Same old story

There's rightly been plenty of talk today about the appalling content found on the blog of one of Lib candidate Glen Pearson's core campaign staffers. But a couple of points seem to have been largely missed in all the discussion (or at least in the main posts on the issue).

First, it's worth pointing out that a trip to opposition doesn't seem to have put an end to the Libs' usual assumption of insider privilege - and indeed Pearson has taken that to a new level in assuming that another party's candidate should be willing to clam up for the good of the Libs. As noted by Robert, that action doesn't speak highly at all of Pearson's intelligence - but it looks likely that the problem relates at least as much to the sense of entitlement that still forms the main guiding principle for the Libs.

Second, the Burghardt fiasco only highlights similarities between the Libs and Cons that both parties presumably want to avoid. Burghardt's hateful attitudes apparently didn't stop him from fitting into either party, and both parties have now shown that they think little enough of voters to figure they can get away with hiding information about themselves (though only the Cons have apparently succeeded in that effort). Which makes it all the more sad that both appear to be operating under the assumption that they're the voters' only two real choices - and all the more important for the voters of London North Centre to remind them otherwise.

I'll grant that there is one problematic aspect to how the NDP dealt with the issue: there's no apparent reason why the NDP should have considered passing the matter to the Cons rather than revealing the truth for itself. But at worst, the NDP can only be questioned over its means of making facts public.

In contrast, the real embarrassment lies in both Burghardt's initial remarks, and the Libs' attempt to put together an interparty backroom deal to suppress the truth. Which is particularly rich given Pearson's own efforts to call out Haskett earlier in the campaign for her refusal to reveal herself to the press.

The NDP should properly be credited, not blamed, for releasing important information about one of its competitors rather than acquiescing in Pearson's request (whether direct or not) for a joint cover-up - even if that won't stop some Lib hacks from trying to argue the contrary. And in addition to highlighting the discriminatory attitudes and contempt for the voters that still pervade a significant part of Canadian politics, the incident should also make it clear that neither the Libs nor the Cons can credibly claim to be part of any solution.