Rob Ford needs a reality check

It will be an ecstatic day for Torontonians and a somber day for writers such as myself when Rob Ford decides to finally shut up.

Back in February, while the 2014 Olympic Winter Games were still being held in Sochi, the City of Toronto decided to raise a rainbow flag outside of city hall in support of LGBTQ athletes. This caused a stir in the media since our wonderful mayor yet again put his foot in his mouth by voicing his opinion on the matter.

Ford believes that the flag should be removed and replaced with the Canadian flag because, “This is about the Olympics, this is about being patriotic to your country”. Well Mr. Mayor, did it not occur to you that supporting our oppressed athletes while they are away from home is patriotic? Of course not. It should also be noted that the Canadian flag already flies outside in Nathan Phillips Square.

Ford’s attitude has brought on plenty of speculation from members of the city council as well as from the general public. It is believed that Ford is masking his homophobic beliefs with the claim that, “[He] feels that their Olympic spirit is supposed to be non-politicized” (as expressed by the mayor’s chief of staff, Dan Jacobs).

This is further enforced by Ford’s recent statement claiming that he will not be attending the annual Toronto pride parade due to “personal reasons”. It is absolutely ludicrous that the leader of the largest city in Canada should not be attending a major citywide event, particularly since this year’s Toronto pride parade is also in celebration of World Pride. This celebration will include not only LGBTQ community members and supporters from Canada but also those from around the world.

If Ford believes that stating: “I’ve never gone to a Pride parade. So I’m not going to change the way I am.” excuses him from his duties as mayor and a decent human being, I’d be more than happy to excuse him from his high-paying position. Who’s with me?

 

– Lily Maase

Rob Ford and the (In)Effective use of Social Media

As our readers know, we focus on trying to improve the image of politics in the social media world. Although Toronto Mayor Rob Ford may have failed in the improving of his image, he has definitely made his mark. Rob can take personal credit for putting Toronto on the map.

Many people believe that what he has done is a disgrace to Toronto, and by association also to Canada. As a disclaimer I have to say that I do agree with those people. But I also would like to point out that he has made effective use of social media to promote himself. He has Ford Nation, he was on the Jimmy Kimmel show, and there are hundreds of memes of his face.

Although indirectly, since he did not post most of the social media things himself, the amount of social media attention he has received from his crack stunt has helped him more than hurt him. Rob Ford still holds 33% of the popular vote in Toronto, and that hasn’t showed signs of wavering. People love to see a celebrity train-wreck, and that is what Rob Ford has successfully become. I personally believe that his celebrity status is what is keeping him in the race for mayor, and the fact that he still has a chance isn’t a reflection on him or his judgment, but rather the people who are still supporting him. Toronto needs to take a step back and really think about what they want for their city before they make their vote in the Fall.

 

Emma Zernask

Rob Ford is at it again

Any publicity is good publicity, right? Rob Ford seems to think so.

Last Monday night Rob Ford was yet again caught on camera. This time he wasn’t smoking crack. He was, however, in a drunken state, speaking boisterously in a Jamaican accent, and repeatedly swearing in Jamaican Patois at a fast food restaurant in Etobicoke.

He also seems to be cursing the police officers who were allegedly tailing him this past summer. Not such a great statement from the man who is supposed to be running Canada’s largest city.

CBC has published Rob Ford’s statement regarding the video in their article, he stated: “I met some friends. If I speak that way, that’s how I speak with some of my friends and no, I don’t think it’s discriminative at all… It’s my own time.”

Not only could that statement, along with the video, offend many people in Toronto and Canada, but the fact that Ford believes what he does on his own time doesn’t affect his image or credibility is absurd.

As the  joke (mayor) of Toronto who is looking to be re-elected soon, Ford should be more aware of his public image than ever. Ford’s image in social media, which has gotten him attention all over North America, is absolutely appalling and has practically destroyed his political and professional credibility.

I’m sure if one more video of the mayor in “his own time” surfaces his entire publicity team will quit their jobs.

My advice for Ford? Stay away from camera phones, or stop going out in a drunken stupor.

-Lily Maase

Photo sources:

Image 1

Image 2

Image 3

Political Cross-section: Rob Ford

The wayward mayor of Ontario’s largest city has become quite the media sensation of late, with story after story breaking concerning the mayors escapades. He has skyrocketed in public light internationally in the same way that most politicians tend to; by being a colossal fuck-up. Yet despite his political staff resigning, and the storm of legal proceedings, the constant media barrage seems to have only strengthened his hold on the public’s attention.  We as a populace have given up all our political pretenses and have begun to watch him as we would any other media sensation in one of those terminal downward spirals (a,la Lindsay Lohan).

After admitting to smoking crack in a “drunken stupor”, drinking and driving, commenting on his wife’s ample genitalia, among many other inappropriate incidents, all of the attention on Ford has been focused on his status as a “celebrity” rather than a politician. Efforts have been made by the mayor, and his publicity team, to salvage his credibility and relationship with the city of Toronto (see Rob Ford bobble heads). However, these efforts could not overshadow the immense re-purposing of the mayor’s outrageous statements of actions.

Examples of this can be found through:

t-shirts

sweaters

buttons

mugs

the media

as well as new media, just to name a few.

While these parodies are amusing, they are a detriment to Toronto’s image, and consequently the Canadian, political system. Rob Ford has diminished almost all of Toronto’s credibility as a reputable capitol city.

-Lily Maase, Cedar Leithead, Kira Anderson