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Brazeau apologizes after B-word gets him in Twitter trouble
Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau. (WAYNE CUDDINGTON / OTTAWA CITIZEN)
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OTTAWA — Conservative Senator Patrick Brazeau threw a punch outside the boxing ring Tuesday when he suggested on Twitter that a parliamentary reporter who wrote a story about his poor attendance record was a bitch.
Brazeau, best known to Canadians for losing a boxing match to Liberal MP Justin Trudeau this spring, was reacting to a story written by Canadian Press reporter Jennifer Ditchburn that said Brazeau had the poorest attendance record for this session of parliament.
Taking to Twitter, he called the story one-sided.
"Change the D to a B in your last name and we're even!" Brazeau tweeted at Ditchburn Tuesday afternoon.
"Don't mean it but needs saying."
Brazeau, was absent for 25 per cent of the 72 sittings between June 2011 and April 2012, the Senate attendance register shows. By the end of that period, the Quebecer was four days away from being fined, Ditchburn reported.
Ditchburn defended herself on Twitter, noting that she called Brazeau's office twice and exchanged emails prior to the story being published.
"Dear Senator: Many a person has made fun of my name and (the) word 'Bitch'. But never a Canadian senator. That's a first," Ditchburn tweeted.
Twitter erupted in a firestorm of criticism Tuesday afternoon, and the hashtag #DitchBrazeau quickly took off.
"My money's on @jenditchburn for the next 'Thrilla on the Hilla' boxing match," wrote Toronto Star journalist Kenyon Wallace.
"You know what would solve this problem of people getting upset about what a Senator writes on Twitter? Abolishing the Senate," wrote Macleans journalist Aaron Wherry.
Brazeau apologized to Ditchburn about an hour after he wrote the original tweet.
"I apologize for my comments. They were done because of my personal circumstance regarding your story," he tweeted at Ditchburn.
"I'm a hardworker and take my position seriously but personal issues always comes 1st. Ppl are sometimes in need. Sorry!"
Calls and emails to Brazeau's offices were not immediately answered Tuesday.
Nstechyson@postmedia.com
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