The issue is NOT the fact that Jacques may or may not have been paid
to wear the Canadian *flag* on his suit. (Last I heard, JV had denied
being paid, and certainly not $12 million!)
The issue is that the money was funnelled through a bunch of PR
companies who were "close to" the governing party, and that they took
large (exhorbitant?) fees to simply transfer the money. In some case,
the fees amounted to as much as 30 or 40% of the total. From memory,
there was a recent radio new bit on the RCMP who were given something
like $2 million for their 125th anniversary. After the fees were
deducted by the PR company, the Mounties only got $1.6 million. Nice
money -- $400,000 -- for delivering a cheque!
Related to the money issue is the fact that most of this money was
apparently approved via verbal communications. Most rules controlling
these kinds of expenditures were broken or ignored, and the whole
thing done in such an "under the table" kind of way as to raise
suspicions in even the most trusting.
The story about JV was just another instance of the hysteria built up
in the first flush of enthusiasm by some members of the media. I
think you'll find that JV -- and most other drivers -- wear an
indication of their national affliation somewhere on their clothing.
I wonder how much DC gets paid to wear the Scottish national flag on
his helmet? <sly grin>
--
Darryl
