What the Media Isn't Reporting

This is one of the French ads I referred to earlier.

I really like these too. If you don't understand French, it basically goes through Harper's record, Arts cuts, lining up with Bush on the environment, watching thousands lose their jobs without lifting a finger to help, etc. and asks, is that a strong leader? It answers it too with a resounding, no. That is not a leader.

It then goes to what a real leader is. Someone with courage, conviction and someone who promotes hope, not fear. It expands to suggest a real leader is someone who inspires through his passion, his ideas and his integrity.

It closes with, a leader is someone who crosses the country to explain his plan and answers the questions of Canadians. The real strong leader is Stephane Dion.

And that brings me to the point of this post. Dion travelled across the country this summer to both big and smaller crowds. He had the courage of his conviction to propel him and it was rewarded by interest and an understanding of who the man is.

He's continued this during the election, holding 18 'open' events, (meaning no screening), since hitting the road, including 2 Town Halls. How many do you think Harper has held? Guess.

Zero, zilch, notta one! Oh, the media goes on and on about all of Harper's events and how enthusiastic the participants are, but they are all partisan supporters. Does he have the courage to do a Town Hall? Not on your life. He barely tolerates the media and is only taking them in on the election tour to promote his phony 'nice guy' image.

Dion isn't afraid of questions from Canadians, because he believes in his plan and he has nothing to hide. Harper? Not so much. He doesn't completely believe in his plan but is tolerating it in order to have Canadians buy that he is a centrist. He also has quite a bit to hide, doesn't he?

Additionally, it's been notable that few members of his team have been available to the media. Some have, but it's my understanding that unless you are a cabinet minister, say no to media.

Well, one of those Ministers was on CPAC today. That would be Baird. The show started off with I 'heart' Harper people, but things took an abrupt turn suddenly. Women started calling in and lacing into him. Calling him a liar, a bully, an embarrassment on the world stage, you name it. The host and Baird both squirmed and winced. The host, who is immanently fair, did so out of surprise at the strength of the words, Baird out of embarrassment.

There is a reason these guys aren't put before the public too often. They have a lot of heat to take on what they have done. They really do believe Canadians are stupid and haven't been watching. Guess what? They have been.

That said, I think the polls may be underestimating what is actually going on with Lib visits to regions of this country. Both Dion's and Lib MP's.

Finally, I want to say that it was brilliant to see Stephane respond to the media today in NFLD. Brennan and others were shouting out questions like, 'how can you sell a new tax when we see what is going on in the States?'. Calmly but forcefully, Dion said, 'You're framing your question the same way the Conservatives do. It's not a new tax, it's a shifting of taxes. Income taxes will come down and polluters will pay.'

I'm paraphrasing, but that is the essence of what he said and what is most important, is that he gently pointed out that the questioners/media are using the Conservative narrative as their take off point.

Brilliant and Bravo!