Liberal candidate apologizes for past racist, homophobic and sexist social media posts
Aidan Wallace
Published:
October 4, 2019
Updated:
October 4, 2019 5:53 PM EDT
From the party that preaches tolerance, inclusion, and equality, this isn’t a good look.
Jaime Battiste, the federal Liberal candidate for the Nova Scotia riding of Sydney-Victoria, has apologized after the Toronto Sun asked him about damning sexist, homophobic, and offensive comments he posted to social media from February 2012 onward.
The posts made light of drinking and driving, were demeaning towards women, made fun of heavily-accented Chinese people, and included inappropriate language and homophobic remarks while also speaking positively of socialism.
In a demeaning tweet towards women, Battiste appeared to indicate that household chores — doing laundry, making meals and dusting and vacuuming — are the domain of women.
“Cleaning, folding, cooking. Feeling like an epic fail that I haven’t found a woman who can stand me long enough to do this for me,” the tweet reads.
In a 2013 tweet he wrote: “Is it just me or are only women tweeting on the Twitter feed. My bros are all too busy talking beer, broads, & hockey on Whatsapp to tweet.”
“Socialism is not looking so bad anymore,” he wrote in another post sharing a YouTube video about wealth inequality.
In a 2016 Instagram pic, he can be seen at the gym wearing a shirt with the hammer and sickle — a symbol known to represent communism in Russia.
In a racist social media post, Battiste quotes A Christmas Story scene where Chinese waiters sing Christmas carols in broken English.
“Deck the Haaas with bell of Jorry…FA RA RA RA RA, RA RA RA RAAAAAAA,” the post reads.
Battiste, a law graduate from Dalhousie University in 2004, was named a National Aboriginal Role Model by the National Aboriginal Healing Organization in 2005.
However, the National Aboriginal role model tweeted in 2012: “Why do I assume every skinny aboriginal girl is on crystal meth or pills?”
In late 2012 he made light of sexual assault, joking if he were on the set of Cheers: “I would accidentally sexually assault a cougar…twice.”
That same year, the Liberal candidate make a lewd, homophobic remark equating men’s tennis to gay porn.
The current Treaty Education Lead for Nova Scotia is a published writer on Mi’kmaw laws, history, and knowledge.
In an emailed statement to the Sun, Battiste apologized.
He stated he thought the “crude jokes” were “funny at the time” but now realizes they were “offensive.” He also stated: “These were things I said during difficult times in my life, and they are not a reflection of my beliefs or who I am today. I apologize unreservedly.”
Battiste also expressed highly inappropriate language, using c— in at least five separate tweets.
In one of them, the Liberal candidate wrote: “AWOL @Norman_Jay aka Mikmaq Justin Bieber wannabe…last seen in Freddy buying pitchers of beers. Cc ignoring c—s lately.”
One post shows Battiste and his friends pulled over by the police for having open liquor in their vehicle. A comment on the post makes light of the incident, “LMAO a liquor fine. Heyooo,” it reads.
Battiste also wrote he and his “boys” were “loaded” as they boarded a 10 a.m. flight writing he felt as though he was in the movie Dude, Where’s My Car?
http://torontosun.com/news/national...cist-homophobic-and-sexist-social-media-posts
Aidan Wallace
Published:
October 4, 2019
Updated:
October 4, 2019 5:53 PM EDT
From the party that preaches tolerance, inclusion, and equality, this isn’t a good look.
Jaime Battiste, the federal Liberal candidate for the Nova Scotia riding of Sydney-Victoria, has apologized after the Toronto Sun asked him about damning sexist, homophobic, and offensive comments he posted to social media from February 2012 onward.
The posts made light of drinking and driving, were demeaning towards women, made fun of heavily-accented Chinese people, and included inappropriate language and homophobic remarks while also speaking positively of socialism.
In a demeaning tweet towards women, Battiste appeared to indicate that household chores — doing laundry, making meals and dusting and vacuuming — are the domain of women.
“Cleaning, folding, cooking. Feeling like an epic fail that I haven’t found a woman who can stand me long enough to do this for me,” the tweet reads.
In a 2013 tweet he wrote: “Is it just me or are only women tweeting on the Twitter feed. My bros are all too busy talking beer, broads, & hockey on Whatsapp to tweet.”
“Socialism is not looking so bad anymore,” he wrote in another post sharing a YouTube video about wealth inequality.
In a 2016 Instagram pic, he can be seen at the gym wearing a shirt with the hammer and sickle — a symbol known to represent communism in Russia.
In a racist social media post, Battiste quotes A Christmas Story scene where Chinese waiters sing Christmas carols in broken English.
“Deck the Haaas with bell of Jorry…FA RA RA RA RA, RA RA RA RAAAAAAA,” the post reads.
Battiste, a law graduate from Dalhousie University in 2004, was named a National Aboriginal Role Model by the National Aboriginal Healing Organization in 2005.
However, the National Aboriginal role model tweeted in 2012: “Why do I assume every skinny aboriginal girl is on crystal meth or pills?”
In late 2012 he made light of sexual assault, joking if he were on the set of Cheers: “I would accidentally sexually assault a cougar…twice.”
That same year, the Liberal candidate make a lewd, homophobic remark equating men’s tennis to gay porn.
The current Treaty Education Lead for Nova Scotia is a published writer on Mi’kmaw laws, history, and knowledge.
In an emailed statement to the Sun, Battiste apologized.
He stated he thought the “crude jokes” were “funny at the time” but now realizes they were “offensive.” He also stated: “These were things I said during difficult times in my life, and they are not a reflection of my beliefs or who I am today. I apologize unreservedly.”
Battiste also expressed highly inappropriate language, using c— in at least five separate tweets.
In one of them, the Liberal candidate wrote: “AWOL @Norman_Jay aka Mikmaq Justin Bieber wannabe…last seen in Freddy buying pitchers of beers. Cc ignoring c—s lately.”
One post shows Battiste and his friends pulled over by the police for having open liquor in their vehicle. A comment on the post makes light of the incident, “LMAO a liquor fine. Heyooo,” it reads.
Battiste also wrote he and his “boys” were “loaded” as they boarded a 10 a.m. flight writing he felt as though he was in the movie Dude, Where’s My Car?
