Watch the video above: Doug Ford spars with the city hall press gallery.
TORONTO – Soon after Rob Ford officially entered the 2014 mayoral campaign, his brother Doug Ford was busy campaigning against what he characterized as “the media party,” which he believed was “coming after” the two brothers.
“The media party, they can come after us for the next ten months—and there’s no doubt that each and every one of you are going to come after us for the next 10 months—so we’re dealing with candidates and then we’re dealing with the media party,” he said.
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The Etobicoke councillor made the comments while answering questions from the city hall press gallery Thursday morning. In one exchange, he challenged Global News reporter Jackson Proskow to run for office after he asked why people should trust his brother after he admittedly lied about drug use.
Jackson: “Why should people trust him?”
Doug: “Very simple, he’s the only politician, the only politician, Jackson, that has done what he said he was going to do, so it’s very simple.”
J: “I think he’s also the only politician that lied about crack cocaine use for six months, so why should people trust him?”
D: “I got an idea, because you’re going to be on to us for 10 months, why don’t you put your name in the hat, Jackson, and then you can be part of the debate.”
J: “Why do you act like it’s so unfair for people to ask these questions? These are legitimate questions that he’s not answering.”
D: “Jackson, I realize that, but you just love it. You’ll go on for the next ten months, the same question. Guess what Jackson? People are tired of listening to you. I know you think they aren’t but they’re tired of listening to Jackson and the rest of the media. They want to look at their pocketbook; they want to be able to go to sleep and know that somebody is minding the bank account and guess what? Rob Ford is minding the bank account.”
Ford went on to accuse the media of “feeding” the scandal surrounding his brother after the Toronto Star and Gawker reported the mayor had been filmed smoking what might be crack cocaine. The mayor later admitted to smoking crack cocaine.
In October, police documents detailing a police investigation of the mayor revealed he had been hanging out at a known crack house, had packages placed in his car by alleged drug trafficker and friend Sandro Lisi, had been throwing a raucous party at city hall and frequently asking staff to buy him booze. None of the statements made in the police documents have been proven in court.
Doug Ford admitted his brother bore “some” responsibility for the ensuing frenzy around his crack cocaine scandal.
– With files from Jackson Proskow
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