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8- The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday October 4, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Accusations fly over cyber-mudslinging in Halton riding By Jason Misner METROLAND WEST MEDIA GROUP Call it 'cyber-mudslinging'. And it has reared its controversial head in the Halton riding federal campaign. Over the past several weeks, Internet technology has worked its way into local campaigns forcing candidates to denounce personal attacks. Blogging -- involving a website posting that contains one's opinion on a subject -- has proliferated unsubstantiated and outlandish accusations against Halton Liberal incumbent Garth Turner and Halton Conservative candidate Lisa Raitt. Late last month, Turner SPACE AGE SHELVING The Storage Specialists was questioned by Cable Public Affairs Channel (CPAC) -- that had followed the Liberal candidate on the campaign trail -- about an allegation his office staged a door-knocking scenario with the son of Turner's campaign manager. Turner has denied any wrongdoing. The video postings of Turner's encounter at the door of this constituent and the CPAC interview are readily available online. This week, Turner and Raitt camps issued strongly-worded news releases, condemning one another for highlycharged accusations posted on the Internet. But online attacks and video 'missteps' -- posted on popular sites like YouTube -- have extended beyond the Halton borders, having affected the national campaign and garnering intense media attention. A video showed a B.C. NDP candidate, who since has stepped down, stuffing a bunch of marijuana joints into his mouth and lighting all of them. Another video showed a puffin pooping on the shoulder of Liberal party leader Stephane Dion in a Conservative ad. The defecating puffin was removed from the ad with a public Conservative candidate Lisa Raitt apology from Prime Minister Stephen Harper. And last week, a video of Harper's speech made in the House of Commons in 2003, supporting the sending of troops to Iraq, mimics a similar speech delivered by Australia's president a couple of days earlier. The Liberal party, who showed the video to the media, has made an allegation of plagiarism. Even in the 2006 municipal election in Burlington, a website, dubbed In Home Consultation Apa tm ts Apartments p tme t Home f es Home Offices ome Pan ry Pa try Garag Ga age a ag Lau dr La ndry a C ose s M rro Closets & Mir or Doors se ro 3350 Fairview Street between Walkers & Guelph Line 905-333-1322 2555 Erin Centre Mississauga 905-542-0353 STORE & HEAD OFFICE HAMILTON 284 King St. E. 905-528-8468 BURLINGTON 699 Guelph Line Open Sun. 11-5 OAKVILLE 2410 Lakeshore Rd. West JACKSON SQUARE 2 King St. W. www.spaceageshelvingburlington.com www.spaceageshelving.ca Thanksgiving Day Dinners Sunday, October 12 & Monday, October 13 HAMILTON MOUNTAIN 289 Upper James Open Sun. 11-5 STONEY CREEK 826 Queenston Rd. www.denningers.com FEATURING: SWEDISH-STYLE TURKEY BREAST - with a bread, ground turkey, plum and apple stuffing SMOKED WHOLE TURKEYS AND TURKEY BREAST FILET DENNINGER'S FAMILY OF SPECIALTY HAMS Celebrates Thanksgiving - made from fresh Ontario Grade "A" farm raised turkeys - slowly smoked over aromatic hardwood - smoked country-style bone-in ham, Blackforest and Virginia-style hams. Also available with Denninger's Signature apricot glaze DENNINGER'S BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP - seasoned with ginger, an Autumn favourite DENNINGER'S SCALLOPED POTATOES - enhanced with green onions, Blackforest ham, grated Emmenthaler and whipping cream. Liberal Candidate Garth Turner Anybody But Cam, emerged urging people not to vote for mayoral candidate Cam Jackson. While Turner and Raitt vehemently deny any involvement in blogs that have laid accusations against each other, the candidates believe the Internet is a great communication tool. The positives of the Internet outweigh the bad, they concluded. "The Internet is a communication vehicle that is every bit as powerful and important as daily newspapers, radio and community newspapers...," asserts Turner. "Unlike television, which is hard for local campaign (candidates) to access, the Internet is relatively easy access so it's a very important communications tool." As for accusatory blogs or websites, Turner said he ignores them since people hide behind Internet service providers in order to remain anonymous. "I've got a blog, it's got my name on it, it's got my phone member, my address. I'm proud of what's there." The fallout of sketchy blogging or video postings of something happening a long time ago could mean be fewer people seeking office, Turner suggests. "That changes everything for people in public life," he said. Raitt said Internet access is popular in Halton. "People have a lot of computers in their houses," she said. "Everybody seems to be able to interact with the Internet. It's a key tool for sure, to get your message out. "The Internet, the bad side, has to be about the foul language and the amount of hate you can see coming from websites. They're anonymous, therefore they feel they have this cloak and they can say whatever the heck See Internet page 11 IN STORES OCTOBER 8 FRESH TURKEYS, FREE RANGE TURKEYS, CAPONS, STUFFED BONELESS TURKEY BREAST Coffee or Tea *Seniors-10% Discount Children under 12 ­ half price · · · · Frozen Everspring Geese and King Cole Ducks Cambozola Brie with Blue Cheese 3.99/100g Balderson 6 year old cheddar 3.29/100g Rudolph Bavarian Rye Old Country Style (Bayrische Brotzeit) and Stonemill Artisanal Breads · Fresh Plum Cake · Helgas Traditional and Viennese Style Apple Strudels · Apple and Pumpkin pies and pound cakes Artisans Wanted to participate in Church of the Incarnation's Christmas Market Sat., Nov. 8, 2008 For information contact the church office: 905-825-2851 RESTAURANT 754 Bronte Rd., Oakville · Located inside the Quality Hotel Call for Reservations 905-847-1566 In-store lunch counter · Catering Gourmet gift baskets (delivery available) · Gift Certificates