Canada

CHIMO

(9,223 posts) Mon Mar 5, 2012, 09:16 PM Mar 2012

Leak shows Harper fears Mulcair

It was shaping up as another good week in the NDP leadership race for Tom Mulcair. The party’s Quebec lieutenant had a strong debate performance in Manitoba and he picked up a big endorsement from Robert Chisholm, the Nova Scotian who left the race.

Then yesterday – and isn’t the timing interesting? – a five-year-old story came back to haunt him. It came courtesy of the Conservatives who clearly don’t want to face Mulcair as opposition leader.
The Conservatives leaked the news that instead of joining the NDP he would have joined the Conservatives if team Harper had met his demand for a cabinet post.

Mulcair had talks with the Conservatives back in 2007. I recall his volunteering the information about the talks in an interview I had with him at the time. He didn’t mention anything about a cabinet post offer and he is denying he ever asked for one.

But this becomes a whose version do you believe type of thing and it could damage Mulcair’s prospects of becoming leader. Other NDP challengers will make hay, despite the dubious source behind the story.

http://www.ipolitics.ca/2012/03/02/lawrence-martin-leak-shows-harper-fears-mulcair/

1 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Leak shows Harper fears Mulcair (Original Post) CHIMO Mar 2012 OP

As well he should. CanSocDem Mar 2012 #1

CanSocDem

(3,286 posts)

1. As well he should.

Reply to CHIMO (Original post)

Tue Mar 6, 2012, 12:40 PM

Mar 2012

Of all the candidates, Mulcair is clearly the strongest. As the article suggests, the timing is suspicious and if anyone thinks that Mulcair is suspect for asking for a cabinet post, think back to when David Orchard, another 'populist progressive' ran (and almost won), the leadership of what was at the time, the Progressive Conservative Party.

Mulcair leads all NDPers in caucus endorsements by a long shot. Chisholm, the former NDP leader in Nova Scotia, became the 41st caucus member to endorse him this week. “Tom has the ability to reach out and unite progressives of every (stripe).” He said he had watched NDPer Darrell Dexter become Nova Scotia’s premier by reaching out beyond the base and that Mulcair could do the same.

We need someone in opposition who has the backbone and personality to take on Harper. Not a party and leader that just wants a job and the opportunity to share in the corporate largesse....

.

Reply to this discussion