Smitherman calls out Ford on homophobic remarks

At the first of three Toronto mayoral debates today, Former provincial Health Minister George Smitherman called out City Councillor Rob Ford regarding his remarks opposing the city's 2006 $1.5 million AIDS prevention strategy. Ford told City Council at the time:

It is very preventable. If you are not doing needles and you are not gay, you wouldn’t get AIDS probably, that’s the bottom line.

Ford's ignorance didn't stop there, as he also said he couldn't comprehend why more women were becoming HIV positive:

Maybe they’re sleeping with bisexual men.

With TVO's Steve Paikin moderating this morning's 11:00 am debate at the Toronto Congress Centre in Etobicoke, Smitherman, who is openly gay, attacked Ford over the remarks:

I’d like you to explain to people how your character, and especially these comments, is justifiable now that you present yourself as someone who wishes to be mayor of Toronto, one of the most diverse places to be found anywhere in the world?

Ford didn't even try to explain nor apologize for his remarks:

Let me tell you what Rob Ford’s character is about, it’s about integrity, it’s about helping kids get off the street, helping thousands of kids...I don’t talk the talk, I walk the walk. I have a Rob Ford football foundation. I’m caring.

Ford then tried to change the topic and began addressing his efforts aimed at economic development for the ward he represents, Etobicoke North, and then took a shot at Smitherman regarding his tenure overseeing eHealth and the resulting scandal:

You want to get personal, go ahead...I’m not going to play games like you have, blowing more than a billion dollars on eHealth.

Following the debate in a scrum with the media, Smitherman called Ford’s comments concerning AIDs "disgusting" and encouraged people to go online to examine Ford's countless other verbal gaffes. Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone agree with Smitherman:

Really, (Ford) doesn’t believe about diversity.

Pantalone also mentioned Ford’s consistent record voting against grants to diversity groups and others. Ford meanwhile was standing nearby, smiling and shaking his head, which was probably on the verge of exploding.

When reporters asked Ford about his remarks, he dodged the question again by changing the subject to his charitable work and pledged to avoid personal attacks. Ford then left after citing that candidates had to attend a Scarborough school for question-and-answer session.