Of course, he wouldn’t say exactly what “stress” would magically turn you into a thief, but it was suggested it was the “stress” of a hiking accident. The accident was seven frickin’ years ago. He then went on to talk at great length about how he’s in lots of emotional pain. This was accompanied by many tears. Tearful apologies are apparently a popular B.C. thing, this being only a month after Todd “I Wasn’t Trying To Hurt Him When I Tried To Smash His Face In” Bertuzzi’s eerily similar public “apology.”
Robinson went on to claim that he had tried for three days to contact the owner of the jewelry. Curiously, he was only successful in contacting them after the cops had been called.
You know, Svend, I suffer a lot of stress at work, too. I’ve been in accidents. I have suffered my share of emotional pain. We all have, you big baby. If I stole a diamond ring I wonder how long it would take the cops to throw MY ass in the clink? Probably not nearly as long as it took you to return the ring.
Actually, I take back the Bertuzzi comment. While Bertuzzi’s a thug, he accepted full responsibility and gave no excuses. Robinson’s apology was mostly “don’t blame me because I’m depressed and stressed.” I’ll remember that one the next time I steal something. Oh, wait, I don’t steal things.
At least this proves Robinson belongs in Parliament. It’s nice to keep the thieves where we can keep an eye on them.
This is a hard one for me because Svend is something of a personal hero.
People are going to be extraordinarily forgiving of him because he’s got a long history of being on the right side of just about everything. He’s one of Canada’s most popular MP’s.
At the same time, if this involved someone else, I’d be calling for their blood. Gleefully.
As it stands, even though his guilt is evident, I hope that he is able to continue (or make a quick return to) his public life. Because we need him. It looks like the Conservatives will get another seat out of this, because there’s no-one to fill his shoes.
The whole thing makes me feel conflicted and sad. Mostly sad.
This is getting awfully friendly press coverage. Little mention is being made that this confession is likely prompted by him being caught on video.
I think he’s been a decent MP, little overboard sometimes, so I don’t really want him raked over the coals. It’s also hard to be mad at some dude crying his eyes out, sheesh.
Out of curiosity, where did the $50K value come from. The only thing I heard was “expensive piece of jewellery”.
A $50K theft, even if instantly regretted (which this was not), is a whole different ball game than pocketing a gold band worth a few hundred. How could he not be charged for a theft of that magnitude? Oh yeah, he apologized.
This is so unfortunate, I’ve been a supporter of his for some time. I also know that anyone else who steals jewelry doesn’t get the benefit of the doubt. I don’t think it is fair for him to get special treatment.
Damn. I always liked him. As much as I am a fan of his, I really wonder how this can be forgiven by the voters. It’s not like I believe all of BC’s politicians are squeaky clean but it’s not often they’re caught red-handed. Oh wait, it’s not often that they’re caught red-handed and admit their guilt, heh.
I’m not even sure who this guy is, I just wanted to say that RickJay apparently talks just like I do. “Friggin’ goof” is one of those things I say all the time. It’s fun to say.
The thing is that he’s so well-loved that, coming from him, the scenario of an inexplicable lapse followed by remorse and a contrite confession seems fairly plausible. More plausible than “He’s really a shifty thief,” anyway.
It’s a measure of how well-respected he is that the auction-house is not pushing for charges to be laid. I don’t imagine they’re in the habit of having an easy-going attitude toward this sort of thing. “Sure, it was a five-figure item, but since it was you obviously it’s some kind of mistake.” This is a rare instance of a politician having an honest-to-goodness fall from grace, as opposed to just sinking deeper into the dirt.
The context that it happened in seems to suggest that it would be a no-brainer as to who took it, and so a lot of people are ready to read it as a “The pressure of this job is too much for me, but I can’t take responsibility for turning my back on my constituents, so here’s an out…” Public suicide.
For my part, I’m not sure what to make of the sequence of events. Did he know about the investigation before he turned himself in? Can his attempts to contact the auction house before he went to the police be verified?
Like a lot of people, my reaction to this is similar to what I’d expect if it were a family member. Disappointment and concern are there, but you still love them, and hope they’ll be okay, and hope that they’ll still be there for you.
That may sound over-the-top in reference to a politician, but it’s freaking Svend Robinson we’re talking about here. He’s been a shining star for 25 years. A goddamned guiding light. This really hurts.
The remarks given her have been a little one side. Sven is a very controversial MP. There are many out there who disagree with him on many things. I guessing we either don’t have a lot of right wing Canadians on this board or those that we do have, have decide not to kick him while he is down.
I myself don’t like the man’s politics but believe this is an issue between him, the police, the auction house and his constituencies.
Ah, Svend. Well, I’m in an odd position as far as he goes.
On the one hand, as a Christian I have a hard time with his attempt to remove God from the constitution. There are a couple of other things I don’t see eye to eye on as well. I do however agree with a lot of the things he’s stood up for. The whole Sue Rogers thing for instance. I also just plain think he’s one of the few politicians around here who actually do anything. You have to admire him for that. I’ve always been NDP and I actually voted for Svend on the years I lived in his riding.
I’ve read quite a bit about stress and it’s not at all uncommon for people to shoplift as a cry for help. I don’t think he had any intention of actually keeping the ring. My impression is of a man who has horrified himself by his own action.
I hope he gets help rather than a jail sentance. There’s a lot more going on behind this than what we know.
I’m glad to see that his partner, Max, is standing with him. I understand Svend had been looking a engagement rings earlier in the week. It’s about time - we’ve had gay marriage for how many months already? I’d have thought they’d be the first ones up!
The media is making a bit of fuss about that. I think the fact that he was already looking at rings makes the theft seem planned somehow. C’mon! There had to be a reason he was at a jewlery auction in the first place. It doesn’t mean he had any intention of pulling the theft when he walked in. I think it was pure spur of the moment.
Hey, where is everyone anyway? matt_mcl? The rest of the CanaDopers? I expected this thread days ago!
All I’ve got to say is that it takes balls to pocket a $50,000 ring while you are an easily recognized high profile politician with a lot of people around who would just love to see you fuck up.
grien, I believe that’s why so many are willing to believe that it actually was a mental health issue as claimed. As he said, he knew the place was under surveillance, he had signed in upon entering, etc. If he were actually a cunning jewel thief, he would have hired someone, for Chrissakes.
As for why people seem willing to view Mr. Robinson with mercy, what Larry Mudd said. Quite frankly, there’s a difference between falling two hundred feet down a well and falling two hundred feet down a mountain.
How exactly does “I await the decision of Crown Counsel and will not seek to in any way avoid full responsibility for my actions should charges be laid in these circumstances,” or “I am human and I have failed. I have felt such a sense of privilege and honour to serve my constituents in Burnaby and indeed people across Canada, and feel an equally powerful sense of sadness that I have let them down,” indicate “don’t blame me?”
I think we’re so used to hearing people go “I’m not sorry, it wasn’t my fault, I was out of my mind,” that we sort of blank it out when someone goes, “I am sorry, it was my fault, I was out of my mind.”
Nicely put.
I was horrified when I heard about this. Mr. Robinson has been my major role model all my life. I’ve had the chance to meet him on a number of occasions at protests, lectures, and party functions, and I always admired him as a model of integrity.
For the benefit of those who may be unfamiliar with him, Mr. Robinson has represented his riding since longer than I’ve been alive. He was the first member of Parliament to come out, for which he suffered discrimination and harassment in the House. He has been an unflinching supporter of Queer rights, environmental causes, and the anti-war and anti-globalization movements, not only in Parliament but also on the community level.
He has even defended his views to the detriment of his standing in his own caucus, having lost positions for presenting a petition from citizens of his riding to remove religious references from the Constitution, and travelling to Israel and Palestine to witness and denounce the Palestinian occupation. He has been in trouble with the law before, for civil disobedience, and he was shot at and tear-gassed at Quebec City.
Whether one agrees or disagrees with his positions, one can’t help but admit the difference between Mr. Robinson and the run-of-the-mill MP who says eight sentences in two terms and then draws a pension. The country is badly in need of politicians who would serve as he has, which was my goal when I ran for office.
This ridiculous crime is so far out of character that I would readily accept the mental illness explanation. He wouldn’t be the first, either. Obviously, on a personal level I don’t want to see him go to jail; but if he is charged, I have no doubt he will do as he says and accept whatever penalty the law chooses to assign him after a trial. After that, and after he gets the attention he needs, I hope he continues his activism work, whether in the streets or in the House.
The first thing I thought of when I read this news was Claude Charron. He was a popular Quebec MP who was arrested for quite blatantly shoplifting a jacket in 1982. He quit politics and is now a television reporter. He said in interviews that at the time he was under great personal stress and that this gesture was some sort of public suicide.
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