Justin Trudeau
Click here to listen to Roger Currie’s commenatry on mean-spirited politics
It has been said that one week is a long time in the world of politics, and one month is almost an eternity. This probably applies more than ever in the age of Twitter.
Justin Trudeau has already made a difference since taking over the leadership of the federal Liberals, barely three weeks ago. The music had not died down at his Coronation party when the Harper Conservatives launched their first round of attack ads. The best they could do was attack his experience, or lack of it, which includes teaching. Justin turned that on its head rather nicely. In the process, he earned points with teachers everywhere who always deserve more respect.
PM Stephen Harper. Photo by Remy Steinegger
Equally important, Justin Trudeau is managing to encourage those backbench Tory MP’s who have been biting their tongues for a long time, to challenge the mean-spirited culture that Harper and company represent.
During the six years that I lived in Regina, Liberal Ralph Goodale was my MP. The rest of Saskatchewan belonged to the 13 Stooges, and they targeted Ralph like you wouldn’t believe. The stuff that came under my door can only be described as ‘hate literature’, including crude distortions and bare-faced lies about the member for Regina Wascana.
Thomas Mulcair. Photo by Jonathan Allard
Much of the material was signed by David Anderson, the member for Cypress-Grasslands. He’s an ordained minister who chaired the National Prayer Breakfast for four years.
The hate literature and other such propaganda is paid for by all of us under a complicated formula that many Tory backbenchers now say should be scrapped. Trudeau says several of them have told him personally that they’re no longer going to play Stephen Harper’s mean-spirited game.
I say good for them, and good for Justin for not dodging these issues. Mr. Harper and NDP Leader Tom Mulcair should be paying very close attention. Lots can happen in the next two years.
I’m Roger Currie
