Peter Worthington is the first columnist that I’m aware of to use the word “truth” when describing the current salvo of Conservative ads targeting Michael Ignatieff as an elitist, who was out of the country for decades. However, Worthington wonders why the CPC is taking this tack and suggests that the party is afraid of Ignatieff.
Well, I think I can answer that one. Nature hates a vacuum, and so far Michael Ignatieff has proven to be just that – a vacuous political windsock.
Oh sure, he’s well-traveled and has waxed eloquently on a number of intellectual issues, but when it comes down to the nuts and bolts of producing policy and a pragmatic economic alternative, he comes up empty. Then he makes bonehead decisions like passing the buck to so-called experts with worriesome histories. This does not bode well for the man who aspires to be Prime Minister.
Maybe Monte is right:
...OK, so here is my real, real point. My realest point of all is that we shouldn’t focus on those old comments at all.
Ignatieff may have said these things in an awkward attempt at humour, or his views may have changed, or perhaps he had just bumped his head on an anvil.
Obviously the readers of this column are the most sophisticated people in Canada and as such it is beneath us to engage in “gotcha” politics.
We would much rather debate and dissect policy ideas.
Sadly there aren’t any Liberal policy ideas so we are left to try and divine Liberal intentions based on a hodgepodge of Ignatieff writings, musings and ponderings, though I question whether “ponderings” is actually a word.
Unfortunately in trying to figure out who this man is, and what he believes, we run into his own words and sometimes they are a tad surprising.
The lesson is that if you have lived away from the country for a generation, have said unfortunate things, and your business card says, “Public Intellectual” then you might want to display that intellect by sharing your ideas on how to make Canada a better place.
Then you’ll actually have some credibility when you say that this debate should be about ideas.
So I guess the bottom line is, instead focusing on Mike’s absence from Canada, let’s hone in on his lack of credible suggestions for alternative solutions. Use images of blank slates, leaking hot-air balloons, empty wallets…
Iggy’s self-proclaimed title as the Great Uniter isn’t enough if all he can actually offer is feel-good platitudes. Who wants to be united in misery and economic ruin?
Or perhaps Worthington is right after all. We are afraid of Ignatieff - because of what he might do to our country.
* * * *
Related: That speech in Montreal and a last word about the ads – ChuckerCanuk
Also worth checking out – Russ Campbell’s blog: It’s time to define Ignatieff.
Exclusive: The Liberal plan to respond to the Harper ads - Paul Wells at Macleans (and check out Chucker’s comments at that site – Priceless)
More from Paul Wells – The political peril of sitting on a lead:
…The Liberals are giddy. Around Michael Ignatieff there is the feeling that Harper is slipping. Surely the new Liberal leader will be able to run a more competent campaign than Stéphane Dion did last year. So the Ignatieff crowd are acting as though all they need to do is avoid upsetting anyone, and power will be theirs. The term of art for Ignatieff’s behaviour—glad-handing, blandly ingratiating, deeply cautious on questions of substance—is “sitting on a lead.” It’s the defensive stance of the presumptive winner.
And I think it’s premature…
Liberal Iggy Takes a Beating.
Dates for Liberal Iggy: May 06, 2009 > May 22, 2009.
Last words from Liberal Iggy Nana Dhalla: May 06, 2009.
“I look forward to a determination of the facts regarding her family’s experience with live-in caregivers.”
Iggy: MI = MIA, aka Missing In Action.
Some leader.
Go Home, Iggy.
…-
“May 6, 2009
Statement by Michael Ignatieff
This morning I accepted Ruby Dhalla’s resignation as Youth & Multiculturalism Critic. Ms. Dhalla will continue to serve as the Liberal Member of Parliament for Brampton-Springdale. I look forward to a determination of the facts regarding her family’s experience with live-in caregivers.”
…-
May 22, 2009
“Dhalla’s image takes beating
Canadians three times more likely to believe ex-employees and 34% think less of her, poll finds”
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/638554
It’s was so painful to watch a core segment of this party refuse to admit that the recent attack adds on Mr. Ignatief were badly done. When I pointed this out over a week ago, at this blog, I was attacked ad hominem so I gave up. It was Pure echo chamber syndrome.
But as time passes, and as all sorts of conservative supporters and all across the media point out the emptiness of these ads, it is more and more obvious that the ads were ill-conceived. I guess this blog entry is kind of an admission of this fact (after an initial “rah rah” support).
THEY WERE BAD ADS! Not because they aren’t true, but because they don’t serve the purpose of convincing anyone who is uncommitted, and because they do nothing to show the worthiness of PM Harper, when in fact he has done many worthwhile things! There are lots of ways to criticize Iganatieff, but they should not be done with cheesy ads like we got the first round.
The damage is done. I hope the lesson is learned. I hope the people responsible for the first series of ads are out of the loop. Let’s try to get this right before the damn election!
The damage is done. I hope the lesson is learned.
Lori, I think this first round was far from a mistake. It filled in the narrative on Iggy’s background.
However, from now on I hope the party sticks to policy discussions in ads. I prefer ‘contrast ads’ where PM’s accomplishments can be contrasted with what Iggy would do. If he hasn’t suggested anything, then let’s put up a question mark on that side of the screen.
But thanks for your candid comments and observations, Lori. I know they’re from the heart.
Iggy screams: “THEY WERE BAD ADS!”
Why so sad, Iggy?
Why are you screaming, Iggy?
Dhalla Ruby takes a beating, Iggy.
Where are you, Iggy?
Yes, Ruby is damaged goods.
Iggy digs deeper into his bunker.
MI = MIA.
truth ads are never bad
fh
For sure. We have to move on.
While there is obvious bias, I reject the notion that the entire MSM in Canada is utterly against the conservatives. In the last election the majority of large media outlets favoured Harper over Dion because Harper was clearly the better man.
They (meaning the media) are not all idiots, and the CPC has to give them, and the all important swing-voters, some substance to chew on. Mr. Harper needs to run on the “steady hand at the helm” platform. “Proven leadership for challenging times”.
Why is it that the media spins all kinds of comments if Iggy can get 100 out to an event in Alberta, and it means he is gaining strength but if PMSH gets over 2300 out to a fundraiser in Quebec, they only came for the food.
Lori, yes some of the media are in our corner but the majority of the big media outlets as well as the loudest and most shrill tele-journalists’ voices are blatantly or subtly anti-Harper and, apart from being biased, they are cheating the Canadian public of the real story and that is an attack on democracy.
As for the truth ads, I am with Joanne. I said, way back, that I would like to see ads like: “we are working on EI reform to undo previous legislation which made it more difficult for Canadians to collect their own money”. Not an attack ad but it does point out proactivity on our part as well as indicate that the previous Liberal government changed the rules to make it more difficult to collect.
Lori – Ignatieff may be intelligent and world-wise but there is something, IMHO, highly suspicious about the way he was brought back to Canada and parachuted into the leader’s seat. If I were a Liberal party member, I would be incensed; especially if I was a Rae (shudder) or LeBlanc supporter, I’d drop my membership and switch parties. I also find it highly suspicious that the two of them dropped out of the race to allow Ignatieff to virtually be appointed.
I want out party to be more out there and to trumpet the good things that Harper is doing. I found it highly insulting that the Canadian media fawned over Obama during his visit here and more or less treated our PM like a guest. It was downright embarrassing.
Good question, Mary T. Very good question.
Stats Canada just released its latest report and sales are up again. Not by much but up and car sales were one of the reasons.
I see the ads as doing what the msm should be doing, they refused to shine a light on Mr Dions utter lack of skills in the language of the great majority in this country he wanted to run.
The media is doing exactly the same thing with Mr Ignatiff, day after day there are pictures of him on “national news” holding forth full of fuss and fury saying nothing, no policy’s. This country has been in an ecomonic crisis for 6 months and he is just now gathering together a committe to come up with “some ideas” at a “special dinner” sounds eerily like the “garlic chicken” that the three stooges ate at Mr Ignatiff’s condo while they watched cartoons and planned their attempted hijack of our democracy. I think this sudden attention to the “ecomony” is due to a need to move past the iRuby mess. But that’s just me, I wonder though where they got all those pictures of Mr Ignatiff with “his fists clenched” ?? The media did the same thing with Mr Dion, curious no?
No wonder a reporter for the telegraph uk said that the prime minister stephen harper is bady respresented by the canadian media.
How is it outside media can see who and what the prime minister has done for our country and the canadian national media showed a piece here and there but a full hour of OBAMA and Michell.
If it wasn’t for the american media; canadians will still have no knowledge of the prime minister intentions in the international scene..
I have no respect or confidence in Ignatieff’s intelligence and worldliness. He looks to me like one of those typical “intellectuals” who have no central core of conviction that grounds their world view, and which permits them to deal with adversity or challenge. Typically, these people say that they think people want to hear, and do what people want, regardless how stupid a course of action may be in the long run. They are the anti-Churchills, the fair-weather leaders, that we do not need. Further, even if Iggy was a good man, he heads a party that is riddled with corruption and ideology that will destroy this nation in the long run.
However, how do we defeat him. and his party, when there is a bias against the Conservative message? As I see it, there is a 25-30% of the electorate who will vote CPC unless they totally self destruct in stupidity, and 30-35% who will vote Liberal no matter what (for them, Dion was more or less a worst case situation).
The CPC will win when they take the 10% swing vote and go to 35-40% while the libs get 30-35%. If we get close enough to 40% it’s a majority, but it’s harder going for us with Quebec and much of the Maritimes nearly closed to us. It’s obviously easier for the Libs to win. Luckily they have created a wall of hatred against themselves in the west.
So, much of the vote does not change from election to election, and the decision comes down to what happens with 10% of the population that can swing either way. Last election the 10% was “given away” by Dion. This election we have to fight for it. This 10% is largely (in my opinion) made up of more serious and thoughtful people than the kneejerk Liberal, NDP, and other party supporters. They do vote on issues to a large extent, and although they are swayed to some extent by the media, they also make up their own mind. The recent “truth ads” did nothing to convince them to come to our side.
In the last election, I believe that the leadership debate actually won those people to our side – Harper was attacked on all side by 4 hysterical opponents, and he remained calm, prime-ministerial, and held his ground. That’s what wins over the swing voters. The partisans will never change their voting based on a debate, or an attack ad, but the swing voters can and do.
That’s who we must target.
Coyne’s got a good column going over and MacLeans
(I tried to post a link here but I must be doing something wrong because it doesn’t show up).
I love “vacuous political windsock” – add that gem to the others and we’ve got a virtual library of comparatives for the Ice-man.
Joanne asks “who wants to be united in misery and economic ruin?”
not me.
Some good news from my part of Ontario. That stimulus money must be starting to flow because the gates and notices just went up for local highway improves and expansion of our port.
Doesn’t sound like economic ruin to me despite a major employer closing its doors next week, there’s lots happening to help turn the corner.
Oh, and our real estate market is booming. We have bidding wars going on between buyers. We’re also seeing many urbanites coming here to start up their own businesses in a place that’s more affordable than the big city.
The LPOC can doom and gloom all it wants..it’s just not reality when neighbourhoods are pitching in to move forward.
Let Iggy’s toadstools spin the doom and gloom in the dark if they wish and stay disconnected from ordinary people.
Great post, Joanne and Lori, it is NOT OKAY if you felt attacked.
I think that situation may boil down to simply the difference between a blog formatted debate vs a live, person to person.
As far as the current batch of ads, I have had some interesting exchanges with real people in my life, people I thought would have known something about MI.
They did NOT KNOW the info in those ads and the way I see it, that is ‘water cooler’ stuff.
None of them found the ads offensive and so I approach my thinking as if I were not a political junkie.
I would not have known it either. That I suspect is the targeted audience.
Regardless of whether they are a hit or miss, there absolutely is a media bias. MaryT, defines that nicely with that one obvious example and no one ever challenges those sorts of statements made by the media, in this case PP.
Dead on Bec. We tend to forget that we are talking to a small group that seems to assume that everyone follows politics. Either we frame Iggy in the average mind or the MSM will. I would rather it was truth and not spin.
I think “What Conservatives Have Accomplished in Three Years” is the way to follow the Iggy ads. The comparison to the empty suit would be huge.
Here is a comment from CCs blog (link above)
”Am I the only one bothered by the idea that someone with no political experience,
no history of public service,
no track record can be ushered in through the back door in the middle of the night and be considered qualified to run Canada?”
So Iffy.me has 3 years in opposition, as an MP.
He has never even won a leadership race.
A handful of people in Toronto picked this guy as the new Liberal salesman,
using his ‘international stardom’ as his qualifications for the top job, Prime Minister.
Iffy’s 34 years out of Canada qualifies him for any job he wanted, in foriegn affairs.
Domestically, Iffy has nothing.
and so far Michael Ignatieff has proven to be just that – a vacuous political windsock.
That is classic Joanne, LMAO.
Here is a “Monte Solberg” headline* from Sun media.
‘Tis a howler; and, subtle.
It’s an attack ad attacking the socialist Iggy LibNDP coalition.
In essence, it’s much Candu about nothing.
Read and watch/hear the “opposition meltdown”.
…-
*”Loss of reactor sparks opposition meltdown”
urlm.in/cmcu
Swing voters will be swayed by the public perception of Ignatiev. If the media will not describe him and his accomplishments or lack thereof accurately then the truth ads are essential to getting the swing vote.
My only concern is that the ads be professionally produced, focussed on one issue at a time and be 100% truthful. No spin. Next series should be on his newfound financial advisors. Clarke and Dodge will vamoose when their earlier actions and pronouncements are held up to public scrutiny. Iggy has no economic expertise. He hasn’t even owned a security in his life. Therefore his economic advisors are fair game.
Dodge must not like his new job.
Dodge must not like his new job.
I disagree with quite a few of the comments made by Lori today. I do not know Lori but, to me, it comes across as a Liberal attempting in a sly way to have those Conservative “truth ads” stopped in their tracks. The “truth ads” are effective because the Liberals have no valid response to them and, as a result, are very upset.
PM Harper, despite the media, is doing fine. His actions speak to the Canadian people. Many are aware of him thanks to his performance on the world stage. The turnout in Montreal, to me, is a pleasant surprise. Maybe, people are taking notice.
The so-called 10% swing-vote “smart” crowd are aware of what the Conservatives have done, and the “truth ads” simply confirm what they already know, assuming they are as smart as Lori states.
I believe that the “truth ads” get the message out to many Canadians who, being very busy with their hectic lives, generally read headlines and catch comments from their friends as a basis for their political knowledge. The “truth ads” can only help Canadians add to their awareness.
Recently, I met a financial adviser for a well-known Montreal firm. I was amazed at how little he knew. He confessed that, with all the work he has, he has little time to keep up with political affairs. He said he follows the headlines and, when the election is near, he looks more closely then. I’m sure most Canadians are in the same boat. The “truth ads” will help them tremendously.
Finally, these are not “attack ads.” These are ads that provide valuable information to all Canadians. The bottom line is “Canadians have a right to know!!”
As for the important issues, the Conservatives are “taking care of business!!” You need only to open your eyes, listen, and read to see that the Conservatives are on the right track.
Another thing that bothers me is all the talk about replacing the PM and the Conservatives. It’s like being a winning coach in the NHL for several years, leading the team in the right direction, and yet all the talk is about who will be the next coach or that we need to replace the coach and the team. Talk about utter stupidity, I mean, how foolish is that!!
The Conservatives are the best we have!!
Check out the Globe and Mail’s coverage of the P.M. Harper’s speech today if you think the media aren’t biased. They don’t even bother being in person, but quote La Presse as saying that people were talking all through the speech.
There were people talking, but way in the back where there was a lineup for a glass of wine. Plus there were numerous standing ovations for the prime minister and for Christian Paradis, but no mention of that.
P.M. Harper’s French is incredibly good now, not in the folksy league of Mulroney, he just needs to get a bit more wound up and partisan and the crowd would love it.
I’m not crazy about the attack ads either – let’s focus on P.M. Harper’s contribution to the various international summits, for example.
‘The “truth ads” are effective because the Liberals have no valid response to them and, as a result, are very upset.’
Libs and media think Iffy’s time elsewhere was well spent.
Ok, then they should answer the question:
…What did MI do, in those 34 years out of Canada, that qualifies him to be a good leader, of any country, but in particular, Canada?…
He is not applying for Foriegn Affairs Minister,
he wants to be Prime Minister of Canada,
where domestic issues are 80% of the job.
When people have political aspirations, they spend years (many years) building that portfolio.
It appears Iffy started that CV building in 2005.
It’s way too early to pass judgement on the effectiveness of these ads. I suspect a lot of the media “analysis” is based more on wishful thinking than anything else.
These ads have other purposes, not much analyzed by the media. Tom Flanagan and David Akin have mentioned the “war of attrition” we are fighting with the Libs–I.E. force them to spend money between elections that they would prefer saving for the writ period.
We also want to move the disucssion away from Iggy’s lofty, empty rhetoric and on to specifics regarding things like taxes and “why did you return to Canada?”. Fight the Libs on our terrain, so to speak.
I see another weakness in Iggy–he’s not nearly as competitive and determined a fighter as Harper (eg Harper in the last week of the 2008 campaign, and when smacking down the Coalition).
What actions (as opposed to talk) will Iggy use to motivate/inspire his troops, when Liberal poll numbers go back down ?
I find more people notice the ad where Iggy himself says he is an American, his own voice resonates more to the viewer, it’s believable. More ads, with Iggy’s voice saying he would raised taxes, GST, ect. This way viewers know it’s not political rhetoric.
Nicola @#22
That is almost verbatim what was reported on PP last night. No challenges, no questions and by gosh, after that, pillows were being ‘hucked’(not a real word but definitely an action) at my TV.
I am disgusted by this stuff, disgusted!
“He is not applying for Foriegn Affairs Minister,
he wants to be Prime Minister of Canada,
where domestic issues are 80% of the job.”
Nope. According to Ignatieff the ONLY job of a Prime Minister is National Unity.
All of that other stuff Stephen Harper has to contend with is just fluff and stuff.
When HE, King Ignatieff, is PM he will just have to rewrite the job description so all of that secondary unimportant stuff is delegated to the hired help.
After all, he will need time to travel the world and blow kisses as a visiting monarch and write more “all about me” books.
National Unity – piece of cake. Just take from the West, give to Quebec and put young Justin Trudeau in charge of wooing the Ontario youth.
and so far Michael Ignatieff has proven to be just that – a vacuous political windsock.
That is classic Joanne, LMAO.
Thanks Greg (& CC).
I think the ads in question have identified not only the fact that Count Iggy is shallow and vacuous, but point out that his basic personality type is narcissistic.
More importantly it shows the fundamental flaw in the Liberals and their lapdogs in the MSM, they are not looking for a leader with substance or intelligence but a political Rock Star who will save us from ourselves.
When I watch them fawn on Iggy, Obama, etc, thinking that they are getting someone who will be a leader, it’s amusing to watch them wince and shuffle their feet when the Idol comes up short.
The bottom line is, what we call the MSM is in fact nothing more than a mass of tabloid level journalists, who likely wouldn’t be acceptable at the National Inquirer. It’s no wonder the political twits they idolize show so many warts.
I would say to them all, alright, show me where the ads are wrong, otherwise shut your gob.
We in the West cannot trust Iffy. He signed onto the Coalition of Idiots, for pete’s sake! National Unity will be a major headache for him if he becomes PM, but it won’t be from Quebec.
He has nothing in common with us. He is not one of us.
The media has switched gears and are not dissing PMSH’s speech in Montreal. Do they not realize that they are also dissing all those that went, for whatever reason. Did any media cover said event. I would imagine that there were true supporters there, the curious, and some potential troublemakers.
At least all those there were alive, not so called lib members from the great beyond.
Remember, the libs have purchased the software used by O during the election. Wonder how many Acorn practices are on it.
I am positive PMSH will win the next election, with an increased minority or possibly a majority. It will be up to Quebec to have a seat or be left out aka NFLD. Duceppe will not get them anything and he will soon go after Iggy. If Quebec wants to elect the adscam liberals that is their choice.
Oops, should be, are now dissing the PM’s speech instead of IRuby.
Soccermom, I don’t think anyone in the East can trust him either.
So that leaves south, and I live 30 km from the US border, it sort of works out.
PMSH and the Conservatives were re-elected with a stronger mandate,
BECAUSE there was an economic crisis on the horizon.
Canadians wanted PMSH at the reins, and they were right.
Today the IMF gave Canadian government ‘thumbs up’ for their handling of the global economic crisis, as have many other international panels/experts.
As Flaherty predicted, it appears Canada will be coming out of the recession in Q3.
Over to you Iffy……….
Trust? Which Iffy are we asked to trust?
The December 1, 2008 Iffy that signed the coalition of losers document?
Or the May 5, 2009 Iffy that poopoo’d the Dec 1, 2008 Iffy?
The West Coast Iffy that wants to ban asbestos, or the Quebec Iffy that wants to keep the asbestos industry viable?
The Oilsands Iffy that sees Alberta as the future economic engine of Canada, or the N’tl Enviro Policy Iffy that instructed his committee MPs to legislate the oilsands into submission?
Which Iffy wants to be PM?
Lorraine said:
May 22nd, 2009 at 1:51 pm
#27
“According to Ignatieff the ONLY job of a Prime Minister is National Unity.”
Yeah, right. The Liberals under Chretien nearly lost the referendum. The last party you want to deal with national unity is the Liberals. When all else fails, bring out the “unity card” – that’s the Liberal way. So shallow, that’s the only card they can play. The trouble is it will not wash this time. It’s time for the Liberals to come up with something new, like a brand new, totally revamped party!!
Lowell Green coming to Montreal with thousands of Canadians waving the flag won the referendum for Canada in spite of the stolen ballets.
Oops, “stolen ballots.”
Another senior moment!!
Lori, you have been vindicated.
You were courageous Lori. You spoke straight from the heart in spite of adversity. Well done.
Here’s an e-mail read on air by Mark Sutcliff (CFRA Ottawa) last Monday or Tuesday:
“The Conservative ads are not “attack ads.” They are “truth ads.” They tell the truth unlike Liberal “attack ads” that, in the past, suggested the PM would have tanks in the streets.
The purpose of these “truth ads” is to illuminate for Canadians what Michael Ignatief is all about. What’s wrong with that? I think it’s responsible to point out to Canadians , who are very busy with their lives, the reality of Michael Ignatief and the Liberals. Reading headlines do not tell the whole story. Canadians have a right to know.
So the way I see it, the Conservative ads are not “attack” ads or “negative ads”, they are “truth ads.” And the “truth ads” label belongs to the Conservatives.
By the way, I think you might be surprised at the number of Liberals who are not happy at all with their party. The problem is that Michael Ignatief has not lived the Canadian experience for over 30 years. I believe that this is a serious and significant issue when it comes to the leader of our country.”
BTW, I tape certain programs so I can listen to them when I have time.
Good for you Joanne!
A Truth Ad by/from Michael Ignatieff, Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada.
…-
“People will write what they write. And, frankly, they can go to hell. I really, I’m pissed. I’m pissed about it.”
…-
“Michael Ignatieff & People Like You”
urlm.in/cmdj
The last party you want to deal with national unity is the Liberals.
The Libs should be very wary of fickle Quebec voters. Harper should have known better but didn’t.
Ontarians vote for the stability of Canada, and Quebec votes for pure self-interest.