Watch: Conservative MP Mark Adler brushes off this week’s comments as “tongue in cheek”
A Toronto-area MP insists he was only joking with his crass comment as Prime Minister Harper visited the Western Wall in Jerusalem earlier this week.
Mark Adler, behind the barricades at the sacred site, pleaded with a Harper aide to let him in for a photo-op, shouting, “It’s the re-election! This is the million-dollar shot!”
The York-Centre MP scoffed at reporters in Tel Aviv yesterday when asked about the comments, insisting it was all said “tongue-in-cheek.”
READ MORE: Conservative MP’s unanswered prayer in Jerusalem, denied photo-op with PM
The Prime Minister’s Office denies Adler is in the dog house.
Harper’s visit to the Western Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem Tuesday was a popular draw for many supporters, media and those travelling in his delegation.
The prime minister and a few select delegates walked in a restricted area toward the wall, past a cheering crowd and groups of devout Jews who were praying at the sacred site.
Others in the delegation were cordoned off behind a barricade with the media, watching.
READ MORE: Singling out Israel for Middle East issues the new anti-Semitism: Harper
While some behind the barrier were perhaps appreciating the sanctity of the event, Adler seemed to have visions of re-election dancing in his head.
Harper is on his first trip to the Middle East, with a delegation of 208 people.
In a press release issued this week, the NDP admonished the the behaviour of Adler, one of several Conservative MPs who was invited along on the prime minister’s trip.
“Adler’s outburst makes one thing clear: Conservatives aren’t just in Israel to make new friends,” the release reads. “Instead of focusing on their constituents, Conservatives are running for re-election and having the taxpayer foot the bill.”
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