CBC’s The National contained an extraordinary interview with the prime minister last night. I’m not aware if the PM sought the interview conducted by Peter Mansbridge or if the CBC asked Harper to appear. Michael Ignatieff and Jack Layton are scheduled for questioning tonight.
Someone who didn't know the interviewer and interviewee would have looked at the images on the screen and determined a district manager called into head office for questioning by is general manager. Mansbridge was composed in his anchor’s chair exuding confidence and control; he was the boss and Harper had better answer his questions without equivocation. Mansbridge interrupted the PM frequently challenged him, reminded him of his own agreements to get the support of the Bloc Québecois, read-back to him statements from the recent election campaign that were directly contrary to his comments and actions in the past week. The PM squirmed in his decidedly smaller guest chair, slouched like a boy in the principal’s office trying to look relaxed while he bit his lips and gestured frantically when under pressure. I couldn't help but wonder how many million dollars in public funding the CBC was losing with each question as Mansbridge exposed the PM’s contradictions.
If there was something new in the PM’s answers it was what The Globe and Mail describes this morning as Harper reaching out to Michael Ignatieff. The PM suggested that Liberals and Conservatives, with the best interests of Canadians at heart, should talk before next month’s budget and see what they can agree on to resuscitate the economy. He basically said Liberals and Conservatives are the ruing parties who just happen to switch places from time to time but can work together when necessary; that they are unlike the socialists and separatists who have agendas other than the national interest. His obvious objective was to split the Liberal/NDP coalition (while continuing the spread the misinformation that the BQ is part of the coalition government proposal).
Given the PMs record, his sincerity has to be questioned. Even while Harper was reaching out, Conservative Party campaign chair Doug Findlay was soliciting funds with an attack letter suggesting Michael Ignatieff’s leadership would be illegitimate because he wasn’t leader at the last election. The CPC couldn't even wait for Ignatieff to be confirmed as leader before launching the attacks.
Stephen Harper is acknowledged as a very smart man. He has faced his intellectual equal across the Commons floor before but now the Opposition Leader is not only just as smart but an equally effective communicator (or maybe smarter and better, time will tell on that). Last night, the PM’s squirming in The National’s studio suggested he is very much aware it’s a whole new contest.
