McKeever out of election race

DURHAM -- After weeks of controversy surrounding vulgar, in some cases threatening, comments made on popular social website Facebook, Andrew McKeever has stepped down as the NDP candidate for Durham riding.

Late Friday night, the NDP Toronto media office sent out a statement from Mr. McKeever, in which he tenders his resignation from the race.

"Effective immediately, I am resigning as candidate for Durham in the federal election," Mr. McKeever said in his statement. "Because of the repetition of comments I made before becoming a candidate, comments I have already apologized for and profoundly regret, I can no longer continue as a candidate.

"This ceaseless repetition is damaging to everyone concerned, including those I have hurt."

In July, 2008, Facebook posts to a group aimed at supporting U.S. war resisters in Canada, Mr. McKeever refers to “American crybabies who are trying to turn this country into a hotel" -- a stance which directly contradicts that of the party for which he, two months later, became a candidate. He then goes on to make a number of comments about the group’s female administrator, Krystalline Kraus, including one in which he hypothesizes about why she might support allowing war resisters to remain in Canada.

“Maybe that is why Krystalline Kraus is so interested in this topic . . . having had no real change to get l___ by any domestic male, she needs to encourage others, new meat as it were,” Mr. McKeever wrote.

Later, he makes another vulgar statement, but it isn’t clear to whom it is addressed --- Ms. Kraus, or a male member of the group.

“Answer a f______ question you c___,” Mr. McKeever wrote.  “I can guarantee if I ever see you face to face I will make you squeal for the same authorities that you have such a (baseless) disdain for.”

The thread has a number of additional comments by Mr. McKeever, many of them using similar language, repeatedly referring to other posters as “f______ knobs.”

The thread has since been removed from Facebook, but screen captures were sent out by the Liberal party almost two weeks ago. Since then, Mr. McKeever has been notably absent for all-candidates meetings across the riding.

Ms. Kraus, a Toronto-area anti-war activist, initially stated that she had forgiven Mr. McKeever, but in a statement released Friday, said she also called for the Durham candidate's resignation.

"What Mr. McKeever had said was already said and done and I and many others have already expressed their outrage at these comments," Ms. Kraus said in a prepared statement yesterday, prior to Mr. McKeever's resignation. 

"After the NDP contacted me about this situation, I was the one who reached out to Mr. McKeever last week and asked to speak to him; this was the first time I had ever spoken to him (aside from in Facebook posts). I did this because I feel forgiveness is the best weapon against hatred. The ultimate goal for him is for him to no longer feel that way (concerning the comments he made to various different groups) about those he offended. That's how you disarm hatred.

Ms. Kraus said she had initially asked for Mr. McKeever's resignation, but at first, it did not appear it was going to happen. But, now that he has resigned, Ms. Kraus said she is pleased.

"While I was disheartened by the NDP's delay in dealing with this issue, I am very happy that the NDP has finally chosen to make this right by forcing Mr. McKeever to resign from his candidacy for the NDP in Durham," Ms. Kraus said in a statement released Saturday morning.  "He was not suitable to stand for public office, regardless of what party he chose to represent. What Mr. McKeever said was sexist, offensive and wrong. No woman should ever be called those names or threatened in such a way --- ever --- since this encourages a toxic public climate of hatred which affects us all.  This is not so much about getting caught by Facebook and is more about how no one should ever be using such insults to refer to women or threaten to beat up someone they don't agree with in the first place."

"That said, as an activist, I do look forward to working with the NDP on the issue of pulling our troops from Afghanistan and working to support Iraq war resisters remaining here in Canada."

Due to the late date of resignation, the NDP is not able to replace him in the election. According to Elections Canada Mr. McKeever's name will remain on the ballot and votes will remain valid, said Brian McInnis of the federal NDP.

Mr. McKeever's statement indicated he felt it was time to move on.

"There are serious issues to be addressed in this campaign, and I cannot allow my candidacy to detract from the important decisions Canadians must make," he said.