So yesterday, our wonderful "media consortium" decided to exclude the Green Party from participating in the upcoming election debates. The main reason cited was that three of the four major leaders wouldn't participate if Green leader Elizabeth May were invited.
It makes sense that Stevie wouldn't want May to come, as yesterday he stated that he believes May is actually a Liberal and that it wouldn't be fair to have another Liberal in the debate. In fact, he predicted that by the end of the campaign May would withdraw and back the Liberal party.
What?
Stephan Dion, the Liberal leader, supported May's participation in the debates. But the real surprise is Jack Layton's stance on this issue: he didn't want May in the debate either.
Message to Jack: Look, you are supposedly the poster boy for democratic reform and the standard bearer for grass roots participation in democracy. Why would you throw a hissy fit if the Greens - who now have an MP - were to show up at the debate? You love debates! You're decent at them! What are you afraid of? Was I wrong about you all along, and you actually do have a stick up your bum?
Message to media consortium: Wow - you really showed us all just how far you can bend over! Personally, I think it would have been political suicide for the leaders to boycott the debates due to May's presence, so why not just call their bluff and say "tough luck?" Nice going!
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Et Tu, Jack?
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7 backtalkers:
It is disappointing that our lone social democratic voice is so afraid of something that would actually be good for the country. Layton's argument that the Greens are a single issue party is bogus. The Bloc are a single issue party, and they'll be all over that debate.
Oh puleeeeeeeze!!!
I was disappointed to read that the PC and the Bloc were against May taking Part. But Layton was a bit of a shocker. Seriously? Of all the people who I figured would be against this, you were the last one. I'm disappointed.
Having watched the erosion of the formerly principled NDP since Jack Layton became leader, I wasn't at all surprised by his rejection of May.
Which doesn't mean my disgust was any less. The NDP was once a party which championed democratic and electoral reform. Now they're complicit in furthering the erosion of our democracy.
Few would have expected Harper and the Conservatives to have behaved differently. At least their agenda is plain for most to see.
But the NDP? They've lost their heart and are just a shell of their former selves.
That's why disgust of the NDP can be felt so viscerally by former supporters. It's disillusionment, disappointment, disheartenment and dismay which goes so deep it hurts.
I agree with Paul and others. Pebo - right on. Lets support the Greens just to prove the point that the ruling parties can't push their weight around undemocratically. Lets show them that the people have spoken and we want Canada to remain democratic. Many parties have overlapping policies so how are the Greens any different in that respect.Let their voice be heard! let democracy in Canada prevail[ or comeback]
What a frickin mess. They're all the same, except May of course.
Yee gods. Canada deserves better.
Well, this move by Layton's NDP makes my decision on how to vote a whole lot easier.
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