...asks BCer in TO after running down some really interesting SES polling stats re Harper, Charest, and today's budget. He says:
...I'm not overly surprised Quebecers aren't buying into what Harper has been selling to them. Which has to be a sock in the gut, given the effort he has expended trying to build his, and Charest's, support in the province that could well make or break his majority dreams. Interesting the poll says the sales pitch is hurting him there [emphasis mine] though, I wonder what's behind that.
If I walked up to you waving a wad of bills and said, loudly so that everyone could hear it: "I AM BUYING YOUR VOTE, NOW VOTE FOR ME!!!" would this make you think of me more or less favorably? Would it make you vote for me?
On the other hand, would you refuse the cash?
The Conservatives and the Quebec Liberals failed to take away the broader lesson of the Sponsorship Scandal.
ReplyDeleteOvert acts to buy their votes, whether by giving them scads of money for programs or money in plain brown envelopes, do not wash in Quebec.
And that is the problem with this whole situation for both the Conservatives and the Quebec Liberals. This whole last month has been about buying their votes, first for Jean Charest and then for Stephen Harper.
Make no mistake, Quebecers like to receive federal money but the Federal government has to be a subtle in delivering it to help Quebecers to feel they are not being bought. Unfortunately for Mr. Charest, Mr. Harper does not do subtle.
I think it doesn't do much for Harper in the ROC, for the very same reason.
ReplyDeleteFunny, it always seemed to work when the Liberals did it . . .
ReplyDeleteWork how? In encouraging Canadians not to vote for the C.R.A.P? Or the Bloc?
ReplyDeletePardon my ignorance, but are Quebec Liberals the same as BC Liberals? Tory's in deed if not in name?
ReplyDeleteIf so, people in BC will be having the same sort of problems: how to turn up their noses and take the cash.
Actually the BC Liberals are just Social Credit repackaged.
ReplyDelete