Uproar over child porn comments made by former Wildrose campaign manager

CTV Edmonton: Former political advisor apologizes The backlash was swift, and now, a former top political advisor is backpedaling on comments he made, questioning whether people should be ja

A former campaign manager for the Wildrose will no longer have a role with the party going forward, and was faced with a wave of condemnation, after he suggested that looking at child pornography shouldn't be a crime.

Politicians are now condemning Tom Flanagan, who was also a former Stephen Harper strategist, after he made the remarks at a University of Lethbridge lecture Wednesday night.

The video of Flanagan, who is a professor at the University of Calgary, was posted to YouTube that same night.

In it, Flanagan is asked to explain his opinion on the criminal penalties for possession of child pornography.

Flanagan said he has grave concerns about putting people in jail because of their taste in pictures.

"I certainly have no sympathy for child molesters but I do have some grave doubts about putting people in jail because of their taste in pictures," Flanagan said.

The room gasped, and one member in the audience said "that's disgusting."

Click here to watch the video featuring Flanagan's remarks on child pornography.

Flanagan went on to say that he doesn't look at these pictures, but was once put on a mailing list of the National Man/Boy Love Association.

"We put people in jail for doing something in which they do not harm another person," he said. "So it is real issue of personal liberty."

'Dr. Flanagan does not speak for me or the Wildrose caucus'

Flanagan managed the 2012 Wildrose election campaign in Alberta and Leader Danielle Smith issued a statement condemning what he said on Thursday.

“There is no language strong enough to condemn Dr. Flanagan’s comments. Child pornography is a despicable crime that seriously harms all those involved, including the viewer. The viewing of child pornography first requires the production of child pornography, which causes untold suffering and abuse towards children," Smith said.

"In no uncertain terms, Wildrose condemns the production, transmission and viewing of child pornography."

Smith went on to say that Flanagan would no longer be working with the party moving forward.

“To be clear, Dr. Flanagan does not speak for me or the Wildrose caucus and he will have no role – formal or informal – with our organization going forward," she said.

Politicians, University of Calgary, police, react

Premier Alison Redford says Flanagan's remarks "turned her stomach."

"I am absolutely disgusted by it. I think it is a perfect example of people who take ideological arguments too far."

Elizabeth Cannon, University of Calgary President, also issued a statement condemning Flanagan's remarks.

"Comments made by Tom Flanagan in Lethbridge yesterday absolutely do not represent the views of the University of Calgary," Cannon said in a statement.

"In the university’s view, child pornography is not a victimless crime. All aspects of this horrific crime involve the exploitation of children. Viewing pictures serves to create more demand for these terrible images, which leads to further exploitation of defenseless children."

Cannon said Flanagan has been on a research and scholarship leave from the University of Calgary since January of this year.

Harper's spokesperson Andrew MacDougall said on Twitter that Flanagan's "comments on child pornography are repugnant, ignorant and appalling" while the Office of the Prime Minister issued this statement:

"Tom Flanagan in no way represents the views of the Conservative Party or of our Conservative Government, and has not done so for a long time."

Meanwhile Flanagan was dropped as a commentator on a political television show over his comments.

"While we support and encourage free speech across the country and a diverse range of voices, we believe Mr. Flanagan's comments to have crossed the line and impacted his credibility as a commentator for us," a statement said.

Police who track down online pornographers insist that possessing child porn is harmful to children.

"Child pornography is a visual representation of a child being sexually abused," said Sgt. Mike Lokken, with the Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit.

"If there wasn't a demand for this type of material, it wouldn't be necessarily be created."

Flanagan apologizes

On Thursday, Flanagan responded to the uproar.

In a statement, he said his words were "badly" chosen.

"I absolutely condemn the sexual abuse of children, including the use of children to produce pornography," the statement read. "These are crimes and should be punished under the law."

Flanagan said his comments were meant as a "theoretical question about how far criminalization should extend toward the consumption of pornography."

"My words were badly chosen. In the resuling uproar I was not able to express my abhorrence of child pornography and the sexual abuse of children," Flanagan said.

"I apologize unreservedly to all who were offended by my statement, and most especially to victims of sexual abuse and their families."

With files from Bill Fortier