Trudeau bitches
2022-02-24 05:29:21 UTC
In Canada, first the doxing, then the struggle session.
This week, one of the most popular small-donor fundraising sites
for the Canadian truckers protesting the COVID vaccine mandates,
GiveSendGo, was hacked. The names of donors were shared with the
public. We know about this mostly because erstwhile news
organizations, such as Reuters, have showered attention on the
breach as if they were providing a public service.
Indeed, many of the same outlets that refused to report
specifics about the Hunter Biden email scoop in 2020 (though the
story was obtained in a completely ethical journalistic manner)
or share specifics from the Democratic National Committee email
hacks in 2016 (illegally obtained, but with high news value)
have no compunction highlighting a site that takes aim at
ordinary people who have done nothing but engage in political
dissent.
In Canada, the doxing has already begun. Tammy Giuliani, a small-
business owner who employs 40 people, was forced to shut down
her gelato shop because of threats made against her employees
after her $250 donation to the truckers cause was disclosed,
according to the Ottawa Citizen.
The Citizens Blair Crawford doesnt marvel at the fact that a
person who lives in a (nominally) liberal democracy can be
intimidated for engaging in political protest, but instead
strongly insinuates that Giuliani had it coming: Giuliani made
her Feb. 5 donation on the second weekend of the demonstration,
when Ottawa police were describing it as volatile and
dangerous and lawyers were seeking a court injunction to
silence the constant blaring of air horns in the downtown core.
So what? The police were wrong. The protests have not been
dangerous to this point.
A deep dive into the scaremongering tactics of Canadian
authorities might be worthwhile for someone who isnt merely a
stenographer at the struggle session: Never in our wildest
dreams did we anticipate what has transpired over the past
couple of weeks, she said. None of us anticipated what it
turned into and we certainly dont condone it.
No one can blame Giuliani for engaging in a bit of self-
flagellation to save her business. Giuliani, who claims she
gives money to animal shelters, a soccer team and a choir (We
rarely say no), was compelled to take out loans to stay open
during the pandemic.
Its a debt that will probably take seven years to pay off,
she told the Citizen. Its not difficult to imagine why a
business owner battered by counterproductive state-compelled
economic shutdowns would oppose vaccine mandates. Nor is it
difficult to imagine how disclosing her donations and the
subsequent media attention is intended to chill speech
At least one reporter for the Washington Post, already on the
case, is allegedly contacting Americans who have contributed as
little as $40 to the anti-mandate cause in Canada. How could the
Post possibly know the names of donors if it wasnt working off
the list obtained through the hack? And how could it possibly
care? That is, unless the goal is to Brendan Eich dissent.
Now, of course, this isnt Canada. The government doesnt have
the authority to unilaterally seize the assets of political
protesters as if it were a third-world autocracy. Yet this is
what the hysterics surrounding the specter of dark money is
all about.
The fact that we arent obliged to publicly attach our names to
all political donations is endlessly frustrating to those intent
on smearing and intimidating their political opponents.
Anonymous speech is as much a part of democracy as marching in
the streets or writing a newspaper column. And in a healthy
liberal media environment, reporters would be demanding answers
from those abusing power, not working with them to inhibit
political speech.
https://nypost.com/2022/02/20/media-targeting-donors-to-canadas-
protest-leads-to-questions-over-free-speech/
This week, one of the most popular small-donor fundraising sites
for the Canadian truckers protesting the COVID vaccine mandates,
GiveSendGo, was hacked. The names of donors were shared with the
public. We know about this mostly because erstwhile news
organizations, such as Reuters, have showered attention on the
breach as if they were providing a public service.
Indeed, many of the same outlets that refused to report
specifics about the Hunter Biden email scoop in 2020 (though the
story was obtained in a completely ethical journalistic manner)
or share specifics from the Democratic National Committee email
hacks in 2016 (illegally obtained, but with high news value)
have no compunction highlighting a site that takes aim at
ordinary people who have done nothing but engage in political
dissent.
In Canada, the doxing has already begun. Tammy Giuliani, a small-
business owner who employs 40 people, was forced to shut down
her gelato shop because of threats made against her employees
after her $250 donation to the truckers cause was disclosed,
according to the Ottawa Citizen.
The Citizens Blair Crawford doesnt marvel at the fact that a
person who lives in a (nominally) liberal democracy can be
intimidated for engaging in political protest, but instead
strongly insinuates that Giuliani had it coming: Giuliani made
her Feb. 5 donation on the second weekend of the demonstration,
when Ottawa police were describing it as volatile and
dangerous and lawyers were seeking a court injunction to
silence the constant blaring of air horns in the downtown core.
So what? The police were wrong. The protests have not been
dangerous to this point.
A deep dive into the scaremongering tactics of Canadian
authorities might be worthwhile for someone who isnt merely a
stenographer at the struggle session: Never in our wildest
dreams did we anticipate what has transpired over the past
couple of weeks, she said. None of us anticipated what it
turned into and we certainly dont condone it.
No one can blame Giuliani for engaging in a bit of self-
flagellation to save her business. Giuliani, who claims she
gives money to animal shelters, a soccer team and a choir (We
rarely say no), was compelled to take out loans to stay open
during the pandemic.
Its a debt that will probably take seven years to pay off,
she told the Citizen. Its not difficult to imagine why a
business owner battered by counterproductive state-compelled
economic shutdowns would oppose vaccine mandates. Nor is it
difficult to imagine how disclosing her donations and the
subsequent media attention is intended to chill speech
At least one reporter for the Washington Post, already on the
case, is allegedly contacting Americans who have contributed as
little as $40 to the anti-mandate cause in Canada. How could the
Post possibly know the names of donors if it wasnt working off
the list obtained through the hack? And how could it possibly
care? That is, unless the goal is to Brendan Eich dissent.
Now, of course, this isnt Canada. The government doesnt have
the authority to unilaterally seize the assets of political
protesters as if it were a third-world autocracy. Yet this is
what the hysterics surrounding the specter of dark money is
all about.
The fact that we arent obliged to publicly attach our names to
all political donations is endlessly frustrating to those intent
on smearing and intimidating their political opponents.
Anonymous speech is as much a part of democracy as marching in
the streets or writing a newspaper column. And in a healthy
liberal media environment, reporters would be demanding answers
from those abusing power, not working with them to inhibit
political speech.
https://nypost.com/2022/02/20/media-targeting-donors-to-canadas-
protest-leads-to-questions-over-free-speech/