TURMEL'S TURMOIL

John Turmel might better be named John Turmoil. Trouble often attends
the independent candidate on the election trail. He was kicked out in
the first 10 minutes of an all-candidates debate on cable television
last week. Since then, he has not been invited to at least four other
debates.

Not being invited hasn't stopped Turmel. On Thursday, he showed up at
North Park Collegiate for a debate hosted by Brant Women in Action and
the University Women's Club. He walked around the room complaining in
a loud voice and insisted on taking a place at the debating table
until two police officers arrived to escort him from the building.

Turmel likes nothing better than to campaign for his beliefs -
legalizing marijuana and promoting a barter system to replace Canada's
financial system are two key planks in his platform - and to tweak the
noses of those in authority.

He has claimed the world record for losing the most elections for
public office. The current election is his 66th attempt.

Although Turmel's advocacy for marijuana kept him out of an
all-candidates' meeting for students at Pauline Johnson Collegiate
this week, his ideas aren't his big problem.

It's his behaviour. He picks and chooses which rules to obey at
debates and which ones to ignore. Groups that organize meetings have
the right not to invite Turmel. And why would they invite him after
the way he behaved at an all-candidates' meeting for the federal
election in Brant in January 2006?

Here's how an Expositor editorial described Turmel's disrespect for
the other candidates and the audience:

Turmel had no business goading Christian Heritage Party candidate John
Wubs and shouting at the moderator, other candidates and the audience
to the point that police were called.

Turmel repeatedly quoted passages from the "Internet Bible" clearly
intended to offend Wubs. The Christian Heritage candidate finally
spoke up, saying he was offended. NDP candidate Lynn Bowering and
Liberal candidate Lloyd St. Amand said they were offended, too.

Turmel shouted that he is educated and that others at the debate were
not. He called one member of the audience an "ignoramus" and told
another person "you're not very bright."

As for the audience in general, Turmel said, "You cannot possibly
follow what I've said. You're not intelligent enough."

Conservative candidate Phil McColeman called the police. Two officers
quickly arrived by which time Turmel had calmed down.

But the damage had been done. About one-third of the audience of 75
people had left. Children and young people, who had come to see
democracy in action, were treated to an embarrassing incident.

An all-candidates meeting should be an exchange of ideas. Instead,
audience members were asking: "Why should we have to listen to this
stuff?"

No wonder Turmel is unwelcome at meetings during the current election.
Once bitten, twice shy.

He is free to campaign door to door, to promote his ideas on the
Internet, to buy ads or do other things that candidates do. He cannot
crash meetings to which he was not invited.

Turmel can complain all he wants. All-candidates' meetings need not
put up with his shenanigans.