Arthur Kent testifies campaign financing came to 'crashing end' after Postmedia article

Hobnobbing with the likes ofJohnny Carson, David Letterman and Kim Cattrallweresome of the perks Arthur Kent detailed for a Calgary courtas hereviewed his resume today.

But it wasn't the celebrities, awards andaccolades from histime working at NBC and CNN he says he clung to as evidence of a successful careerit was his reputation.

"Those are some highlights but as we say in the business, you're only as good as your last story," said Kent in his testimony today.

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The 61-year-old is testifyingat a defamation trial resulting froma lawsuit he launched against Postmedia and columnist Don Martin based onan article published during Kent's2008 bid for a seat as a Progressive Conservative.

Working for the National Post at that time,Don Martin referred toKentas the "Scud Dud," and according to the statement of claimdescribed him as having an oversized ego and running anunorganizedcampaign.

Kent claims the article injured his reputation, character and credibility.

'Poisonously False'

Volunteers quit, fundraising "came to a crashing end" and the campaign was "critically wounded" after Don Martin's column was published, according to Arthur Kent's testimony today.

"It was surreal,it was like nothing I had ever imagined possible in modern Canadian politicsit was so poisonously false," said Kent of the article.

Kent also testifiedhe was shockedthe opinion piece appeared on page three of the Calgary Heralda prime spotunder the heading of Top News.

"It was deeplysaddening to methis was the paper I grew up with," said Kent. "I started my career there."

Kentsaid Martinnever contacted him for comment before the article ran.

'Scud Stud'

Kent became a household name during his coverage of the Gulf War.Ayoung NBC colleague in San Francisco coined the nickname "Scud Stud" in 1991,according to Kent.

"We treated it as a measure of dark wartime humour," said Kent.

SoonKent saysstaffers in New York were using it and the newspapers had picked it up too.

"It's something that'smore that just a nickname to me.... I regard it as a standard of performance," he said. "It has become part of my brand, part of my identity."

In 2007, Kent left the world of journalism and moved back to his home province to take a run at politicsseeking the Progressive Conservative nomination in Calgary-Currie.

"Some of us thought we were losing our Alberta advantage," said Kent of his reasons for running.

Alan Hallman's role

Lee Richardson, then a Calgary MP,called Kent and proposed Tory strategistAlan Hallman becomehis campaign manager.

Hallman suggested offering inducements to others seeking the PC nomination to get them to drop out of the race, according to Kent's evidence.

It was decided that Hallman "would not be the right fit with our campaign," Kent testified today.

Kent went on to win the PC nomination in Calgary-Currie.

He said he only heard from Hallman on one more occasion just before midnight on election night after Kent had lost to then-Liberal Dave Taylor.

"Massive majority and you lost. Well done. Call anytime," read an email from Hallman to Kent.

Hallman has previously been identified as one of three Tory sources for Don Martin's article that is at the centre of this trial.

Stelmach leaves Kent campaign 'high and dry'

Other witnesses at the trial have criticizedcomments Kent madeto the media during the 2008 election that were critical of the royalty review, and then-premier Ed Stelmach's lack of support for his campaign.

Previously painted as a loose-cannon candidate who refused advice from his campaign team, Kent refuted that impression today.

"If you have an oversized ego, best not be knocking on the doors of Calgarians at election time," said Kent.

It was campaign financial troubles and concerns about the royalty review he heard while door-knocking that motivated many of the controversial comments Kent made in the media, he said today.

With just $10,000 in the bank, the Calgary-Currieteamwas working with just a fraction of the funds boasted by some candidates, like Ron Liepert, whoaccording to Kenthadmore than $150,000.

That's whyKent saysit was such a blow to the campaign when Stelmach cancelled his appearance at a Calgary-Currie fundraising breakfast.

"Unfortunately, it was really hanging our campaign out high and dry," said Kent.

The two others identified assources for Martin's article were Rod Love, now deceased, and Kristine Robidoux, who was the lawyer for the campaign.

In hertestimony Robidoux admitted she gaveMartin information about the tensions in Kent's campaign.

The trial is scheduled for five weeks. Kent's testimony is expected to last at least another day.