What they're saying...

A sampling of opinion on the Premier's medical choices and the media firestorm surrounding them.

These can be safely summarized as: the Premier deserves privacy, his medical condition is personal, and it is wrong to politicize it.

PJ Stamp from NL writes: You miss the point Mr. Wangersky. Williams was fully aware that his decision to seek medical treatment outside NL would cause a 'firestorm'. He also understood that his personal health and choice of treatment would become a matter of public conjecture and debate irrespective what information was released or how it was released. In the end, he and his deputy felt that the basic facts that were released would more than satisfy the 85% of people in this province who support him. He knew that nothing he would say or could say would satisfy the 15% who do not, nor would it deter those like yourself who, sniffing blood in the air, would gleefully goad on the small but voracious pack of hounds who habitually nip at his heels in this paper. Your reference to the Globe and Mail as being 'hardly supportive of Williams ever' gave me a chuckle. The day that Canada's 'national newspaper' starts endorsing the policies and actions of our premier is the day that we should begin looking for a replacement. The Globe's attitude toward a determined, intelligent upstart leader from the Canadian fringe is not only colonialistic but downright Dickensonian. And that, of course, goes double for the Telegram which can be relied upon, as always, to reflect - not the sentiments of its readers - but rather those of its Quebec based ownership.

max power from nl writes: Since when does anyone’s private health concerns or health matters have to be public knowledge? Those of you who will argue that he is a public figure and he owes it to the people of this province one word simply describe my thoughts on that- hogwash. It is his personal health, not the public’s health. Why is it that the average Joe expects a right to privacy for personal matters but we do not afford these same rights to a public figure? The only thing that has changed is the fact that in this day and age we have grown some sense of entitlement that we, the public, need to know everything about every situation.

Skeptical Cynic from Bunghole Tickle, NL writes: The Chicken Littles and paprazzi of the news media are solely responsible for adding the fuel to this particular fire. The vast majority of the public rightly believes the Premier's health issues are private. So respect his right to privacy.

I am Disgusted from Nl writes: From the first moment I heard about this situation in the news I was completely and utterly disgusted that this should be making such the sensation that it is. In the name of all decency, leave this man alone!!! It's all bad enough having to deal with serious health issues without having to witness fellow citizens' need to sensationalize one's unfortunate situation for the sake of a bit of news.

Shannon Reardon from St. John's, NL writes: I think people who are politicizing this really need to think about that and why they are doing so. I think if we were all in the position, most if not all of us would do as Premier Williams is for his health. It's got nothing to do with how he governs, or the politics of the day. This has to do with the private man and his health. And people should give him and his family that dignity at this time.

Acting Premier Kathy Dunderdale: You forgo a lot of privacy when you put your hand up to do the Premier's job but there are certain areas of your life that are sacrosanct.