Renee Hetherington flunks the civility test
The hotly-contested race in Saanich–Gulf Islands turned toxic this week, with newly-nominated Liberal candidate Renee Hetherington failing her first character test as a candidate — the civility test. Hetherington issued a news release on Saturday for the express purpose of trashing Green Party leader and fellow SGI candidate Elizabeth May. Hetherington referred to May as a “sad little sprout” in the title of the release, with the remainder devoted to bad Liberal spin on why Hetherington is so much awesomer than May and only Hetherington can save the day.
This news release is revealing of several things:
1. Hetherington’s character (or lack thereof). Canadians are becoming increasingly tired of politicians behaving badly — this applies equally to MPs trading insults in the House, and candidates slinging mud in a local race. Voters expect better from those who desire the opportunity to represent our concerns. To me, Hetherington’s childish and hyper-partisan dirty politics approach strongly indicates she may not be up to the enormous responsibility of representing thousands of constituents — a task that requires maturity, civility and cooperation. As a candidate, Hetherington has so far failed on these fronts.
2. The Liberals are very worried about the Greens. Despite taking pains to message to the contrary, the Liberals are very worried about the impact of Elizabeth May’s candidacy on their campaign in SGI. Perhaps they have even done polling showing they are running behind May. The fact that Hetherington used her first news release as a candidate to snipe at an opponent, instead of addressing an issue of local concern, means the Liberals feel the need to go on the offensive to contain their bleeding support. But they are right to worry. Although Liberal Briony Penn placed second in 2008, she was a former Green activist. Many Greens supported her because she seemed best able to knock off Gary Lunn, and because former Liberal leader Stephane Dion donned himself in (pale) green clothing. Current Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff is the opposite of green, and Hetherington can’t count on any amount of support from small-g green voters. For these voters, a natural home is with the leader of the Green Party — not the Liberals.
3. Lack of favourable media coverage? I find it quite interesting that Hetherington doesn’t even get a quote in her own release. Instead, Briony Penn and, strangely, the Ottawa Sun are quoted. Hetherington obviously missed an opportunity to speak to voters in her own voice. But more importantly, why did she choose to quote the Ottawa Sun — a paper half way across the country? Why not quote an editorial from a local paper, or at least one published in BC? And why not select a quote that’s actually about Hetherington, instead of one about May? Well, a quick Google news search on “Renee Hetherington” reveals that she has apparently received very little in the way of media attention since she won the Liberal nomination. No glowing editorials, no opinion pieces giving her a shot at winning. I can’t find any evidence of substantial coverage since mid-September. It seems she chose the Ottawa Sun quote because she couldn’t even find a favourable local article. It’s also worth noting that, so far as I can tell, the very release that is the topic of this blog was picked up only by a local weekly.
Finally, I must point out the absurdity of some of the spin in Hetherington’s release. She claims her support in the riding is stronger than May’s, based on the numbers of party members who voted in the Liberal and Green nomination contests. Nice try, but this basically means nothing. Hetherington ran in a close race against another Liberal hopeful, Kit Spence, while May’s nomination was essentially uncontested. Of course more partisans would vote in the tight Liberal race than in the predictable Green race.
Voters are tired of politics-as-usual, and hungry to hear actual issue-based policy solutions. This is why I don’t expect Hetherington’s mud-slinging to accomplish much of anything, aside from proving to voters that she’s down with dirty tactics. In Saanich–Gulf Islands, those seeking a genuine, principled leader who does politics differently have a clear choice — Elizabeth May.
This lashing out is simply evidence that the local Liberal ship is sinking.
Most Greens, and greens, who supported the Liberals last time, have come back and are supporting E.May. Notable endorsers include Andrew Weaver and Guy Dauncey.
The irony is that Penn said her campaign was “beyond partisan”,… it was an attempt to be “pragmatic”. Now the shoe is on the other foot and we see the hypocrisy of that stand.
Have you ever, Camille, actually been in SGI, even as a tourist? What, precisely do you feel gives you the right to comment in such transparent and biased ways upon a candidate that has far superior qualifications to yours?
Please enlighten us all.
SM, bloggers comment on things all the time. They have a “right” to make such comments, and of course they will be biased if they wish to be. Camille is obviously a Green Party supporter and isn’t hiding that fact, and that does not disqualify her from blogging about this subject.
I live just north of this riding on Vancouver Island. People are excited about Elizabeth May running out here. The Green Party represents a real departure from the old line party antics and failed policies.
Hetherington has nowhere to go but down and it appears she is at least aware enough to understand she’s not in the running. Her “sad little sprout” comment is an embarrassing start to her campaign and reveals she is not ready for prime time. I’m guessing she’s just driven a whole whack of voters into the Green camp.
Unfortunately, Ms. Labchuk, the effort you put into analyzing the situation is as distasteful as that which you denounce.
While I appreciate someone who actually puts thought into their choices, especially in politics, I think that thought is wasted when it is used simply to justify one’s position or preference. Better you spend your education and expertise convincing voters that the Green Party has the right approach. It is a challenge, overcoming the base foundation of party loyalty and actually encouraging voters to cast their ballot based on a truly reasoned choice, but that seems to be the kernel of your message, and one which I do applaud.
As for this faux-pas on the part of the opposing candidate? The fact that it was only published in one small weekly should energise a lightbulb for you.
Whooee! I never been to Afghanistan but I figger I got the right to yammer ’bout it if I want. In fact, I figger every Canajun has the right to comment on any ol’ thing they want to. That’s on accounta we got a little thing called freedom of expression. Even Noisy Minorities can yap about silencin’ sumbuddy’s freedom on that very sumbuddy’s publication.
I reckon Camille’s right about Renee. Renee seems awfully eager to drag this race into the gutter by turnin’ it into a personality contest. Of course, the number of people voting in a GPC nomination contest is gonna be lower than the number votin’ in a Grit contest. Just lookit the membership numbers.
It doesn’t sound like RH actually wrote that press release on accounta she’s referred to in the third person. She’d hafta approve it, though, I figger so she’s gotta wear it.
I find it interesting that Briony Penn’s quote is aimed at appealing to non-greens and to small-c conservatives.
Is that where RH figgers her strength lies?
JB
CW, I seem to recall you complaining about the tone of GPC press releases while Camille was there. Hmmmm.
I just find it extremely humorous – a young student from PEI commenting on a candidate from the other end of the country, a place she apparently has never been to, and whose qulaifications far, far exceed hers. Rather uncivil, I’d say. Even for PEI politics.
I’ll agree with point #2, the Liberals are concerned about a strong Green candidate taking votes from them and thus making it more difficult to win SGI. I haven’t bothered researching point #3 so I’ll gladly accept your analysis on it.
But on Point #1…. Lack of character? Because a press release referred to Elizabeth as a sad little sprout? If a press release (likely not written by Renee) is a reflection on her character (or lack thereof), then what does that say about a Party Leader who states, on national television, that the Prime Minister is a fraud??? (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/10/01/debate-french.html) Agree or not, name calling is name calling.
There’s an old saying about glass houses….
Actually Mark, the press release from Carolyn Stout asked a humorous, I thought, rhetorical question: “Jolly Green Giant – or sad Little Sprout?” To be consistent, why not take issue with Jolly Green Giant as well? The guy scared me as a wee kid in commercials.
I don’t know what Camille is attempting to accomplish with this type of blog post. As a council member, it seems to me she should act more responsibly. I myself would have never read the press release had she not brought it to our attention. Actually, I thought it made some good points – so questionable whether Camille and others are furthering their cause, or hindering it with these types of blogs.
The fraudulence of the PM’s climate policy is a verifiable fact. Emissions intensity target do not accomplish absolute reductions in GHGs. It is fraudulent to sell emissions intensity targets as a way of reducing GHGs. Pointing this out is a legitimate policy criticism, and not name calling.
This situation is not even remotely analogous to Hetherington’s use of the term “sad little sprout”, which is very much name calling. This statement is not based on policy or ideas, and is a prime example of the type of mud slinging politics that drives Canadians away from voting.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Camille Labchuk, loupnoir and Elizabeth Berman. Elizabeth Berman said: RT @CanadianGreens Fail! http://bit.ly/6UZWV [...]
Camille, once again you do not know what you are talking about. When you state: “Emissions intensity target do not accomplish absolute reductions in GHGs.” this is in fact a fraudulent statement.
CAFE standards for vehicles (mpg or litres/100 km) ARE intensity targets.
Efficiency standards for appliances (kw-hr per yr) ARE intensity targets.
Insulating your house or replacing windows to reduce heating energy are, in effect INTENSITY targets.
In other words, if you keep increasing the number of cars on the road, and the population continues to grow through natural means enhanced by immigration, the total energy used will continue to grow from these examples.
Intensity targets are only a political issue if the rate of growth of a particular entity (oil sands are the blacksheep here) exceeds the rate of decline of the intensity target. Ie if you reduce energy use by 20% per unit, but increase production more than 20% it is a net increase. However, if the intensity targets become more stringent overtime, the total emissions can be forced to decline.
So, you can’t just blatantly exclude intensity targets – they are everywhere, just called something else.
You have demonstrated, like many others, that you are ignorant of what intensity targets are, and how they can be used to reduce overall emissions. In other words, you yourself are a fraud!
As a SGI resident I can tell all you Green hopefuls that with the exception of a few “hemp lovers” on Salt Spring Island, Ms May hasn’t a hope in hell of winning here. The incumbent, Gary Lund has been a remarkable MP. He delivered on relief to JDS Uniphase workers (after years of unfulfilled promises by the Liberals). If May wants a “green” issue she would gain a lot of support by campaigning against the ugly billboards on native land that are an eyesore that everyone is afraid to oppose.
Camille, I’m not arguing the legitimacy of Harper’s climate plan. If the majority of Canadians had the technical understanding of climate change, we’d have a lot more Green MPs. Seeing that 93.3% of Canadians didn’t vote for the Green Party in the last election, it would be safe to assume that most saw Elizabeth calling the Prime Minister a fraud (in both Official languages).
Perception is reality and name calling is still name calling.
To those (apparently most who comment/blog here) who are too young to know, Little Green Sprout was the other character in the Jolly Green Giant commercials. A much more liked character, I might add.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8SD5m2pywk&feature=related
Geez. Talk about small potatoes.
And IF this appears above the radar in SGI, then you will have helped Heaterington and the Liberal message get noticed.
[...] just finished reading GPC Federal Councillor Camille Labchuk’s excellent blogpost regarding a news release from Renee Hetherington, the recently nominated Liberal Candidate for [...]
The point seems to be that hat not everyone is welcoming Elizabeth May with open arms on the west coast. What about her pledge to run if a byelection was called in a promising riding elsewhere? The seat vacated by Bill Casey would appear to be a very appealing proposition. The anti-Conservative sentiment is strong and there is a wave of “green support” in our part of Canada.