The truth is...

CP:

For his part, Mr. Martin portrayed himself as the champion of truth over ambition. “When I decided to call the Gomery commission, I certainly knew that it could have a negative effect on my government and my own political prospects,” Mr. Martin said on CBC Radio's Cross-Country Checkup. “I felt that truth was most important.”

Anyone who believed the truth was remotely important would not be bragging about it. BONUS: "Integrity in public life requires I'm telling the truth." Paul Martin explains his cheerleading for Jean Chretien in caucus -- as transcribed in the comments. BONORUM: The audio for the program is posted here (RealAudio) and here (MP3). BONIFEROUS: Robert Fulford catches the wire brush in another less-than-candid moment:

On Saturday morning, when he talked with Anthony Germain on The House, CBC radio's program about Parliament, he faced two tough questions and gave answers that were so evasive and so far off the point that he must have dismayed even his most loyal supporters. It was possibly the Prime Minister's slipperiest performance ever. Germain asked how Martin could have appointed Art Eggleton to the Senate after Eggleton was dropped from Jean Chretien's Cabinet for giving a contract to a girlfriend. Presumably it was because Eggleton had given up his seat and allowed Ken Dryden to run. "And you, and I say this with respect, risk being seen as someone who paid him off in the old style of politics just like everybody else does." Surprisingly, Martin couldn't answer those accusations or even acknowledge the nature of the question. Accused of a lapse in ethics, he spoke as if the issue hadn't been raised and the question was Eggleton's ability. He rambled on about Eggleton's history as mayor of Toronto, he argued that experience such as Eggleton's will be important in the Senate, and he even said Eggleton had been "a very strong" Cabinet minister, an assertion never to my knowledge made during Eggleton's time in office or since. Then Martin moved right outside the question: "And I would also ask you to look at the full range of those appointments. For the first time, think about this, a Liberal prime minister appointed NDPers to the Senate, appointed Conservatives to the Senate, and I, I've gotta tell you, I think the Senate's a very important body...." Germain tried a second time: "You're saying you didn't pay Eggleton off for letting you get Ken Dryden to run?" Martin: "What I'm saying is that Art Eggleton has had a lifetime career of public service." Did Martin not understand how he sounded? Is he so locked inside his own ego that he believes a devious and dishonest answer won't be noticed?