2002 book

Sun columnist and CTS TV host Michael Coren doesn’t like something in former MP Garth Turner’s new book: Sheeple: Caucus Confidential in Stephen Harper’s Ottawa.

One particular issue Coren takes issue with was beaten to death at the time and was recently resurrected by Coren as fodder for two columns.

On May 2nd Coren wrote his Sun column; Bleat the clock on Sheeple, GarthTurner and Charles McVety, with a practised eye on the guest calendar of his TV show.
Since the original comment by Charles McVety to Garth Turner was supposedly made on the set or the general vicinity of The Michael Coren show made it into Sheeple; Coren used his May 2nd column to again say he and his staff heard no such thing. Since Charles McVety is also a media pro, I have to ask: Charles McVety denies he said what he said – would he have said it around potentially open mikes? Anyone who has worked broadcasting would know better.

Since Coren didn’t hear it, it didn’t happen.

I suppose the conclusion is obvious — me, my director, my producer and my crew are all either dim or deaf and a major Christian leader is a liar. We sheeple had, well, the wool pulled over our eyes.

2009

Turner is plugging his new book, and was pre-scheduled for a Coren show taping on May 5th. Coren has a point, after all, no major Christian leader would lie. In major Christian leader world, honourary doctorates are real, push polls brought before a senate committee are true, cyber-squatting isn’t unethical, you’re loved and hated by political leaders depending on how the cause de jour wind is blowing…

However Garth Turner didn’t show up to tape the show and Michael Coren is miffed. Coren has published 10 books, been on TV over 10 years, does radio, he knows all the drills. He does conservative social outrage for a living, miffed is easy.

Coren devoted his next column to Turner being his first TV guest ever to be a no-show and how traumatizing and rude it all was to Coren’s TV staff. Being a media pro, he ratcheted up his rhetoric.

I have to say, however, that with former MP Garth Turner I’m not particularly surprised. Turner has been on my show several times over the years, sometimes requesting the opportunity, and now that he has a book out, Sheeple, we were willing to give him a full hour of interview. Rather generous of us, actually.

It’s all about Micheal. Not about the book. Not about content.

Both Coren and Turner are pros and it doesn’t matter who says what and who get’s the last word. Turner’s publisher, Key Porter can sell more books with Turner not being a CTS/Coren Show sheeple than if he’d showed up.

It’s far more entertaining to dish perceived political opponents and question an unprovable than deal with the ideas in the book isn’t it?

I have no idea who scheduled Turner for The Michael Coren Show, it would be interesting to know if it was a Key Porter publicist who mapped out the stump weeks ago when it might have seemed like a good idea. For the record, I’ve written the parties in question, and they can tell us what was said if they are so inclined.

Coren can pick and chose his guests, he choses how he is going to plug them. I believe him on a curious point. Being on a religious cable show he is probably quite unfamilar with guests not choosing him.

I find myself wondering if an employee of Key Porter was “mortified.”
All we have is Coren’s word for that.

“I was on my way, until I read his Sun column. Have a nice day. Garth.” So contemptuous, so little regard for the men and women who work so hard to do their jobs.

Imagine that. All those traumatized hard working broadcasting professionals.

The Blog: Why Garth Turner’s Sheeple matters.
CAITI online: Excerpt from Garth Turner’s book Sheeple
Creeple – a Conservative blog devoted to Sheeple
Russ Campbell: Garth Turner a no-show on Michael Coren Show
Angry in the Great White North: The inside story on Garth Turner’s non-appearance on The Michael Coren Show.

The original show in question was taped September 12, 2006 and does not appear to be online.

Update:  Rob Sheppard, the CTS Program Manager (CTS produces The Michael Coren Show) had no comment about the show, or the questions posed about CTS staff being part of Coren’s Sun column.  Key Porter books send an out of office automated response, Garth Turner was asked if he had any response and apparently doesn’t.