my opinion he either has no answer and is hedging or he doesn’t understand the question, either way he’s not prepared to be Prime Minister!!