Ban Those Tweeting Politicians, Says Canadian MP Special

Canadian Member of Parliament Charlie Angus wants to help politicians to avoid "looking like idiots." He believes that MPs should be banned from Twitter.

Angus is quoted by the Globe and Mail saying:

“I have nothing against the technology, nothing. But it really exposes the absolute banality of this place. … There is something about it that turns otherwise intelligent professionals into Grade 9 jocks and cheerleaders in a school cafeteria.”

It has been reported yesterday during an ethics committee meeting Ontario Liberal MP Michelle Simson sent out a Twitter update insulting Tory MP Dean Del Mastro. Del Mastro asked Simson for an apology after the Question Period giving Angus a chance to tell all of the MPs to stop playing with their phones. Yes, those fine MPs elected into office tend to text during meetings. Those messages don't always have anything to do with their jobs but rather using social media networking to insult one another. Angus understands that texting can be important, he would be lost without his BlackBerry but not during meetings and not to send off to the Tweetverse. MP Jack Layton missed the session yesterday due to illness his spokesman Karl Belanger told Digital Journal. Belanger said that Layton is aware of the problems, adding that Layton spoke out on the issue weeks ago. At that time he called for more civility during sessions. "There is constant heckling during these meetings," Belanger said. "I know Mr. Layton will be behind Angus on this one." MP Olivia Chow from Toronto told Digital Journal that she does use Twitter after meetings to let those in her riding know what is going on in Ottawa. "Of course I Twitter. Sometimes I send out 10 Tweets in a day. I generally Tweet after a vote has taken place." Chow then said that there is a problem with those who use the social media network for personal attacks. "Of course I would never gossip. That's just stupid."