About this Peter MacKay thing...

It's ridiculous.

MacKay allegedly made a comment that implied his former girlfriend and billionheiress Belinda Stronach is a dog. CBC provides the backstory:

The alleged incident took place during last Thursday's parliamentary debate about the Tories' clean air plan.

One Liberal MP asked MacKay about the impact of pollution on humans and animals, adding: "What about your dog?"

MacKay allegedly motioned in response toward Stronach's vacant seat and replied: "You already have her."

MacKay has stood firm and denied making the remark, although eight Liberal MPs have sworn legal affadavits as to what they heard.

Stronach, a former Conservative leadership contender, had a high-profile breakup with MacKay when she crossed the floor to join the Liberals in May 2005.

The couple had been dating for months and MacKay retreated to his father's farm in Lorne, N.S., giving several emotional interviews with a dog by his side and declaring his heart was "a little banged up."

It was a graceless comment and MacKay should know better. And so should the Liberal MP who taunted him by alluding to his relationship with Stronach.

You know, maybe Peter MacKay still feels the sting of betrayal. Think about the duplicity involved on Stronach's part--dating the deputy party leader while secretly negotiating to cross the floor for a cabinet position--and it's easy to understand why he might be bitter. (If you're American, it would be like Kay Bailey Hutchison dumping Bill Frist to hook up with Harry Reid.)

And while I feel some compassion for MacKay--since he was jilted and all--the whole thing has become just unbearably crass. MacKay almost certainly made the remark and is a fool to deny it. Belinda Stronach (the most opportunistic politician in Canada) has avoided direct involvement in the controversy. But the Liberals--cribbing from her playbook--are trying to stretch this fumble into a political touchdown by demanding MacKay's apology/resignation. It's embarrassing.