Spin Cycle: Liberal's Double Standard (en francais)

Let's flash back a little to Stephen Harper's attendance at a PC Party fundraiser at the beginning of May. Pundits and press alike expressed shock at Stephen Harper's introduction of John Tory as the "next Premier of Ontario". Highly partisan, outside the norm were just some of the terms tossed around.

PM's comments draw fire from McGuinty
"I don't think it's helpful when it comes to establishing a good, positive, constructive working relationship between the people's representative – duly elected, at least at this point in time – and the PM of Canada," McGuinty said on Friday. "But I will continue to make efforts to reach out to the prime minister."

McGuinty says Harper not helping by calling John Tory next Ontario premier
Political analyst Graham Murray, who publishes the Inside Queen's Park newsletter, said Friday that Harper's partisan comments were a marked departure from tradition.

"There's a convention that there should be some elbow room between the two levels of government," he said. "The job of people in government is not to interfere too blatantly with the political affairs of the other level of government."

Bloggers joined in the mix:

Power Plays
Many prime ministers have done what they could in subtle ways to support federalist parties in Quebec, but by and large provincial elections have been outside the realm of federal politicians.

I guess Premier McGuinty forgot to tell his Minister of Education that he was still trying to "reach out to the prime minister":

However, Ontario Education Minister Sandra Pupatello wasn't nearly as diplomatic as her boss Friday in criticizing Harper's actions at the Conservative fundraiser.

"I think it is total inexperience on the part of the prime minister," Pupatello said in an interview. "He may really not realize how rude his behaviour is being interpreted, never mind by us, but by the people of Ontario."

But I digress. The general concensus at the beginning of May was that Federal politicians shouldn't be 'interfering' in provincial politics.

Imagine my surprise when I was reviewing Liberal Leadership Candidate Ken Dryden's schedule for the past weekend:

Saturday, May 20th, 2006
6:30 pm – 7:15 pm
Kirk Cox Campaign HQ Open House Shelburne, NS

Sunday, May 21, 2006
11:30 am -- 12:30 am
Campaign office kick-off with Rick Fraughten and Cynthia Lamson
Chester, NS

1:30 pm -- 2:30 pm
Hot dog “meet and greet” event with Pam Streeter
Springfield Lake Recreational Center
266 Lakeview Avenue
Middle Sackville, NS

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Campaign event with Tracey Devereaux
Doolittle’s Pub
143 Main St
Dartmouth, NS

Monday, May 22, 2006
10:30 am – 11:15 am
Campaign office event with Dan MacIsaac
91 St. Andrews St.
Antigonish NS

12:15 pm – 1:00 pm
Event with Dan Walsh
Pictou East, NS

Scott Brison's schedule seems to have a hole in it right where his time in Nova Scotia should be.

Scott Brison visited Cape Breton on Saturday, attending a rally in North Sydney. MP Mark Eyking, MLA Gerald Sampson and Fred Tilly, the candidate running in Cape Breton North, joined Mr. Brison on the tour. (Sunday Herald, May 21, 2006 - no longer available online.)

Imagine that, federal MPs and candidates for the Leadership of the Liberal Party of Canada 'interfering' in a provincial election. Wow!

Obviously this is a case of monkey see, monkey do, following in the footsteps of ex-Prime Minister Paul Martin. In 2003 Martin campaigned for Dalton McGuinty (yup - same Dalton McGuinty) saying "Politics is a team sport. And this is my team."

While we're on the subject of fundraisers, it's interesting to see the recent efforts of McGuinty supporter Warren Kinsella to paint friend Dalton as just an average guy, while referring to John Tory as 'Richie Rich'.

How soon they forget.

John Tory's $750.00 a plate fundraiser was spun by various Liberals as an example of his catering to 'rich' people.

Dalton McGuinty on the other hand, only hangs out with the average Ontario citizen:

$10,000 dollar a head fundraiser for McGuinty

$5,000 dollar a head golf games

I consider myself an average Ontario citizen and I can assure you I can't remember the last time I payed $10,000.00 for dinner. Hell, I don't know if I even spend $10,000 in a whole year on meals. But then, that's just me.

Note: in line with recent efforts to organize myself a little better, "Spin Cycle" will become my regular Wednesday feature.