Harper - "I am who I am" (en francais)

Harper: No thanks to image makeover
Stephen Harper says he's not interested in image makeover despite summer offensive

OTTAWA -- Despite Conservative talk of changing tack with a summer-long charm offensive by the party's leader, Stephen Harper says he's not interested in an image makeover.

"I don't intend to change myself," Harper told Vancouver radio station CKNW during a nationally syndicated call-in show Monday. "I'm not a believer in these so-called image makeovers. I've watched politicians who tried to be something they're not and tried to have all these different incarnations. I think it just comes across as phony.

"I am who I am."

..."Some of the image politics frustrates me a bit because that's not, obviously, what I'm in it for," he said.

The real significance of getting out and meeting Canadians this summer, he said, is to reconnect with voter issues.

"That part of the job is important."

I have to admit - I have never been a big fan of the 'image' makeover. I think Stephen has it right here. He certainly needs to get out and connect with more ordinary Canadians. Changing his shirt or hairstyle isn't going to help this any. He just needs to go out and do it.