NDP leadership candidate Jagmeet Singh is generating a lot of press and -- if reports are to be believed -- a lot of financial support. But, Tim Harper writes, party regulars are full of questions about his candidacy:
Many of those same party stalwarts will also confess to a bit of nervousness about Singh, which indicates they see his ascension to the leadership as a gamble, and if these misgivings are not dislodged — or if they mount closer to voting — it will be clear this race is not yet decided.
There are those who wonder whether it is really wise for the party to try to “out-Trudeau” Trudeau.
They will tell you that Singh’s inexperience on the federal level has shown in debates, and he may be finding the jump from provincial politics to the bigger federal stage more difficult than he thought.
He is vulnerable on a policy proposal that would scrap old age security and roll it into a means-tested seniors benefit, breaking party policy on universality.
And, they wonder, should he win, where he would run? There is no such thing as a safe NDP seat left in this country, and many rue the early days of Jack Layton’s reign when a leader without a seat could not break through with voters by perpetually standing in front of a mike in the Commons foyer.
It would be a milestone if the leader of one of the three major political parties wore a turban. And it would test Canadians' legendary tolerance.
Image: Global News
12 comments:
I like him a lot and would love to believe the NDP has the courage.
It would certainly get the Bigot Party foaming at the mouth. Remember how they told us that turbanned officers would mean the end of the RCMP?
Cap
If he becomes leader, the NDP will send a signal that will travel well beyond the borders of this country, Dana.
It would certainly stir up the Conservative base, Cap. But that shouldn't be a surprise.
I prefer Guy Caron, Guy has the experience, talent, qualifications as an economist, and the policies to be leader.
I have a friend who is voting for Caron for exactly those reasons, Gyor.
I'm puzzled as to why anyone "would want to scrap old age security and roll it into a means-tested seniors benefit." That process is a bureaucratic mess which tends to annoy and embarrass. It's also needless. As it is, OAS is clawed back from seniors with excessive income, a decision made automatically by a computer at virtually no cost to the public purse and no extra bureaucrats needed.
Sorry, I'm leery of politicians who jump on silly bandwagons.
A good point, Toby. The claw back seems to have worked well for a long time.
I've heard from a lot of people who think it would be really neat to elect a leader who wears his ethnicity so enthusiastically, so I can tolerate for the sake of balance a few of the jaded who would oppose his election on that same account. I really don't think there's much to this guy besides that.
But then why not? It'll never happen with the Liberals. And forget the Crappers. Visible minorities in those parties have enjoyed success to the extent that they have for up to a couple of decades now by understanding their purpose and knowing their place. This would be another noteworthy first-there for the socialists. And what have they got to lose? Put it on the list with the gay-rights battles. Then maybe after a couple of generational changes the other guys will join the parade. For now they'll be content to watch from the sidewalk and leave their costumes in the closet unless, of course, it's a gathering of selected participants.
Given the political climate these days, I wouldn't make any predictions, John. But it will be interesting to see what happens.
We all ready have a ministry of silly walks, why not a PM with a silly hat.
If Canadians view the turban as a silly hat, Steve, Singh will not become the leader of the NDP.
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