Tory blames attack ads for why he won't help Ford fundraise
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TORONTOWhat’s the story on Mayor John Tory’s refusal to attend a fundraiser for former election rival Doug Ford?
Tory made it clear Monday he’s not going to help Ford raise cash to pay off campaign costs that included attack ads aimed directly at him during last fall’s battle for mayor.
“You know anybody thinking for just a moment about the prospect of my going out and raising money which would finance, in effect, quite directly the running of ads that called into question my character, my integrity and so on, must think that I fell off some sort of a turnip truck pulling into downtown Toronto,” Tory said.
He said he was “honoured and privileged” to have a fundraiser for former mayor David Miller after losing to him in 2003.
“Why? Because I didn’t think a sitting mayor should be saddled with a campaign debt and because during that campaign he never once attacked me personally nor did I attack him,” Tory said.
He also helped failed mayoral candidate Jane Pitfield raise cash to settle her campaign debt in 2006 and worked on fundraising efforts for Rob Ford and Rocco Rossi in 2010.
However, Tory insisted it was “expecting a bit much” for him to help pay off Doug Ford’s campaign expenses.
While the mayor’s spokesman said Sunday that he was “never asked to attend” the Ford fundraiser, Tory acknowledged Monday that the former councillor extended an invitation around Christmas without a specific date.
“I said, ‘Doug, I’m afraid it is just not possible,’” Tory recalled.
“I think people would call into question whether I was thinking straight if I went out and helped raise money to pay off a debt incurred to run ads to attack me over and over again, all day — most of the money was spent on that.”
He said he’s not complaining about the “What’s the story, Mr. Tory?” ads because “it’s a free country.”
“I’m saying you can’t expect me to pay for them,” Tory said.
Ford applauded Tory for admitting he did ask him to attend a campaign fundraiser.
“He first was disingenuous now he’s being honest so I appreciate that,” Ford said.
“I was being courteous because God knows what the media would have done to us if we never invited him.”
Ford stood by the ads “100%” and stressed “that’s what politics is.
“If John didn’t think he got personal and didn’t question my credibility, well he needs to get a thicker skin and a backbone then,” Ford said.
“Any competition, be it sports or business or whatever, once it is finished, you shake hands, you move forward.
"That shows his character. I find it a little hypocrisy because his campaign was run on we all get along and sing Kumbaya and obviously what he says is not what he means and I think that is a good example of this year’s budget too.”
But Ford shrugged off Tory’s snub.
“I can’t figure him out anyways,” he said. “The difference between him and I, I’m at the beginning of my political career, he’s at the end. I look forward to many years of serving the people.”
