Six highlights from the now-infamous “Coach Rob Ford” interview with CBC’s As It Happens
By now, every Torontonian with four spare minutes and an Internet connection has heard Rob Ford’s hilariously rude and weird interview with Carol Off on CBC’s As It Happens. Much has already been said about the event—Eye was incredulous, and the Post was incredulous that anyone was incredulous—but we think the interview pretty much speaks for itself. Our favourite moments are listed below, in transcript, but the full interview can be heard by clicking here.
1. When Carol Off learns Rob Ford is, in addition to being mayor-elect, a football coach
OFF: People are calling it a stunning win, what do you think that—
FORD: Things are going really well.
OFF: What drew so much support—
FORD: COACH, HALF THEIR JUNIORS AREN’T EVEN HERE, EH? ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT!
OFF: Hello? Mr. Ford? Are you there?
FORD: Yeah, yeah, I’m here.
OFF: Oh, you’re at some event, or?
FORD: I’m a football coach.
2. When Ford expresses his preference for getting changed over getting water
OFF: What is it, do you think, that drew so much support to your campaign?
FORD: It’s just people are sick and tired of the wasteful spending. People are sick and tired of wasteful spending. That’s it. That’s the bottom line. That’s what it comes down to. I’m the only that can go down there—JUST GO GET CH—GO. OUT. AND GET CHANGED! DON’T WORRY ABOUT WATER RIGHT NOW. Sorry.
OFF: Uh-huh?
3. When Ford makes two shout-outs to the gravy train in less than 20 seconds
OFF: Well, you know that your campaign has been compared to Mike Harris’ Common Sense Revolution, to the Tea Party movement. Do you see those comparisons?
FORD: Well, they can compare us to whatever they want. I don’t care. [Chuckles.] I just know the taxpayers want the gravy train [3.26] to come to an end and that Rob Ford is the guy to do it.
OFF: Do you think there are similarities?
FORD: I don’t see there’s any similarities. Just like I said, I’m going to put an end to the wasteful spending and stop the gravy train [3.43]. Sorry I’m being distracted here. So, that’s pretty well it.
4. When Ford promises to save money by cutting taxes
OFF: Well, sure [money] is everyone’s concern. But we’re not sure what it is that you’re going to save money on. Are you going to reduce public transportation—
FORD: I told you, I’m going to get rid of the $60 car registration tax and the land transfer tax. So maybe I’m not making myself clear. I’m going to get rid of the $60 car registration tax and the land transfer tax.
5. When Ford makes his escape, after just under three minutes, sounding both polite and insincere at the same time
FORD: Anyways, I gotta let you go here.
OFF: Can I ask you about public transportation before you go?
FORD: I can’t talk to you right now. Really. I’m on a tight schedule. I hate to be rude and let you go and we can chat another time. Really nice talking to you. All the best. Bye bye. [Hangs up.]
6. When Carol Off has to explain that the entire interview isn’t some kind of joke
OFF: Just to clarify for our listeners, earlier today we spoke with Rob Ford’s director of communications, Adrienne Batra, and she asked us to call Rob Ford at that football practice at three o’clock this afternoon. And that’s what we did.
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By now, every Torontonian with four spare minutes and an Internet connection has heard Rob Ford’s hilariously rude and weird interview with Carol Off on CBC’s As It Happens. Much has already been said about the event—Eye was incredulous, and the Post was incredulous that anyone was incredulous—but we think the interview pretty much speaks for itself. Our favourite moments are listed below, in transcript, but the full interview can be heard by clicking here.
1. When Carol Off learns Rob Ford is, in addition to being mayor-elect, a football coach
OFF: People are calling it a stunning win, what do you think that—
FORD: Things are going really well.
OFF: What drew so much support—
FORD: COACH, HALF THEIR JUNIORS AREN'T EVEN HERE, EH? ALL RIGHT! ALL RIGHT!
OFF: Hello? Mr. Ford? Are you there?
FORD: Yeah, yeah, I'm here.
OFF: Oh, you're at some event, or?
FORD: I'm a football coach.
2. When Ford expresses his preference for getting changed over getting water
OFF: What is it, do you think, that drew so much support to your campaign?
FORD: It's just people are sick and tired of the wasteful spending. People are sick and tired of wasteful spending. That's it. That's the bottom line. That's what it comes down to. I'm the only that can go down there—JUST GO GET CH—GO. OUT. AND GET CHANGED! DON'T WORRY ABOUT WATER RIGHT NOW. Sorry.
OFF: Uh-huh?
3. When Ford makes two shout-outs to the gravy train in less than 20 seconds
OFF: Well, you know that your campaign has been compared to Mike Harris’ Common Sense Revolution, to the Tea Party movement. Do you see those comparisons?
FORD: Well, they can compare us to whatever they want. I don't care. [Chuckles.] I just know the taxpayers want the gravy train [3.26] to come to an end and that Rob Ford is the guy to do it.
OFF: Do you think there are similarities?
FORD: I don't see there's any similarities. Just like I said, I'm going to put an end to the wasteful spending and stop the gravy train [3.43]. Sorry I'm being distracted here. So, that's pretty well it.
4. When Ford promises to save money by cutting taxes
OFF: Well, sure [money] is everyone’s concern. But we’re not sure what it is that you’re going to save money on. Are you going to reduce public transportation—
FORD: I told you, I'm going to get rid of the $60 car registration tax and the land transfer tax. So maybe I'm not making myself clear. I'm going to get rid of the $60 car registration tax and the land transfer tax.
5. When Ford makes his escape, after just under three minutes, sounding both polite and insincere at the same time
FORD: Anyways, I gotta let you go here.
OFF: Can I ask you about public transportation before you go?
FORD: I can't talk to you right now. Really. I'm on a tight schedule. I hate to be rude and let you go and we can chat another time. Really nice talking to you. All the best. Bye bye. [Hangs up.]
6. When Carol Off has to explain that the entire interview isn’t some kind of joke
OFF: Just to clarify for our listeners, earlier today we spoke with Rob Ford’s director of communications, Adrienne Batra, and she asked us to call Rob Ford at that football practice at three o’clock this afternoon. And that’s what we did.){kind=link}
He was pleasant to the Sports Guy from CITY….of course, it helped that he’d done his research and talked about High School football…
He’s the guy representing one of the biggest city in Canada for the next 4 years? Somebody forgot to coach the Coach Ford how to NOT sound like a moron!
Oh god. I hope all the good people move away and the city’s all-business-all-the-time infrastructure (the type of greedy, bad people that would cast a vote for a guy like this) collapses under the eventual weight of “what are we working towards in our lives anyways? Our children are miserable, they are getting asthma from the polluted air, and everyone’s always angry!”
I’m actually morbidly fascinated to just watch it all disintegrate. Toronto’s “World Class” delusion, that is. Even our stressed-out American friends are laughing! Jesus.
Rant rant, I know. Some rich folks obsessed with tax breaks for their greedy companies that give nothing– NOTHING– back to their communities, please call me names, starting… now.
Not Greedy, Just Disappointed In You,
Myke
What kind of lame show is As It Happens. Is Carol Off next going to interview Ron Wilson at leafs practice when hes running drills. This ‘interview’ is a farce.
Why CBC arrange such an “interview” to make Ford look bad ? Why Carol did this to your city?
what CBC did is not what a decent media should do.
it is ridiculous.
How is it that the CBC is being held responsible for our mayor-elect’s inability to pay attention and respond to a few simple questions asked at a pre-arranged interview?!
To those of you who voted for the man, remember this when he is “representing” us internationally!!! Who will you point the finger at then?
I am so embarrassed.
This makes Lastman’s W.H.O. gaff look like a the work of a skilled statesman.
…Head-in-hands, how will we ever manage the next 4 years – sigh…
As soon as I heard he had been elected I thought “maybe it won’t be so bad, we need a good shake up”. now I’m pretty convinced it will be that bad.
This interview is exactly why he won. he’s authentic, and regular folks like that. he committed to coaching this team and is focusing on that rather than on an interview.
To simplify this:
Rob Ford is not an ordinary schmuck who got ambushed by our national broadcaster. He is Toronto’s Mayor-Elect, and is obligated to take on this role, incuding respect for others. Carol Off did not know that Ford was unavailable at this time, as she had been assigned the call time by Ford’s communications director. The rest of the interview speaks for itself.
Disgusting. Across Canada, too.
I’m hoping that I will wake up and find that Ford being put into office was some sort of deluded nightmare. We truly are a world class city. Our stock exchange is among the 10 largest in the world, we have a highly educated, diverse and large population. We host world leaders, both at the G20 and other events and are home to the largest university in the Commonwealth. We deserve someone in charge who understands basic economics. Or at a minimum that cutting taxes will not balance the budget.
My only hope is that this guy is as ineffective in office as he is at interviews. That might contain the damage this guy will do to a mere media circus and not our city’s infrastructure.
… at least he’ll save us several hundred million on counsillor bus passes and zoo admissions. *facepalm*
He’ll stop the gravy train and consume all the gravy!
F.Y.I. – Mr. Ford’s publicist arranged this interview and told Carol Off to call at 3:00 p.m. This was not CBC’s ignorance — it was a demonstration of what a goof we got for a mayor!
What? What’s the problem. They guy is BUSY, OKAY? Why should he bother with the media anyway? They are a bunch of spoiled gravy trainers, right? The CBC should show some respec for football and for Ford. After all, he is the mayer, right? Just cause some girl wants to know about his plans, why should be bother with her? Can she play left tackle? he he heh. His plans are to win the game, stop the train and keep his brain for more important things like chewing gum and walking at the same time.
dear commenters from 3 years ago,
Hi, I’m from 2014. I hate to say it, but you have NO idea how much worse it gets. I don’t wanna give it away in case there’s a “butterfly effect”, but I’m sorry to tell you it gets a lot worse.
Cheers, Future TinaFea
“My only hope is that this guy is as ineffective in office as he is at interviews”
Ha ha! OMG you have no idea. Sorry to tell you.
Cheers from 2014!