Post-debate the campaign has heated up with Martin, Harper and Layton slugging it out for votes in the close three-way race in B.C.
Layton's stock rose as a result of the English debate. Most polls and commentators were impressed with Layton's performance. He was the real winner in terms of improving voters' perceptions of him.
Campaigning hard in B.C. to recapture some seats lost previously to the Reform(Conservatives), Layton shifted gears somewhat to take on the Conservatives as well as the Liberals. If the NDP is to gain seats in B.C., it will have to take them from the Conservatives. Layton lashed out at "ineffective, out-of-touch" Conservatives," saying his five NDP MPs delivered more to B.C. than the 22 Tory MPs. However, he also opened the door to working with a Conservative minority should that be the election result. Layton said: "We will work with the House of Commons that's composed by Canadians. I think every political leader has that obligation."
Meanwhile Martin was slamming Stephen Harper as "unfit to govern". In response Harper accused Martin of intolerance. Harper reached out for votes in B.C. with a package of election goodies for British Columbia. He promised Canadian Forces ground troops would be stationed again on the West Coast, more MPs for B.C., money for Victoria sewage treatment and continued staffing of coastal lighthouses.
Harper also promised support for B.C.'s forest industry by fighting U.S. lumber tariffs "until this battle is won."
Columnist Sheila Copps had some telling comments about Martin's shift in positions on major issues:
"Two and a half years ago, the same prime minister stood on another stage in Vancouver and took the exact opposite position! In fact, so critical was he of the era of Chretien-Bush relations that he endorsed the "perimeter North America" concept proposed by the Business Council on National Issues, which would essentially keep a common fence around, not between, Canada and the U.S. I also recall him working behind the scenes to undermine then-PM Jean Chretien's decision not to send troops to Iraq."
"During that same Liberal debate, he also refused to support gay marriage and remained ambiguous about whether he would even sign the Kyoto accord."
Which confirms what we know, that Martin is a hypocrite!
2005/12/18
The Election:Days 19 and 20
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Hypocrite is too kind a word for Martin! He spent twelve years undercutting his leader because of an overpowering ambition to be PM. As Sheila Copps pointed out, many of the positions he is espousing in this campaign are diametrically the opposite of positions he advocated while he was in Chretien's cabinet and then running for the Liberal leadership.
Running against Harper on SSM is his ultimate manifestation of hypocrisy.
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