VIDEOS: six terrible moments from Conrad Black’s terrible interview with Rob Ford
Last night, Vision TV aired an interview—or something resembling an interview—between Conrad Black and Rob Ford. Whatever it was, it made Peter Mansbridge’s softball-fest with the Ford brothers last month seem like waterboarding. As Black and Ford chummed it up, there were plenty of cringe-inducing moments. Here are six of the worst, with video clips to match.
1. When Black started the interview by calling the mayor “the most famous Canadian in the world.”
One would think that the world’s biggest fan of multisyllabic words would have preferred to use the more appropriate “infamous,” but apparently not.
2. When Ford brought up weight loss for the hundredth time.
The mayor seems to think that the key to fixing everything is losing some weight. But really, nobody cares about Ford’s weight. Nobody cared about it when they elected him, nobody cared about it during that botched “Cut the Waist” campaign, and nobody cares about it now.
3. When Ford blamed this whole mess on a pouty police chief
The mayor is always quick to point out that he’s the victim of a conspiracy. Now, police chief Bill Blair is apparently part of that conspiracy, along with pinkos, every Toronto newspaper, most of city council and everyone else who isn’t Rob or Doug Ford. “I definitely think this is political,” he said. “I think that they used Lisi [his longtime friend] as a prop to get to me.” So what’s Blair’s beef with the mayor? He’s ticked off about budget cuts, of course. “I want to save money, and I guess he disagrees with that,” Ford said. The crack cocaine had nothing to do with anything.
4. When we all had to imagine the possibility of an on-air urine test.
“If they want me to do a drug test, a urine test, I’ll do one right now,” the mayor said. While there are lots of unanswered questions surrounding this whole scandal, we don’t think a jar of pee will settle many of them. “Rob, there is absolutely no need to do a urine test right now,” Black responded.
5. When Ford implied that the Toronto Star’s Daniel Dale is a pedophile.
We’re not sure how this segment made it on air—it’s an incredibly serious allegation—but Ford accused the Toronto Star’s Daniel Dale of sneaking onto his property to snap photos of his children. “The worst one was Daniel Dale in my backyard taking pictures. I have little kids,” Ford said. “When a guy’s taking pictures of little kids, I don’t want to say that word, but you start thinking, ‘What’s this guy all about?’” For the record, Dale was near Ford’s property last year to investigate the mayor’s intention to buy parkland. Apparently, the Star’s lawyers are looking into the matter to determine if there’s a case to be made for defamation.
6. When Black pretended to call out the mayor on a dubious statistic.
The mayor is known for fudging his numbers, and he did it again last night, saying that the city’s unemployment rate has dropped from 11 per cent to seven per cent. Black blubbered his way through a correction, making sure to keep the mayor in a positive light the whole while: “As you know, there is some suggestion that [the unemployment rate] was 9.4, but it’s come down significantly from 9.4.” Thanks, your Lordship.
UPDATE: This post originally contained video of Conrad Black’s interview with Rob Ford, but on January 9, 2014 we received notice from YouTube that all the clips had been removed because of a copyright complaint from ZoomerMedia.
![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/city/conrad-black-interviews-rob-ford-video/&title=VIDEOS: six terrible moments from Conrad Black’s terrible interview with Rob Ford&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/conrad-black-interviews-rob-ford-624x395.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_250443" align="alignnone" width="656"] (Image: Vision TV/Screenshot)[/caption]
Last night, Vision TV aired an interview—or something resembling an interview—between Conrad Black and Rob Ford. Whatever it was, it made Peter Mansbridge’s softball-fest with the Ford brothers last month seem like waterboarding. As Black and Ford chummed it up, there were plenty of cringe-inducing moments. Here are six of the worst, with video clips to match.
1. When Black started the interview by calling the mayor “the most famous Canadian in the world.”
One would think that the world’s biggest fan of multisyllabic words would have preferred to use the more appropriate “infamous,” but apparently not.
2. When Ford brought up weight loss for the hundredth time.
The mayor seems to think that the key to fixing everything is losing some weight. But really, nobody cares about Ford's weight. Nobody cared about it when they elected him, nobody cared about it during that botched “Cut the Waist” campaign, and nobody cares about it now.
3. When Ford blamed this whole mess on a pouty police chief
The mayor is always quick to point out that he’s the victim of a conspiracy. Now, police chief Bill Blair is apparently part of that conspiracy, along with pinkos, every Toronto newspaper, most of city council and everyone else who isn't Rob or Doug Ford. “I definitely think this is political,” he said. “I think that they used Lisi [his longtime friend] as a prop to get to me.” So what’s Blair’s beef with the mayor? He’s ticked off about budget cuts, of course. “I want to save money, and I guess he disagrees with that,” Ford said. The crack cocaine had nothing to do with anything.
4. When we all had to imagine the possibility of an on-air urine test.
“If they want me to do a drug test, a urine test, I’ll do one right now,” the mayor said. While there are lots of unanswered questions surrounding this whole scandal, we don’t think a jar of pee will settle many of them. “Rob, there is absolutely no need to do a urine test right now,” Black responded.
5. When Ford implied that the Toronto Star’s Daniel Dale is a pedophile.
We’re not sure how this segment made it on air—it’s an incredibly serious allegation—but Ford accused the Toronto Star’s Daniel Dale of sneaking onto his property to snap photos of his children. “The worst one was Daniel Dale in my backyard taking pictures. I have little kids,” Ford said. “When a guy’s taking pictures of little kids, I don’t want to say that word, but you start thinking, ‘What’s this guy all about?’” For the record, Dale was near Ford’s property last year to investigate the mayor’s intention to buy parkland. Apparently, the Star’s lawyers are looking into the matter to determine if there's a case to be made for defamation.
6. When Black pretended to call out the mayor on a dubious statistic.
The mayor is known for fudging his numbers, and he did it again last night, saying that the city’s unemployment rate has dropped from 11 per cent to seven per cent. Black blubbered his way through a correction, making sure to keep the mayor in a positive light the whole while: “As you know, there is some suggestion that [the unemployment rate] was 9.4, but it’s come down significantly from 9.4.” Thanks, your Lordship.
UPDATE: This post originally contained video of Conrad Black's interview with Rob Ford, but on January 9, 2014 we received notice from YouTube that all the clips had been removed because of a copyright complaint from ZoomerMedia.){kind=link}
And Rob swings and misses. Strike three.
And the ball is still on top of the T, here at this T-ball game.
Two criminals. One caught, one hasn’t been yet. Looks like they like each other.
Good thing he did the interview with Black now. Once he is arrested his bail conditions will not allow him to associate with known convicts.
It sure is funny to hear The Star talk about unfounded accusations and defamation when they reported about “the video” that two reporters claim to have seen and which , to this day , months and months and months later, have not come to light.
The Toronto Star doesn’t stand a chance with a lawsuit as Mayor Ford DID NOT utter the word pedophile ( or creep , sleezbag , child molester or perv).
Because The Star MISINTERPEDED his words doesn’t change the words that he did say.
Just like you, me and every other Canadian Mayor Ford is allowed the same freedom of speech.
Anyone with an ounce of intelligence knows that this little busybody from the Star was nosing around Ford’s property and trying to make a name for himself. I must admit that I did get quite the chuckle when I read that Dale ran off screeching like a little girly man when Ford confronted him.
Charlie that is brilliant, thanks for that. I see an arrest in Robs future too. Rob is done and wants to know what the police have on him, but rightly so, Chief Blair is not biting, he does his job well. In addition, calling a man a pedophile is the worst thing that you can do to him, even a dufus like the Mayor knows that.
Did the gravy train run over your head or what Dave. The video exists, the reporter was not taking pictures and your candidate for Mayor in the next election will soon be wearing orange pajamas without the bunny feet.
There’s no freedom of speech that allows you to yell fire in a theatre, or to call someone a pedophile, which is what Ford was clearly doing. There is not MISINTERPEDATION as you would call it. Whereas there is a video that the police have confirmed exists. The Star has been proven right on all counts and Ford is wrong on all counts and his bullying ways are plain to see. He doesn’t even have the decency to resign he’s so entitled and in love with himself.
My hearing must be getting worse, I didn’t HEAR anyone call anyone a pediphile. That is your sick minds putting words in peoples mouths….I though he was going to say , wierd, or scary or something along those lines. I would be freaked out if a man was in my backyard taking pics of my kids to. Are YOU saying that that is perfectly good behaviour for a man with a camera? cause if you think it is OK for a man to hide in your back yard and take pics of your family, then ya I quess pediphile would be the first word that came to your mind.
Have you seen “the video”? If not then you must be very gullible .
So a Toronto Star Newspaper reporter is behind the Mayor home and he is not there to take any photos. Hummm , so he’s not doing his job but he was there.
The Police got nothing on him or they would have laid charges already.
Unless of coarse they make some bogus charges up just before the next election to drag him through the mud some more.
Oh BTW , I wish I could vote for Mayor Ford but I don’t live in the SH*th*ole of Toronto.
Exactly. If I saw a guy nosing around my property, at any time but especially at 8 in the evening I’d be on it right away. Dale is likely working with the mentality of that ole unfunny “comedienne” from the CBC who thought she had a right to do her stupid schtick on the Ford property.
I believe the police, the video exists. Would have been better if the RCMP or OPP had obtained it first but it is what it is. I tend to call them journalists but hopefully you should agree that there is nothing in their job description that includes photography. The Toronto Star has lots of money so they can hire photographers too if needed. The police, I know you will have a problem with this, investigated and no pictures could be found. I am not sure if they kicked his family’s door down, but the bigger danger would be that a Crack Smoking Mayor who still thinks 60 pounds will give him salvation is taken at his word. What the public knows is very little of what the police have or don’t have. All I have seen so far is 500 pages given to a Judge in order to investigate. Then Rob had a meltdown with the truth, a foreign language to him I see.
Let the system work Dave, give Chief Blair a chance to do his job here. Rob Ford is a long way from the election campaign, it has not even started yet. Your comment of just before an election is hardly a revelation. After every election another one starts better get used to it, how old are you 6.
I wish the Mayor well but before you or Rob bluster for the
cameras about urine tests, the video or for charges coming with time, just feel pleasure in the lull before the storm.
With all due respect, the Mayor by what you say just wasted a lot of television airtime, because everyone except for Ford Nation in Etobicoke and Scarborough didn’t understand what he was saying. I for one as an outsider, not knowing the secret handshake and other rituals, just thought he was skirting the legal issue of publicly calling somebody a pedophile if not true. Now after finding out that he just can’t communicate I feel so much better now. It is becoming clear to me why Rob was fired from 1010 Radio and Sun News. Doug can only do so much with what he has to work with.
Dave, are you saying that sleezbag is actionable in a defamation suit. Colbert I think had a compilation of the times Rob has called the media that, or maggots is that worth money too, he calls them that all the time. Since I was young the Globe and Mail was always thought of as leaning Conservative. No big deal because The Star and Telegram veered Liberal. But the Mayor now says the G&M is part of a Leftie conspiracy, there has to be money in a falsehood like that.
So you seen the video with your own eyes ?
The Police have a 500 page document so he is guilty of a criminal act?
I guess you have not noticed what happens when the people blindly trust the Police to have full control over everything. It seems to be working well in the USA.
Oh ya …I’m 7 not 6 sydugfy
The fact is that Rob Ford DID NOT say the word “pedophile” some my interpreted that he was implying that word . But in order to sue he would have to actually say the word/s. Otherwise every one would be open to a suit as this would create the” Thought Police”.
We know you where thinking /dreaming about….
robbing the gas station.
stealing that loaf of bread.
driving your car more than 50 km/h over the speed limit.
Where does it end?
Watch to interview again .
He never said the word pedophile . You just would like to think that he did.
He doesn’t have to say a particular word. The legal test is what a reasonable person would understand him to have meant. If I make the drinkie-drinkie motion like Rob Ford did in council, I can’t get off by saying I never SAID he drank.
Actually, you are the only one who entertains criminal charges for the Mayor at the moment. That is besides Rob himself who wants desperately to know what the police know about him. I am saying that the 500 pages are not evidence and what underlies the investigation won’t be known for some time, so just chill out and enjoy the Holidays. The Mayor isn’t going anywhere so don’t worry so much. He has hardly anything left to do at work and everybody seems to be uninviting him to their parties anyway.
He doesn’t have to say a particular word or words. The legal test is what a reasonable person would understand him to have meant. If I make the drinkie-drinkie motion like Rob Ford did in council, I can’t get off by saying I never SAID he drank.
Is that what Rob said happened? Mr “I have nothing to hide”.
We don’t even need the video. Rob Ford has admitted to doing what was in the video. That is sufficient evidence alone at this point.
I cannot see such a reaction to 300 pounds of fun, unless it was around Halloween and the Mayor mistook Dale for a Tootsie Roll.
I just love the many reporters all climbing all over each other to ask the “Question of the Millennium”
“Mayor Ford what was the word that you DID NOT say?”
I got a few good questions . How about:
Premier Mc Guinty / Premier Wynn why did you allow ,by signing off the during the Election, the taxpayers of Ontario to be labial for over a Billion Dollars so that you could win a few seats ?
Premier Wynn why haven’t you taken any action to have the former CEO of Orang charged with fraud after paying for a $10 Million fully paid up (no possible refund) personal Life Insurance Policy with Ontario taxpayers money?
I guess all the Ford haters are OK with getting ripped off for their hard earned money.
BTW …one needs to be charged with a criminal act prior to being convicted.
If you have some first hand evidence that would lead to such a charge I would encourage you to bring to the Police’s attention …if not why are you even mentioning “arrests ” or “Bail Conditions”… i.e. stfu.
Admitting to using a substance is not “evidence” for a criminal charge that could lead to a criminal conviction that is what is required to LEGALLY force the Mayor out of Office.
In my teens and twenties I smoked pot , hashish and did LSD ( Pink Floyd -Exhibition Place).
Should I be fired from my job and be jailed????
If so we need a lot more jails and I have the company of many of the Toronto City Counselors as well as Lawyer , Cops and Teachers.
The last thing that Rob has to think of is a suit from a member of the press for defamation. They got their licks in there too, before Rob got Religion and confessed everything, even stuff that he shouldn’t have. Somehow his confessions never made it to Etobicoke or Scarborough though. Amazing since his misdeeds have been in all the newspapers. Have you noticed that the Sun and the National Post aren’t his BFFs any more. Its hard to defend the Mayor at this moment, and Ford Nation is awesome in its dogged determination to make lemonade from lemons.
It is evidence. Admissions are 100% evidence. That’s why cops try to get them so hard. And we’re not talking about Rob Ford in his 20s. We’re talking about him admitting to using an illegal substance while being the Mayor. So, yes he should be fired from his job and jailed. Would you tolerate this from your kid’s teacher, your nurse, etc.? Why is Ford so special?
Really? Then why is Mayor Ford not facing a suit then?
Give it a little time and he will be. Lawyers need to do a little work before issuing their statement of claim.
I can see you are racking your brain Dave and for what. As I said nothing actionable has been revealed and won’t until the process begins mid January, that is when it should get interesting. People roll on each other, information comes out, the dots get further connected and we have or don’t have a winner. As for the confessions, they are mildly interesting but his family perhaps does not see it as such. nor the electorate. I am pretty sure that Tim Hudak and Stephen Harper have lost some sleep over their association with Rob and Doug’s political career might be ending as we speak.
Just to interject something here Dave, all three Provincial Parties have spoken about the statute that has kept Ford as the Mayor, it can be changed and no doubt will be after he leaves. Could be done pretty fast if the political calculation warrants it.
I saw the interview. It was interesting that Conrad knows George Chuvalo (a true hero) who works out at Ford’s gym and corroborated that Ford shows up everyday at 6:00am. Cool. I hope Ford drops the weight and takes down the likes of Smitherman and his boyfriend Dale in the next election. (Note: When I say boyfriend I don’t mean that they are gay, or they like taking pictures of little boys, I just mean that they seem close in a platonic way.)
I wonder when the Star will have DiManno do a story on why Smitherman’s husband ran away from him.
Dave… Dave Price, maybe?
I’d be upset too, if a person was on parkland when there was still sunlight out and that park happened to be near my home.
So, with all due rspect, the police also investigated this and the guy was not taking pictures of Ford’s kids, he was not looking over the fence and Ford basically mugged him, by intimidating him and taking away his cellphone.
Like I said earlier , better start building a few new Ontario jails as lots of “professionals” and as The Toronto Star Zombies like to say “illegibly” some City Counselors smoke pot and it is also illegal.
I used to work for the City of Scarborough and alcoholism was rampant in City Hall …I saw it with my own eyes.
Explain why it is that one person is asked to take a drug & alcohol test that the others refuse to take if “they have noting to hide.”
The Police will tell you that …if you have nothing to hide in your house ,car , purse, briefcase why wont you let us search it?
I wonder why anyone would care?
Happy now? He’s being sued.