Canada PoliticsIt’s time to leave Rob Ford alone
Many of us in the media have unhesitatingly piled-on the Rob Ford-bashing bandwagon over the past couple of years.
He is, after all, an easy target: He's a somewhat unsympathetic figure and is the definition of gaffe-prone.
I have to admit, however, that the Toronto Star story, published Tuesday, about Ford's alleged alcohol problem made me a little uncomfortable.
[ Related: Rob Ford supporters deny he has a drinking problem ]
His morning press conference — where he was honouring boxing legend George Chuvalo — made me cringe.
Some of the attacks against Ford have been warranted.
The media certainly has a responsibility to report and comment on stories that affect City business: stories about policies, about his criticisms of the City staff and his numerous court battles are all fair game.
But it seems the media has upped the ante when it comes to Toronto's mayor.
Over the past there year, there have been stories about him chasing a reporter off his property and for climbing a jungle gym.
Mainstream media reporters have made unflattering references about his weight; some columnists have unabashedly referred to him as a "buffoon" or "bozo."
As Christie Blatchford of the Postmedia News, notes, there have also been many occasions where Ford has been the subject of gotcha journalism — particularly by the Toronto Star.
Some of the Star's reporters have not distinguished themselves in their tactics, tailing the mayor to his summer cottage, staking out his backyard at night, being the first to post on its website the spectacularly cruel YouTube footage of Ford, while on a celebrated and unsuccessful diet, grabbing some Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Are there any other politicians that face the same level of scrutiny?
Where is the collective media balance on Rob Ford?
[ Related: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford rejects 3 per cent pay raise ]
Whether it's because he's an unsympathetic figure or because there's a large contingent of Torontonians who are still fighting the last election, I think there are too many instances where he has been treated unfairly.
The Toronto Star story and the subsequent press conference fall into that category.
Alcoholism is a disease. If Ford does have a drinking problem I would hope that his family, friends and colleagues would intervene to ensure that he gets the help that he needs.
That's where the issue needs to remain — not on the front pages of one of the country's largest newspapers.
Are you a politics junkie?
Follow @politicalpoints on Twitter!
