1. I really doubt that most Torontonians care about issues/comments re AIDS, as most people have no familial/friend connection to that disease. All STDs are preventable when people remain monogamous; that is a cold, hard truth that most don't want to accept. If people stuck to one sexual partner, we wouldn't have STDs to begin with. It's difficult for people to feel sympathy for victims of a disease (AIDS) that is 100% preventable -- as opposed to something like cancer -- which can affect anyone. If you live a risky lifestyle, sometimes there are consequences to pay for those actions. The culture we live in shuns people that abstain from sex until marriage, but those individuals never have to worry about contracting STDs. I do feel great sympathy for someone like, Tom Fogerty, who got AIDS from a blood transfusion. I'm pretty sure that would be next to impossible nowadays. It is tragic for anyone to die from AIDS, but it doesn't have to happen. Be careful in your sexual lives, and you shouldn't have to fear anything. I think it's common sense that sleeping with people one doesn't know is not a good idea; but you're free to do whatever you want with your lives. And yes, I know that straight people can get AIDS too. In that sense, Rob was off with his remark. Though, if I'm not mistaken, most people with AIDS are gay men, no? Also remember, the suburbs aren't exactly a bastion for gay issues. They're not as socially integrated into the culture as they are downtown. I'd guess that many people in the burbs aren't even friends with a single gay person. I've lived my entire life in the suburbs and have only known 3 gay people. There's also a gay couple that live close to my house. I think most suburbanites equate gays with Pride, and thus are revolted and not interested in defending them. I doubt that the majority of straight people would feel alienated by gays if they actually got to know more of them; but this is where I think events like Pride are a hinderance to gays becoming more widely accepted. I would think that the lewdness just plays into the same stereotypes that people have been conditioned to believe, and it turns them off -- no different than atheists thinking that Christians are all archaic, fearful, insensitive bigots. The fact is that everyone believes in stereotypes; let's be objective. By nature, we tend to believe certain things that we've been told from a young age, and often we carry those beliefs -- right or wrong -- with us our entire lives. For the record, I think Rob Ford is a terrible person, with some very significant mental issues. I'm thankful that he and his brother will soon no longer be wasting our time with their stupid personal issues. But everyone knows that Rob has been criticized for some really petty, frivolous things that a left wing politician would be excused for. I can't imagine George Smitherman being given the same flack for saying that Asians work like dogs. Everyone should be held to the same standard of criticism.
2. Expanding on that sentiment -- his comment about Asians was meant as a compliment. Everyone knows this -- he just isn't a graceful, polished speaker, and thus was pounced on for speaking so bluntly. He was bullied for this -- which is kind of ironic, considering what a bully he is. Would it have been better if he said that some Asians are lazy as well? His comment was well meaning, but poorly phrased. People are too finicky about politically correct speech. Understand the fact that Rob is a straight talker, not an intellectual and he basically never says things in a fashionable manner. It's not like he was insulting Asians, by calling them bad drivers, etc. This was such an asinine issue to that was blown way out of proportion. I'm sure you all agree, but couldn't resist the urge to ridicule him for it. It's issues like this that helped him get elected. This was a perfect example of unfair media scrutiny. Many suburbanites don't trust the mainstream media because they know they're largely aligned with left wing favouritism.
3. For those who were aware of Ford's pot charge -- I'm sure that was peanuts compared to the alternative, George Smitherman's, lengthy drug phase -- which lasted for years and I'm sure consisted of far more dangerous chemicals than cannabis. Both candidates had drug issues, so what were voters supposed to do in that situation? Pot seems like a lesser of two evils compared to years of drug abuse (though with what we know about Ford now, he was possibly heavily into hard drugs at the same time Smitherman was).
4. The ACC incident might not have been as ingrained in the public's mind as you might think -- or maybe most people knew about it, but thought it was minor compared to all the scandals George Smitherman was connected to? No doubt Ford was wrong in this situation and deserved to be lambasted for actions.
I don't think any of those issues would prevent your average suburban voter from supporting Rob Ford. These may be significant for downtowners, but your values and standards aren't universally shared.
