Rob Ford crack video released

[Cnd-Guy]

and the guy who started it all is in jail for 8 years

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/siad-selfie-video-1.3145299

In court on Thursday, the Crown said the case against Lisi was weakened because the two men he was accused of threatening, Liban Siyad and Mohamed Siad, didn't co-operate during the preliminary hearing.

 

[fuji]

What's wrong with this picture?
1) Video made without Rob Ford's knowledge or consent.
2) Ford was in a private home.
3) Legal case was dropped (and yet they released the video to the public?)
4) Video released to the public with the Ford family's consent.

Here's what's wrong with the picture:

The mayor of Toronto smoking crack.

 

[hungry]

He had his demons (we all do), but I have more respect for him than I do Wynn or Trudeau. He cared about the taxpayer and the average Joe. I would vote for him in Heaven or Hell.

 

[NorthernBear]

Very classy move to post the video of the man after his death. Why not just let him rest in peace?

The Toronto Star has lost any credibility with me as well as any of the dickheads on this page that have supported the release of this video. A bunch of cowardly assholes in my opinion.

 

[Ref]

A million "what-ifs", but I wondered how the story would have played out had the video been released when it was first talked about?

I was in the "show me the video" camp when the story broke, as I did not trust the word of the Toronto Star.

Once all the dust has settled my only hope is that his kids will be able to move forward and not be saddled with this baggage.

 

[johnhenrygalt]

Why not just let him rest in peace?

The man is dead; he is not being disturbed by the release of this video. He is not aware of it.

 

[Flatulent Fox]

Very classy move to post the video of the man after his death. Why not just let him rest in peace?

The Toronto Star has lost any credibility with me as well as any of the dickheads on this page that have supported the release of this video. A bunch of cowardly assholes in my opinion.

Every media outlet in the country showed this video. The video was evidence in a public court proceeding, and was released by the courts. The Toronto Star never had a copy of the video, they were just the first ones to see it and report on it (along with Gawker). Get off your high horse.

 

[Frankfooter]

Very classy move to post the video of the man after his death. Why not just let him rest in peace?

The Toronto Star has lost any credibility with me as well as any of the dickheads on this page that have supported the release of this video. A bunch of cowardly assholes in my opinion.

Rob Ford called the Star and the media 'maggots', but time has proven that the media were totally correct, including the Star.
The fact that our mayor smoked crack, lied about it, finally admitted it, smoked crack again, lied about it and then admitted it again has shown that Ford was the cowardly asshole who fucked up his own life and that of his family.

What shocks me is people are still blaming the media for this scandal, not crackhead Ford.

 

[Barca]

Nice sound bite but this is not about Rob Ford. This is about protecting society through an open and transparent legal system. That video was evidence in a public criminal trial. The ONLY reason it was under a publication ban is to protect the accused extortionist's (Lisi) right to a fair trial by jury. There is no protection for Rob Ford keeping his crack habit secret.

But it does serve an unintended purpose. It proves that the reporters who were just doing their job, were not liars and that the newspaper that published the story was not libelling Rob Ford when they reported he was consorting with notorious members of a violent criminal gang and doing drugs with them. Despite Rob Ford's slanderous statements that they were lying.

This x2

 

[Barca]

Rob Ford called the Star and the media 'maggots', but time has proven that the media were totally correct, including the Star.
The fact that our mayor smoked crack, lied about it, finally admitted it, smoked crack again, lied about it and then admitted it again has shown that Ford was the cowardly asshole who fucked up his own life and that of his family.

What shocks me is people are still blaming the media for this scandal, not crackhead Ford.

Word, my brother

 

[SkyRider]

I know there will be folks who disagree with me but my personal view is that all "evidence" in a case where all charges are dropped should be sealed or destroyed.

Imagine if you are charged with fcuking a prostitute and the evidence includes a video and later all charges are dropped, would you want that video or any other evidence made readily available to the public like your wife, employer, friends, etc.?

 

[GameBoy27]

It's funny when people call out Rob Ford for lying. Of course he was going to lie, he was the Mayor and he was smoking crack. I don't understand why people are so surprised by that. Reminds me of Bill Clinton's famous words, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman". Ford was addicted to drugs and alcohol which is a disease, not a choice. Did he make bad decisions, yes. Did he get caught, yes. Is he dead, yes. Time to move on folks...

 

[Insidious Von]

Ford family lawyer Dominic Basile had to pic between the lesser of two evils: either allow the video to be made public or have Sandro Lisi indited. If he chose the later, LE would have had grounds for a renewed investigated. This way the deceased takes the hit and Doug's links to organized crime are not probed.

In other news Stern Show member Richard Christie will sing Unchained Melody while taking the friendly finger. Prostate Karaoke - dontcha dare miss it!

 

[SchlongConery]

I know there will be folks who disagree with me but my personal view is that all "evidence" in a case where all charges are dropped should be sealed or destroyed.

Imagine if you are charged with fcuking a prostitute and the evidence includes a video and later all charges are dropped, would you want that video or any other evidence made readily available to the public like your wife, employer, friends, etc.?

That does not serve the public. Just because the Crown was not able to convict on a criminal charge beyond a reasonable doubt, that would affect your right to liberty, does not mean that you did not do what the video shows.

Imagine if your daughter was going to marry this guy who was caught on video fucking a prostitute, or that someone you were going to employ as your babysitter was charged with assault etc but due to the same legal system so many like you whine about that lets people off due to technicalities, the charges were dropped. Now, would you not like to have that information available to you?

 

[NorthernBear]

Every media outlet in the country showed this video. The video was evidence in a public court proceeding, and was released by the courts. The Toronto Star never had a copy of the video, they were just the first ones to see it and report on it (along with Gawker). Get off your high horse.

I'm not on my high horse. I just did not believe that the Star would resort to tabloid type reporting like the Toronto Sun thrives on.
This video is NOT news. It is sensationalism of a story that came out over two years ago. The fact that Ford smoked crack is not relevant today. He is dead.
The only way this could possibly be construed as news is if the fact that smoking crack contributed to his cancer and then they could use it as a warning to others, but that I not the purpose of reporting on the video.
The purpose is simply for shock and awe and this type of reporting is what sells newspapers.

Rob Ford's legacy should be that he worked for the people and did what he could to make Toronto a better place to live and to make citizens proud of our city. But unfortunately the main thing people will remember is the train wreck that he became and
the media's constant reporting of all things negative helped to contribute to the public's perception of him.
Rob Ford was no saint and had more demons than most of us but he was arguably he most positive mayor Toronto had had in my lifetime.

 

[SchlongConery]

Shirley you can't be serious?

This is not about Rob Ford. EVERYONE knows he was a crackhead. And a habitual liar with no regard to the people he lies about and the effect it has on them. No video required.

Look beyond your affection for Rob Ford at the bigger picture.

We have an open legal system and an investigative press that brings many unsavoury things to the attention of the public, that otherwise powerful people would use their influence to hide. Without an open legal process and investigative journalism our society would suffer the consequences of corruption and more. But this press and legal system also has to be held to account if they report things that are not true, or convict or acquit someone using backroom influence.

Rob Ford called The Star and their two reporters liars and maggots.

Rob Ford's legacy is already cast in stone. To some he was a folksy hero of the little man. To others he was a drug addicted alcoholic liar.

The Star and the reporters have the right to have their names cleared of the vile accusations of The Ford Family. They deserve to have their names cleared as they were indeed doing their job, AND they were indeed reporting the truth.

Your previous post says that you view The Star as having no "credibility" because they carried this news story about the publication ban being lifted. How ridiculous and obstinate is that? The fact that the video did indeed exist, and the fact that many many people bought Ford's lies about The Star as they "will only believe it when they see it" is all the more reason for The Star in particular to publish the story.

Just because you like Rob Ford does not make this whole thing not newsworthy. Just because he is dead does not mean that anything to do with him is now beyond reproach.

 

[Perry Mason]

Shirley you can't be serious?

This is not about Rob Ford. EVERYONE knows he was a crackhead. And a habitual liar with no regard to the people he lies about and the effect it has on them. No video required.

Look beyond your affection for Rob Ford at the bigger picture.

We have an open legal system and an investigative press that brings many unsavoury things to the attention of the public, that otherwise powerful people would use their influence to hide. Without an open legal process and investigative journalism our society would suffer the consequences of corruption and more. But this press and legal system also has to be held to account if they report things that are not true, or convict or acquit someone using backroom influence.

Rob Ford called The Star and their two reporters liars and maggots.

Rob Ford's legacy is already cast in stone. To some he was a folksy hero of the little man. To others he was a drug addicted alcoholic liar.

The Star and the reporters have the right to have their names cleared of the vile accusations of The Ford Family. They deserve to have their names cleared as they were indeed doing their job, AND they were indeed reporting the truth.

Your previous post says that you view The Star as having no "credibility" because they carried this news story about the publication ban being lifted. How ridiculous and obstinate is that? The fact that the video did indeed exist, and the fact that many many people bought Ford's lies about The Star as they "will only believe it when they see it" is all the more reason for The Star in particular to publish the story.

Just because you like Rob Ford does not make this whole thing not newsworthy. Just because he is dead does not mean that anything to do with him is now beyond reproach.

+1

Thomas Carlyle: "Burke said there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters' Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all."

Perry

 

[Bud Plug]

I agree with all the posters that have said that the publication ban had nothing to do with protecting Rob Ford or his family, and that there is nothing illegal in publishing the video.

However, I've not been won over by the arguments in favour of "the good" accomplished by publishing.

The most cogent argument in favour of publishing is that the video exonerates the reporters who were initially challenged by Ford, and called some unflattering names. It's certainly true that the video appears to show Ford smoking something. It also shows him talking incoherently. I'm not sure, however, that it's the video that "proves" Ford smoked crack. To make the point, if this was the ONLY evidence in a criminal trial, Ford WOULD NOT have been convicted. It was Ford's admission that he smoked crack that is the real proof. And, consequently, Donovan was "exonerated" on that point the moment Ford made that admission. It is only because of that admission that we can now accept that the video shows him smoking crack (rather than smoking something else, or nothing at all).

However, I'm not so sure that the video confirms the accuracy of all of the reporting that was published by Donovan. Here is a link to the original story:

https://www.thestar.com/news/city_h..._rob_ford_in_crack_cocaine_video_scandal.html

In the story, Donovan says that:

1. Ford calls Trudeau a "fag", and
2. Ford refers to his football team as "they are just f_cking minorities"

I've watched this video 20 times. I honestly can't make out either one of these statements. The guy doing the taping (or in on it) is clearly trying to goad Ford by saying lots of crass things, in particular about Trudeau. Honestly, I don't see that Ford took the bait. Did he say stuff like that on other occasions? I don't know, but we're talking about the accuracy of this particular report.

I don't think an honest reporter with no personal agenda would have included these elements in his story based on the material he had been able to see.

So, in the end, is it wrong to publish the video? No, I don't think so. Does it accomplish some "public good"? Not that I can see. Does it completely "exonerate" Donovan as an honest and reliable reporter? Not in my estimation. Were the Fords incorrect when they described the Star's reporters as "maggots" (amongst other terms). Not as far as I can see. This video certainly doesn't prove that those comments are unfair.

 

[Frankfooter]

I don't think an honest reporter with no personal agenda would have included these elements in his story based on the material he had been able to see.

So, in the end, is it wrong to publish the video? No, I don't think so. Does it accomplish some "public good"? Not that I can see. Does it completely "exonerate" Donovan as an honest and reliable reporter? Not in my estimation. Were the Fords incorrect when they described the Star's reporters as "maggots" (amongst other terms). Not as far as I can see. This video certainly doesn't prove that those comments are unfair.

You just made an even more compelling case why the video should be released.

Despite Ford admitting smoking crack, and the video confirming everything the Star claimed you still think that the Star reporters are 'maggots'.
Finding out the mayor of Toronto smoked crack with gang members, that there was attempts at extortion, that the mayor tried to send people after the video and that the Mayor was skipping off work to go drinking and do crack didn't accomplish some 'public good'?

The video needs to be seen by all, and you need to watch it another 20 times until you see the Mayor of Toronto risking putting the city of Toronto under possible extortion control of a gang, and stop trying to watch it to see if the reporters (who only watched it once or twice in the back of a car and on a phone) made errors in what they reported.

 

[SchlongConery]

You just made an even more compelling case why the video should be released.

Despite Ford admitting smoking crack, and the video confirming everything the Star claimed you still think that the Star reporters are 'maggots'.
Finding out the mayor of Toronto smoked crack with gang members, that there was attempts at extortion, that the mayor tried to send people after the video and that the Mayor was skipping off work to go drinking and do crack didn't accomplish some 'public good'?

The video needs to be seen by all, and you need to watch it another 20 times until you see the Mayor of Toronto risking putting the city of Toronto under possible extortion control of a gang, and stop trying to watch it to see if the reporters (who only watched it once or twice in the back of a car and on a phone) made errors in what they reported.

Exactly.