Goodbye Ryan...

Lesson to Sparrow. It doesn't matter who the families of slain members of the Canadian Forces support. It doesn't matter who the families of live members of the Canadian Forces support. In fact, it doesn't matter who the individual members of the Canadian Forces support.

Senior Conservative Party spokesman Ryan Sparrow has been suspended from the campaign after suggesting the father of a slain soldier who criticized Stephen Harper today was a Liberal.

Mr. Sparrow sent an email to CTV News today suggesting that Jim Davis, the soldier's dad, is a supporter of Liberal Michael Ignatieff.

He has also been ordered to call Mr. Davis and apologize for his comments.

Do that publicly for us, would you, Ryan?

Steve V points out that the media have been treating these events as butter-side up landings, when in fact they are indicative of a campaign team made up of juveniles and nasty partisans.

Kady laments that it may be the last time she gets to use her Ryan Sparrow tag. Fear not Ms. O'Malley, something Sparrow's boss said makes me think you'll be seeing him again somewhere, sometime in the future.

Another Harper spokesman Kory Teneycke said Mr. Sparrow has been suspended and ordered to apologize to Mr. Davis.

“Obviously, that's not appropriate. And he will be contacting the father directly to apologize and is being suspended immediately from the campaign, (for) the duration of the campaign.”

In short, he's been sent to the penalty box. He hasn't been pulled from the game.

And while we're hearing from Kory Teneycke about "inappropriate", let's take a look at this. Would it be at all surprizing if Sparrow had a "temporary duty" assignment at The Canadian Renewable Fuels Association for the duration?

Just askin'

Update: Ha! You Dawg.