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Wildrose tweets mocked Stelmach

Twittered mockery of Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach’s speaking style has been retracted by its author, the chief of staff for Wildrose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith.

CALGARY — Twittered mockery of Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach’s speaking style has been retracted by its author, the chief of staff for Wildrose Alliance Leader Danielle Smith.

On Thursday, text aimed at Stelmach’s mode of speech appeared on Stephen Carter’s Twitter account after the premier delivered a speech to a gathering of rural leaders.

“Just saw da premier making a speech. Dat was quite a speech,” read the tweet.

“Dem media better report it right.”

Another tweet described preparing for an impending press conference given by Smith, adding, “Dem media better be ready for Danielle. Dey better get da story right!”

On Friday, the premier’s press secretary, Tom Olsen, called Carter’s musings offensive and uncalled for.

“It appeared to be mocking of the premier’s manner of speech,” said Olsen, who’d earlier suggested the slight was aimed at Stelmach’s Ukrainian, rural background.

“That kind of personal swipe has no place in Alberta politics and we think most Albertans would agree.”

Carter removed the text and apologized.

“I pulled it down right away — I’m a bad boy, it was wrong, I’m sorry,” he said, adding he never meant to poke fun at the premier’s origins.

“I will never do it again.”

Carter said he was really targeting the media.

Olsen said the premier has accepted Carter’s apology.

“The premier was not overly upset — he’s been in politics a long time and has a thick skin,” he said.

“That said, he never resorts to the personal and is never pleased when others do.”