Vancouver Province cartoonist Krieger puts David Emerson‘s ‘hard-ass’ comments in context on Friday’s editorial page (When will folks start to say no to Harper’s one-man show?).
His [David Emerson’s] words were that…if in the cabinet meeting he [Stephen Harper] disagrees with the opinions of one of his ministers, he makes it perfectly clear that he believes the minister is wrong and that his way should prevail. Federal Trade Minister David Emerson is quoted by former assistant Jay Epworth as being critical of Harper’s “hard-ass” approach.
Whether or not David Emerson is a happy camper in the Conservative caucus is irrelevant to the issue of his undemocratic appointment to cabinet, but I can’t resist adding that a marriage built on an overnight tryst is not likely to last.
Lets look at the timeline of events and see if how things unfolded makes the Conservative spin more, or less, plausible.
Wednesday April 19: Metro news reports Emerson sad about move where he is reported to have told a confidant over lunch that he would have quit by now but “his wife wouldn’t let him”. The source is not revealed. His spin doctor, Bob Klager, denies the meeting even took place. Emerson won’t answer calls to comment.
Thursday April 20: The Toronto Star reveals that the source is Emerson’s former legislative aide, Jay Epworth, who is reported to have taken notes immediately after his lunch-time conversation with his former boss.
Of the comments attributed to Emerson, Stephen Harper says that “no such thing” was ever said. Former MP and BC Conservative power broker John Reynolds appears on CTV‘s Mike Duffy Live and says that its all a pack of Liberal “lies”. When asked if Harper had even talked to Emerson about his comments, Harper won’t answer the question. And Emerson continues to avoid reporter’s calls to comment for a second day.
Friday April 21: More than 48 hours after the story breaks, Emerson finally has something to say and weakly tries to suggest that even though he did call Harper a “hard ass”, it was a compliment.
Questions:
- Why does Harper yesterday claim that Emerson said “no such thing”, and Emerson admit today that he did in fact say some things?
- If there’s such a good working relationship between Emerson and party folks including Harper, Harper’s former right hand man John Reynolds (who was instrumental in the marriage of Harper and Emerson in the first place), and Bob Klager – former reporter and now Emerson’s employee as an Ottawa-based communications director – why do Harper and Reynolds and Klager insist that no such meeting took place, when Emerson admits two days later that the meeting in fact did take place? Don’t these guys talk to one another?
- Why do people earning six figure salaries on the backs of the Canadian taxpayer take more than 2 days to figure out how get their stories straight? Does it take that long to coach Mr. Emerson on what to say?
- Do this bunch of sorry politicians really believe they have pulled the wool over our eyes?
The entire affair, while unrelated to the issue of democracy that I and others champion, just underscores the mess that our Prime Minister brought upon himself by appointing Emerson. When the BC contingent came knocking on his door to sell Emerson, the then Prime Minister-Elect should have said no and left them on the doorstep.
Its long past time to cut Emerson and the whole sordid affair loose.
Today the Campaign to De-Elect David Emerson held another public awareness pro-democracy protest at a venue David Emerson was attending. Thanks no doubt to the recent offensive and contemptuous quips of both Emerson (we’re ‘locusts’) and Prime Minister Stephen Harper (‘same ten people, old hat, isn’t it?’), campaign supporters flocked to the event, including many new faces.
Emerson’s misguided apologists had their own plans for the day. John Buckham, a paid Conservative Party organizer for the lower mainland, yesterday morning sent out a plea to local Conservative power brokers, urging them and their minions to come to the Hyatt and support their favorite turncoat, David Emerson.
Buckham encouraged his flock (oddly, I was not on the distribution list), suggesting they wear Conservative t-shirts, ball caps and buttons. Mr. Buckham helpfully suggested supporters make up signs with such stirring messages as “Emerson = Courage” and “United we stand!”.
Let’s get out and show our support for David and the courageous stance he has taken! And let’s show the de-Elect campaign that they are not the only ones who can put people on the streets!
Problem is, no-one answered Buckham’s call and showed up. Well, that’s not quite right. One supporter, evidently completely overwhelmed by the strength of our pro-democracy support, and visibly unnerved by the lack of a comforting posse of her own, bravely debated me on the finer points of democracy for 10 minutes and then quietly left.
No signs. No ball-caps. No supporters. No commitment.
With that kind of support from the party, its a wonder that Mr. Emerson isn’t already retired!
Question of the day: is the total absence of support for Emerson a reflection of the very real dissatisfaction within the Conservative party over how Harper has handled his cabinet appointments, or, more likely in addition, is the poor showing a result of yet another muzzle order out from the PMO?
Update: A press release was issued to media on Friday regarding the lost posse.
By the by, Mr. Buckham: Emerson’s actions are not ‘courageous’. Undemocratic, yes, and in fact unsupportable in a modern democracy. If Mr. Emerson were to show true courage and go back to his constituents for a mandate honestly achieved, I would be his biggest booster.
An editorial in the Prince George Free Press (the area is Conservative voting territory) criticizes Prime Minister Harper’s contemptuous dismissal of David Emerson‘s critics.
Later today pro-democracy campaigners will hold fort at Burrard and Georgia to continue the call for Emerson to resign and run in a by-election, Whether 10 manage to take time off work, or only 5, our voices represent millions of Canadians who feel as we do that Emerson must now earn a mandate under his new party banner in order to restore the value of our votes in Vancouver—Kingsway.
In what’s become a standard pattern involving David Emerson and Stephen Harper, the Liberal turned Conservative is in hiding and won’t answer questions.
And the Prime Minister haughtily dismisses as ‘lies’ what seems obvious to be a true account of Emerson’s frustration with Harper. As Harper has done many times since taking office, when he doesn’t like the questions being asked of him he just walks out of the press conference. The petulant prime minister wouldn’t even answer a simple question as to whether he’s even talked to Emerson about the matter.
Silence. Hiding. Avoiding simple direct questions. Press conferences cut short. Letting others fight your battles. Its a telling pattern.
Gurmant Grewal – remember him? The former MP for Newton—North Delta was embroiled in a floor-crossing scandal himself during the last parliament which made no party look good.
Grewal’s own role in the affair looked highly suspicious from the start, as certain players on the then-Liberal government side. At the time, I called for Grewal’s resignation and that of his wife, until the matter was cleared up. Much more on the sordid affair >
From: Michael Watkins
Sent: Mon 06/06/2005 3:08 PM
To: Grewal, Gurmant – M.P.; Grewal, Nina – M.P.
Cc: Grewal, Gurmant – Riding 1; Grewal, Nina – Riding
Subject: Tape Affair – Please Resign from Caucus until its over
Mr. and Mrs. Grewal:
I am a member of the Conservative Party of Canada. I respectfully request that Mr. Grewal and Mrs. Grewal resign from caucus and sit as an independent until this matter has been resolved. In my opinion Mr. Grewal’s actions have done great harm to the party, at an obviously critical time in Canadian history…
For the record I simply do not believe Mr. Grewal’s assertions that he mounted a one-man “sting” operation, completely outside the purview of the party and without the approval of the Leader. If in fact Mr. Grewal was so foolish as to attempt such a strategy, he deserves to be run out of the party for his moronic actions on the very eve of a critical vote that might have brought down the government…
In a story in today’s Vancouver Province, reporter Salim Jiwa provides an update into the on-going investigation regarding tens of thousands of dollars of donations to Grewal and allegations of impropriety over same.
Stephen Harper defended Grewal at the time, despite the mounting evidence (rather like what he’s doing with Emerson), but didn’t allow him to run again. Why not?
People often ask me why I am speaking out so strongly on the David Emerson affair, given my membership in the Conservative Party. My answer is always the same and its quite simple: I’m a passionate democrat who believes in principle. My opinion on what is right does not depend on whether my party is in power or not.