Notes from the North
From the "Wolf Blitzer Reports" staff
CNN
 |  Air Force One is framed through Canadian and American flags as it is de-iced as it prepares to leave Ottawa, Canada, Wednesday. |
| |
|  VIDEO |
 CNN's Wolf Blitzer interviews Canadian Parliament member Carolyn Parrish and CNN's own Tucker Carlson on U.S.-Canada relations (December 2)
|
|
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- We've been inundated with e-mail from viewers about Tuesday's debate on U.S.-Canadian relations. CNN's "Crossfire" co-host Tucker Carlson squared off against outspoken Canadian Member of Parliament Carolyn Parrish -- and the sparks flew.
Carlson: "Canada needs the United States for trade and a lot of reasons. Without the U.S., Canada is Honduras, but colder and much less interesting. I think that makes -- the dependency makes Canadians understandably resentful."
Parrish: "Oh, oh, oh Tucker, you're way out to lunch on this one, my friend."
A lot of our Canadian viewers agreed.
John from Wasaga Beach, Ontario, wrote:
"The USA doesn't need Canada? Tell that to the many Americans who buy prescription drugs here. Wait until you need cheap, clean fresh water. But like oil, I suppose Tucker would just march the army in to take it."
Adrienne from Toronto wrote:
"It is this same egocentric attitude displayed by Tucker that only serves to further anti-American sentiment not only in Canada but all over the world."
Aaron from Ottawa observed:
"Mr. Carlson unfortunately personified the stereotype Canadians have of Americans by being self-important and arrogant."
Speaking of stereotypes, this one struck a nerve.
Tucker: "You know that's true, Carolyn. There's a lot of dog sledding."
Parrish: "No, there's not a lot of dog sledding. There's a lot of dog walking, my friend. Not dog sledding."
S.C. from Moncton, New Brunswick, noted:
"I've lived here all my life and never seen a dog sled. Shows how limited his knowledge is of life outside the U.S."
The face-off was also a hot topic for Canadian newspapers with articles in the National Post and the Toronto Sun, among others.
The Sun, noting Parrish's previously outspoken anti-Bush sentiments and her reputation for shooting from the lip, ran this headline:
"Lip Glosses Over Insults -- Parrish a Pussycat on CNN Creampuff Fest."
