Federal NDP candidate Ethan Rabidoux has apologized for “inappropriate” online comments and reaffirmed his commitment to the election campaign.
The Perth-Wellington candidate told the Advertiser he “apologizes unreservedly” for social media posts made several years ago that he now acknowledges were “completely inappropriate.”
“They don’t reflect who I am today,” Rabidoux said on Oct. 1, reacting to a True North Times article posted earlier in the week.
On Sept. 28 the political commentary website reported that Rabidoux, in a 2008 Facebook post, called former U.S. vice-presidential candidate Sara Palin a “VPILF” a play on the common vulgarism “MILF.”
In a twitter post the same year, the website reports Rabidoux stated, “the next person to talk to me about global warming is getting 50 punches to the head.”
True North Times also cites a 2011 Tumblr posting from Rabidoux, formerly a Conservative, that states the NDP was fortunate not to win the 2011 election because the party was “nowhere near ready to govern …
“Now they have four years to groom the party, weed out the wackos and update their constitution,” he continued.
When asked about past statements on his current party, Rabidoux said he would not comment on specifics and reiterated sentiments expressed in a Sept. 29 apology posted on Facebook.
“My world view has changed dramatically in recent years,” he wrote online. “These seven-year-old statements do not reflect my current beliefs. For anyone that took offence to these inappropriate comments, I offer my sincere apology.”
Rabidoux’s Sept. 30 apology also indicated he was taking a break from the campaign trail due to illness.
“It’s unfortunate timing. I have been battling the stomach flu. I’ll be back on the campaign trail when I am feeling better,’ he stated.
Rabidoux did not attend an afternoon all-candidates meeting in Harriston on Sept. 30. Ross Wilkie, of the Minto Retirees Association, which organized the debate, said Rabidoux campaign officials attributed the candidate’s absence to illness.
The next day Rabidoux told the Advertiser he would attend upcoming campaign events, including an Oct. 1 debate in Kenilworth, an Oct. 3 “meet and greet” in Mount Forest, and an appearance by NDP leader Tom Mulcair at Rabidoux’s Stratford office on Oct. 4.
