Opposition spat over Jack Layton's words

[Boges]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/justin-trudeau-angers-ndp-by-quoting-jack-layton-1.2441084

NDP supporters and staff are reacting angrily after Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau invoked the dying words of former NDP leader Jack Layton in a victory speech Monday night.

Liberal candidates retained the party's seats in Toronto Centre and Montreal's Bourassa riding, while the Conservative candidates maintained the party's dominance in Manitoba's Provencher and Brandon-Souris ridings. The Brandon win, however, was a narrow one for the Conservatives over the Liberals. The NDP pointed out that the result in Toronto Centre was its best-ever in the riding.

Celebrating the third-party Liberals overtaking the Official Opposition NDP in all four byelections, Trudeau said New Democrat Leader Tom Mulcair is different from Layton, his predecessor.

Stealing a line from Layton’s famous death-bed letter to Canadians, Trudeau added: “It is the Liberal Party tonight that proved hope is stronger than fear.”

So who's in the wrong here?

Is JT being a bit too cheeky by throwing the late Jack Layton's word against the NDP after trouncing them in two by-elections?

Or is Tom Mulclair being a bit too precious by trying to monopolize Jack's words when that's pretty much exactly what they've been doing since the man died?

I think what JT did was rather clever. That being said, this quote is quite douchy if you ask me.

Make no mistake, the NDP is no longer the hopeful, optimistic party of Jack Layton. It is the negative, divisive party of Thomas Mulcair, Trudeau said in Bourassa.

Edited November 27, 2013 by Boges

[Black Dog]

Will those two just kiss already. The only beneficiary here is Harper.

[Spiderfish]

I think Justin needs to get his own material... although, I suspect the only thing that will make him look dimmer using someone elses lines is watching him come up with his own.

[Bryan]

Also, It's not exactly a secret that Brian Topp really wrote that letter.

[PIK]

I thought justin was going to be different, well he is now into name calling and stealing dead people's lines. Has this boy ever had a original thought.

[BubberMiley]

I thought justin was going to be different, well he is now into name calling and stealing dead people's lines.

Stealing would be saying his words without citation. He clearly referenced Layton. If you're going to criticize someone, you shouldn't have to lie to do it.

But I agree with Black Dog. It's time to unite the left. The CPC will be in the wilderness for a generation when they inevitably do, so the sooner the better.

Edited November 27, 2013 by BubberMiley

[The_Squid]

It was in poor taste... But whatever...

[BubberMiley]

It was in poor taste...

Why?

[cybercoma]

I couldn't possibly care less about this nonsense. It was a cheap shot, but go figure. It's Ottawa.

[BubberMiley]

It doesn't seem that cheap to me, and I'm an NDP-Mulcair supporter. It's just political positioning.

[The_Squid]

I agree with CC... It was a cheap shot. But Mulcair called him out on it and I hope they can move on. Not really a big deal.

[Rue]

Will those two just kiss already. The only beneficiary here is Harper.

Voyeur. Keep your fantasies to yourself.

[PIK]

Stealing would be saying his words without citation. He clearly referenced Layton. If you're going to criticize someone, you shouldn't have to lie to do it.

But I agree with Black Dog. It's time to unite the left. The CPC will be in the wilderness for a generation when they inevitably do, so the sooner the better.

You must hate this country or have a goverment job. If that happened, alot of libs will be heading towards the CPC.

[Boges]

You must hate this country or have a goverment job. If that happened, alot of libs will be heading towards the CPC.

Yeah the NDP aren't exactly "Big Tent"

There are plenty of Liberals that have more in common with the CPC than they do the NDP.

[jacee]

Stealing would be saying his words without citation. He clearly referenced Layton. If you're going to criticize someone, you shouldn't have to lie to do it.

But I agree with Black Dog. It's time to unite the left. The CPC will be in the wilderness for a generation when they inevitably do, so the sooner the better.

Liberals aren't "left".

[Shady]

Liberals aren't "left".

They're left of centre, just not far left like the NDP.

[waldo]

It is the Liberal Party tonight that proved hope is stronger than fear. Make no mistake, the NDP is no longer the hopeful, optimistic party of Jack Layton. It is the negative, divisive party of Thomas Mulcair.

I couldn't possibly care less about this nonsense. It was a cheap shot, but go figure. It's Ottawa.

Trudeau's statements reflected upon the campaign where the NDP/Muclair went very negative, particularly in the Toronto riding.

[Guest Derek L]

Trudeau's statements reflected upon the campaign where the NDP/Muclair went very negative, particularly in the Toronto riding.

Reflected? I’d say more rubbed their faces in it……..And this, from Trudeau, the leader that wants to get all the nastiness out of politics…….I wonder if Mulcair will come back with Trudeau’s stand on Marijuana and his mothers usage and struggles with mental illness…….When in Rome Ottawa I suppose...

[Big Guy]

I must be one of the few who are not prepared to attribute sainthood to Jack Layton. His early history in Toronto municipal politics is checkered with very questionable actions and I personally had no use for his seeking of the spotlight at all times. I also believe that he was dishonest with those who supported him when he knew that he had terminal cancer but kept that fact secret from the electorate. The only reason that the NDP did as well as they did was because of his personality and those who voted for him assumed that he would be around to lead the party - he knew he would not be around that long - that is dishonesty. He was no saint. As to quotes, does anybody really believe that the quote originated with Layton?

[cybercoma]

It doesn't seem that cheap to me, and I'm an NDP-Mulcair supporter. It's just political positioning.

He used Layton's dying words to attack the NDP. That's cheap, but hardly unexpected. The biggest threat to the Liberals is the NDP. The more votes the NDP gets, the less votes the Liberals get. So it makes sense he would be going for Mulcair's throat. Edited November 28, 2013 by cybercoma

[Smallc]

They're left of centre, just not far left like the NDP.

In the Canadian context, they really aren't.

[BubberMiley]

He used Layton's dying words to attack the NDP. That's cheap, but hardly unexpected.

The NDP used Layton's dying words to attack the Conservatives. These are politicians we're talking about.

[socialist]

Stealing would be saying his words without citation. He clearly referenced Layton. If you're going to criticize someone, you shouldn't have to lie to do it.

But I agree with Black Dog. It's time to unite the left. The CPC will be in the wilderness for a generation when they inevitably do, so the sooner the better.

Where would you place the Greens? They are kind of in a way fiscally conservative. But maybe you don't understand if you think the NDP and Liberals have a lot in common. A course in political science may be beneficial to you.

Edited November 28, 2013 by socialist

[Shady]

In the Canadian context, they really aren't.

I would say they're centre-left. But that's just my opinion.

[BubberMiley]

Where would you place the Greens?

The political wilderness.

But of course they have a lot in common. They aspire to the same voting bloc in these polarized times. Third (and fourth) parties are a product of the last century. Now you're either with us or against us. Try to keep up.

Edited November 28, 2013 by BubberMiley