"Sorry" doesn't cut it

Paul Martin's televised plea for forgiveness and understanding just might hold some water.....

.....if he hadn't been the most powerful minister next to Chretien in Chretien's three governments.

...if he wasn't the person in charge of all the government's money.

...if he wasn't on all the most senior government planning committees for Quebec throughout the entire Adscam period.

...if he wasn't a Liberal MP from Quebec throughout Adscam's six-year run.

...if he didn't represent a riding in the city where most of the criminality is alleged to have taken place -- Montreal.

...if he didn't know almost all of the people involved, lunched with them, sent them greeting cards, sat shoulder-to-shoulder with them in cabinet meetings and on campaign strategy committees, bumped into them at fundraisers and social gatherings.

It is inconceivable that none of the scandal ever caught his eyes, unless, of course, he was wilfully blind.

Martin either knew what was going on, or should have. "Sorry" is too little, too late.