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By Allison Jones, The Canadian Press

TORONTO - Ontario's Liberals brought "The War on Science" to the legislature Thursday, using the National Geographic cover story to mock a Progressive Conservative who doesn't believe in evolution landing them in some hot water with the Speaker.

As the opposition parties demanded answers on allegations on ongoing police investigations into the governing party, Liberal members brandished copies of the magazine on their desks and some shouted heckles about the Tory backbencher's anti-evolution stance.

"I really do want to take this opportunity to congratulate the Ontario PC Party on being the cover story of the current issue of National Geographic magazine," said Deputy Premier Deb Matthews.

Props are not allowed in the house and Speaker Dave Levac reminded MPPs that it was his job "to try to reach some decorum" in the legislature.

"I'd like all members to be helpful with that," he said and later ordered the sergeant-at-arms to take away Matthews's copy of the publication.

The Liberal stunt was aimed at Progressive Conservative Rick Nicholls, who stunned the legislature on Tuesday when he suggested that evolution should not be taught in school. On Wednesday, he surprised even some of his Tory colleagues when he said, "I don't believe in evolution."

The opposition parties accused the Liberals of making fun of Nicholls's personal beliefs as a way to deflect attention from their ongoing scandals three of which are under provincial police investigation, including allegations the Liberals offered a job or appointment to a Sudbury candidate to step aside in a recent byelection.

Matthews said her comment was lighthearted and not an attempt to distract from the Sudbury allegations.

"I think it is a serious issue that there are members of the legislature that reject science and reject the notion that science be taught in schools, but the technique was just a little bit of fun," Matthews said after question period.

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Liberals use magazine to mock Tory MPP

February 26, 2015|1:15 pm

(Photo: Intelligence Squared/Chris Zarconi Photography)

Intelligence Squared debate, "Liberals are Stifling Intellectual Diversity on Campus," at George Washington University, Washington, DC, Feb. 24, 2015. (L to R) Greg Lukianoff, Kirsten Powers, John Donvan, Angus Johnston, Jeremy Mayer.

(Photo: Intelligence Squared/Chris Zarconi Photography)

Intelligence Squared debate, "Liberals are Stifling Intellectual Diversity on Campus," at George Washington University, Washington, DC, Feb. 24, 2015. (L to R) Dr. Angus Johnston, a historian of student activism, and Jeremy Mayer, associate professor of political science at George Mason University.

(Photo: Intelligence Squared/Chris Zarconi Photography)

Intelligence Squared debate, "Liberals are Stifling Intellectual Diversity on Campus," at George Washington University, Washington, DC, Feb. 24, 2015. Greg Lukianoff, president of Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, and Kirsten Powers, USA Today columnist and Fox News contributor.

(Photo: Intelligence Squared/Chris Zarconi Photography)

Intelligence Squared debate, "Liberals are Stifling Intellectual Diversity on Campus," at George Washington University, Washington, DC, Feb. 24, 2015. Greg Lukianoff, president of Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

(Photo: Intelligence Squared/Chris Zarconi Photography)

See the article here:
Liberals Are Stifling Intellectual Diversity, Campus Audience Decides After Hearing Both Sides of the Argument

Liberal Democrats update
News report following the Liberal Democrats update.

By: Thames News

See more here:
Liberal Democrats update - Video

As the two political parties begin to gear up for next years presidential election, the public has a more positive general image of the Democrats but trust Republicans more on specifics, a newly released survey shows.

The survey released Thursday by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center suggests an important underlying dynamic for the presidential contest:

A Republican nominee may be able to count on a presumption that he or she will be able to handle major issues, but will be challenged on empathy and tolerance, as Mitt Romney was in 2012.

The Democratic nominee may be able to take those attributes for granted, at least to some extent, but will need to reassure the public about his or her abilities on managing issues.

Large segments of the public believe each party has strong principles. Asked if either has "good policy ideas," just over half say the Democrats do and just under half say Republicans do.

But the overall images of the parties differ markedly.

About six in 10 American adults say the Democratic party cares about the middle class and is tolerant and open to all groups of people, the poll found.

By contrast, only about one-third of Americans say Republicans are tolerant and open to all, and just over four in 10 say they care about the middle class.

Half say the Republicans are too extreme, considerably more than the share -- just over one-third -- who say that about the Democrats.

But asked which party could do a better job on seven major issues, the public gives Republicans the edge on three and the Democrats on only one, the survey showed.

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Americans have more positive view of Democrats, trust GOP on issues

Washington Ohio is always big in presidential races. Its the ultimate bellwether state. Now add Ohio to the column called marquee Senate races of 2016.

Ted Strickland, the states Democratic former governor, announced Wednesday that hes running against Republican Sen. Rob Portman, a big score for the party out of power on Capitol Hill. Democrats need a net gain of five seats to retake control of the Senate, in a cycle whose map favors the Democrats.

Republicans are defending 24 seats in 2016, versus only 10 for the Democrats. Of those, 10 Republican-held seats are competitive, while two Democrat-held seats are, according to the Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report.

Democrats are also better at turning out their base minorities, single women, and young voters in presidential election years.

Mr. Strickland is a Democratic elder statesman, with a strong statewide profile. He lost reelection to current Gov. John Kasich (R) in 2010, a tough year for Democrats, by two percentage points. Senator Portman, respected in Washington as a leader of the center-right, isnt so popular at home. Only 37 percent of Ohioans gave him positive job marks in a recent Quinnipiac poll.

Strickland is the second Democrat to enter the race to take on Portman, a sign of the incumbents vulnerability. Cincinnati Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld announced in January and has raised $500,000 so far, according to The Columbus Dispatch.

Though its only February 2015, Democrats are moving fast to fill slots in the 2016 Senate cycle. Heres a rundown:

California. California Attorney General Kamala Harris (D) declared for the Senate within days of Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxers announcement Jan. 8 that shes not running for reelection. On Tuesday, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced he wont run, leaving Ms. Harris as the early front-runner to replace Senator Boxer in solid-blue California.

A Field Poll of likely California voters released Feb. 18 shows former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice coming out on top, three percentage points ahead of Harris, but Ms. Rice says she wont run.

New Hampshire. Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) is seen as vulnerable in this presidential tossup state, and Gov. Maggie Hassan (D) would be her partys top get if she agrees to run. An NBC News/Marist poll released Feb. 17 shows Governor Hassan beating Senator Ayotte 48 percent to 44 percent.

Read more from the original source:
Why are Democrats suddenly cheering in Ohio? (+video)