What's with the Jack Layton NDP signs in Durham? Isaac Ransom drives along Highway 2 in the riding east of Toronto and counts 30 or more election signs touting Layton and his Toronto team. That's only one stretch of a main road, and Ransom argues there are more signs in the riding. He thinks they'll bring out voters on Tuesday for the New Democrats. Ransom's problem is the NDP candidate in Durham, Andrew McKeever, was forced to resign over a week ago over anti-Semitic comments posted at his Facebook site. In the uproar that followed, other ugly comnents came to light (which don't deserve an airing). Ransom, manager for his father Brian's run for the LIberals in Durham, says the campaign filed a complaint with Elections Canada, but hasn't heard back yet.
This could be a close riding. Last time, Conservative Bev Oda, international cooperation minister, won over the Liberals by 10,000 votes. The NDP pulled down close to 10,000. Without the NDP this time, Ransom argues it's a horserace between Oda and his father. Because McKeever resigned after the withdrawal deadline, his name still appears on the ballot and the Liberal party's understanding is that votes cast for him will still count in calculating the party's federal stipend after the election. Most important for the Liberal campaign, it could bleed votes away from Ransom in a part of battleground southern Ontario where every vote counts.
NDP still campaigning for a disgraced and withdrawn candidate...and doing it, in part at least for money, possibly in violation of Election Canada regulations? I guess they are ready to govern.
Just a note: McKeever's comments were not anti-Semitic, just jerk-like, threatening, and sexist.
HT Ms. Kraus.
Maybe they are learning for the Liberals and Conservatives after all. I hope they don't learn too much...
ReplyDeletequeerthoughts
I think most ridings are using Layton signs as well as ones promoting the local candidate. Unless there's proof that these signs went up after McKeever resigned this is nothing more than a desperate smear that adds to the massive pile of desperate smears emanating from liberal butts these days.
ReplyDeleteIn what way were McKeever's comments "I like the part in Schindler's List when the guard starts waxing the prisoners" NOT implicitly anti-Semitic?
ReplyDeleteMs. Kraus seems to think the whole thing is all about her. It isn't and it never was. It is of NO importance whatsoever that he made disgusting remarks to her in particular. What's important is that he made them to ANYONE.
That said, the timing of the signs going up is important. Frankly, I doubt the Durham campaign had a lot of volunteers eager to put up signs after McKeever's remarks came to light, and also few interested in removing them.
Frankly, I'm hoping the hear one more refrain of "We could have had 43 elections in the last two years if the cowardly Liberals hadn't been so irresponsible," before I go on media blackout tomorrow.
ReplyDeletebcl: Considering that the article talks particularly about signs on "main roads" which cover multiple ridings, wouldn't it make sense to want to reach voters regardless of what riding they're coming from or going to rather than leaving a conspicuous lack of any NDP signage?
ReplyDeleteNo it doesn't make sense, Jurist. Don't you realize nothing less than full capitulation from the NDP is treasonous to the Liberal nation. Now take off that silly mouse costume and admit you're a cat.
ReplyDeleteRobert, forgot about the "prisoners" bit. And you're right, nothing but capitulation will do.
ReplyDeleteHere's a thought maybe the riding association has just not gotten around to removing the signs.
ReplyDeleteNot everything is a nefarious "NDP/socialist,left wing,Bolshevik conspiracy".
Dirk, if it's the NDP you can say anything you want, I bet they were shopping for red underwear, before they got around to the signs.
ReplyDeleteStill you would think the Liberals wouldn't be relying on the NDP to win, no sensible person would vote NDP if they heard Mr. Dion's passionate call for NDP supporters to vote Liberal.
;)
anti-gay and anti- choice LIBS