Friday, June 25, 2010

Ignatieff's leadership skills: Loyalty.

Is it any wonder why Liberal candidates seem to be running away from the LPC lately?

Take a look at what Ignatieff said to former Liberal MP Hec Clouthier:

I met Mr. Ignatieff and he said to me: ‘Hector, I would like you to consider running for me because you’re the only one who can win the seat back for us.’ ...

This all sounds nice but there is one small problem: current Liberal candidate Christine Tabbert.

I may be wrong but is asking Clouthier if he wants to run in for the Liberals in Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke and telling him that he is the "only one who can win the seat back" for the Liberals really the best way to show loyalty for Christine Tabbert or respect to the people of the EDA that nominated her? If Michael Ignatieff is the straight shooter who calls him as he sees them, as the Liberal spin machine would have us believe, does he really believe that Tabbert does not have a chance against current MP Cheryl Gallant, and more importantly has he told Tabbert his thoughts? Way to show your support there Michael!


Clouthier to his credit did not accept the offer, not because there was already a nominated candidate, but rather because Ignatieff would not allow him to properly represent the views of his constituents.

I said I will consider running, but ‘I am going to vote the wishes of my constituents’,” Clouthier recalled.

He said: ‘I am the leader. If I whip the caucus you have to follow in line.’ I said: ‘No, I’ve been there, done that.’ I toed the party line and lost in 2000. I refuse to do that again.”


Listening to constituents is something Clouthier knows only too well due to his election loss 10 years ago when he toed the party line on the gun registry against the wishes of his constituents and lost to Conservative MP Cheryl Gallant. Something that 8 other Liberal MP's should seriously think about before they vote on the gun registry in September.


9 comments:

Patrick Ross said...

Ignatieff is a better leader than Stephane Dion was... but not by much.

Bec said...

What a hoot! How many nominated Liberal candidates is this guy going to diss?

Voters.....if this situation doesn't tell you everything you need to know about this transplanted Canadian, nothing will. He has no instincts about regions and the distinct differences.

He has no instincts on PEOPLE or COMMUNICATION, period.

wilson said...

o/t interesting 'personal' story, did you know that Cons Minister Lawrence Cannon dated Sheila Copps, when he was a Liberal?

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/cannons-job-is-to-put-a-warm-touch-on-harpers-cold-calculations/article1617133/

Calgary Junkie said...

I'd say Iggy has taken over from Denis Coderre as the biggest loose cannon on the Liberal ship. How much more damage will Iggy be allowed to do, before the powers-that-be toss him overboard ?

Just recently, he told Party workers to "shut up", if they don't have anything positive to say. Talk about having a tin ear for politics !

Here's a newsflash for Iggy--these Party faithful have probably cut you a tremendous amount of slack, as they hang in there, while watching you stumble and bumble along. How much more embarassment and frustration can they take, before saying "F*** it. I'm outa here !"

wilson said...

Speaker Milliken stepping down too?

http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2640571

Anonymous said...

Im in Cheryls riding and if both the NDP and the Lib candidate quit before the election Hec would still get soundly thrashed. He said some very angry distasteful things in 2001. Hec knows he cant win, and, he knows he's destroying any chance of Tabbert winning as well, so, whats that say about him? I liked Hec before he had his meltdown, he did a good job, but, he much like the LPC thought he would be an MP forever and was under the impression that the voters would think anything Liberal was good..well..they didnt.
billg

Ardvark said...

Bec, Iffy has no political instincts at all. He will be a disaster when the writ is dropped and his party knows it.

Liberals are abandoning ship at an alarming rate, even Milliken has had enough.

Soccermom said...

Hahahahaha!!! Iffy better get his hot-dog eatin fork ready for the summer bbq circuit...not that mingling with the "common peasants" will help him any, but it should be good for a few laughs on our side, LOL...

maryT said...

And today the Speaker, Milliken announces he will not seek re-election. Do we have a chance to take that seat. Is it a liberal seat or a Milliken seat.