What is this fuss with the NDP leader? Some facts please!
We all have come through a summer weekend where writers of all ilk have been fuming and fussing over Nycole Turmel's coming out of the closet -- she was a member of the Bloc (to support a friend) and is still a member of the Quebec Solidaire—a nondescript provincial separatist organization.
Even the usually implacable Rex Murphy, of that grounded Newfie demeanor, is apoplectic about the Leader of the Opposition.
He states that this leader is the first to be called upon to become prime minister in the case of constitutional deadlock or crisis. Rex: you have been reading too many primary texts! Canada has a majority government!
That very good minister and fine fellow Peter Kent would be prime minister before the NDP would be asked. The President of the NDP states that Jack Layton was one step away from being PM -- yeah, more like one giant step to the moon!
Does no one know constitutional law anymore? Look, Turmel was a rabble-rousing public union leader with no real political conviction. She supposedly threw her conscience away for a friend. That, or else she is a real separatist.
Either way, when she saw an opportunity to become an official member of Canada's socialists, she, like many political animals we've seen in recent years, changed her spots.
Why the fuss? Many politicians would, and have, done the same thing. Remember Belinda Stronach? The princess of the Conservatives ditched the party -- and her boyfriend -- to seize an opportunity to become a cabinet minister. And of course, no one will ever forget Bob Rae. The current interim Liberal leader was not only a card-carrying member of the NDP, he was the NDP premier of Ontario – and a questionable one at that!
And yet people seem to have forgiven him (though no one will ever forget it.)
People might not forget Turmel's past but her actions are not exceptional. She was offered the opportunity to join the Bloc and did so. She was offered the opportunity to run for the NDP and did so. And in order to seize that opportunity, she readily dropped her Bloc membership.
No harm, no foul.
Yes, we can attack her for some things -- her terrible taste in political stripes for one thing. But also, her hesitation to denounce the Bloc separatist mantra when she gave back her membership card. Instead, she sent a cordial letter citing "personal reasons" rather than a change of political heart.
Like I first said, no political convictions here, just a woman who sees opportunities to seize.
The bottom line is this -- the interim leader of the NDP has not a hope in hell of becoming the Prime Minister in the next four years. These thoughts are daft.
Relax, enjoy the summer, let the pundits squawk all they can. Maybe they can help keep the temperatures warm well into the fall.
