#BEDM - Newsflash

Today's Blog Every Day in May topic is to write about something in the news.

Well, I think the biggest piece of news for Torontonians is that there is supposedly a video of our Mayor smoking crack-cocaine with some drug dealers.  This story was originally broken on the US website Gawker: apparently a couple of gentlemen invited the dude from this gossip site to view a video of Rob Ford smoking crack. They wanted to sell the video for six figures.

After the Gawker story broke, the Toronto Star published a similar article where two of their reporters saw the same video and were certain it was the Mayor in the video.

The next day, the Mayor's response was that the claims of the video were "ridiculous" and that it was just the Toronto Star going after him.

The story has made international news: CNN, the BBC, The New York Times, etc.  Perhaps it's a surprise to the international community that the Mayor of North America's fourth largest city is being accused of smoking crack.

However, I think it's shocking to Ford-supporters and detractors alike here in Toronto, but entirely plausible.  This is a man for whom scandals have followed him closely both during his days as a city councillor and as Mayor.

DUI and marijuana possession charges in Florida.  Domestic disputes here in Toronto.  Campaign finance irregularities.  Calling 9-11 on a comedian.  His denial of, and then apology for, shouting awful things at a couple during a Leafs game.  (He blamed beer.)  The fact that for a short while, his Mayorship was revoked by a judge for conflict of interest (however he won his appeal).  Being accused of ass-grabbing by a former mayoral candidate at a party.  Being asked to leave another party for being under the influence of something.  And now this.  His scandals have been summarized nicely by NYMag here.  (Hey - if our Mayor is making so much international news, does this finally mean we're a world class city?)

When there's so much smoke, there's got to be fire somewhere.

If a video surfaced of PM Harper, who I equally dislike, smoking crack, I'd be highly skeptical.  I don't agree with the man's politics at all, but he's fit for leadership.  Our Mayor, on the other hand, is a different story.  There's so much controversy and irregular behaviour.  There seems like there is definitely a problem, and if he has addiction issues, it's time for him to go get treatment and leave the city in someone else's hands.

It will be interesting to see what happens with this scandal in the coming days...  There is a crowdsourcing campaign by Gawker to raise $200,000 to buy the video.  As of now, they are over $81,000 there.  I'd hate for drug dealers to get that cash, but seriously, I think the video needs to see the light of day so that its veracity can be determined.

Until then, you can have lots of fun playing who said it?  Mayor Rob Ford vs. Diamond Joe Quimby.