Let's change the rules again!

[bcholmes]

Canada's broadcasters will not allow the Green Leader Elizabeth May to participate in the leaders' debates during the federal election campaign, the networks announced Monday afternoon.

The consortium of networks, which includes the CBC, said three of Canada's parties were opposed to May's inclusion, but did not give more details.

In recent days, the Conservatives, Bloc Québécois and the NDP have all expressed their opposition to May joining the debates.

"It became clear that if the Green party were included, there would be no leaders' debate," the consortium said in a press release.

— "Greens can't participate in leaders' debates, networks rule", CBC.ca

Reading between the lines: Harper won't take part in a debate that includes Elizabeth May. What's he so afraid of?

I have no special love for Elizabeth May, but I do resent the attempts by the big four to marginalize other parties.

Also: boo to the NDP. I. Am. Not. Impressed.

Comments

[drakkenfyre.livejournal.com]

Wow, I am so beyond unimpressed. I even feel a little betrayed by the left and by leftist media over this.

[drakkenfyre.livejournal.com]

Although, in the interests of my new attempt at being positive, I was happy to read the Liberals didn't oppose it.

But Jack, Jack, what were you thinking?

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

Yeah. Tell me about it.

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

Is that really a fair "reading between the lines" translation if all three of the named parties objected?

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

TV network officials hinted that one or more of the other party leaders would otherwise pull out of the showcase election event, set for Ottawa on Oct. 1 and 2.

[...]

"I think Mr. Harper's role was determinative," [May] said in an interview. "He was the only one making the (public) case that I was not allowed to participate.

— "Green party Leader Elizabeth May excluded from TV debates"

[epi-lj.livejournal.com]

Hm. I suppose it's fair to say that he's the only one who was going to outright balk, but it still seems that they're saying the he was public about it but more parties objected and *possibly* more individual party leaders were going to pull out, even if they hadn't stated so publically.

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

I think it's true that all three of the objecting parties have something to lose if the Greens look more mainstream. So I grok that each of them is going to object.

But I still believe that it's Harper who's threatening to boycott. Environmental policy is the key area where the Conservatives are weak, and he knows he can take damage there, so he's trying to keep talk about the environment to a minimum.

[sarah-dragon.livejournal.com]

Here is what confuses me a bit. I noticed May mentioned that Harper might be worried about her taking some of his votes and you alluded to it as well. Are there a sizable number of Green Conservatives? I would think she would be more likely to gain support of Green Liberals, who could have their environmental cake and eat their liberal policies too.

And again probably showing my ignorance here, but wouldn't Bloc Quebec be a better example of a one-issue party, i.e. Quebec, as opposed to the Green party whose concerns cover all of Canada and its relations to other industrialized nations?

Regardless of politics, I think Harper's little gambit is going to fail. I mean when everyone is aware you are doing something now, to take advantage of a more favorable tide of opinions where later that might fall off, isn't possible the voters might figure this out and not appreciate being used?

[bcholmes.livejournal.com]

Our green party tends to be fiscal conservatives with a green plank in their platform. When the federal party that was called the "Progressive Conservative (PC)" party fell on hard times, many of the PC members went to two parties: the Reform (which is now the [non-Progressive] Conservative party) and the Greens.

In practice, those who were more socially conservative went to the Reforms, and those who were more socially progressive went to the Greens (They're often called "red Tories" -- "Tory" is a nickname for conservative). The former leader (before Elizabeth May) was exactly that kind of red Tory. He happily declared himself an ecological conservative and eco-capitalist.

I know that there's a strong social justice arm of the Green party, but it's nowhere near as visible as, say, the NDP. I maintain hope that Elizabeth May, who has oodles of activist cred, will pull the party leftward, but I have reservations about her as well.

[beable]

Sadly CBC seems to have altered an article I linked to earlier today (initially about Harper not wanting May in the debates, now all about how the networks have chosen not to include her, though it still contains part of the Harper story)

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said letting May participate in the debates would be in essence allowing a "second Liberal candidate" to participate, which he called "fundamentally unfair."

"Elizabeth May is not an opponent of Stéphane Dion," Harper said. "She is his candidate in Central Nova, and I think it would be fundamentally unfair to have two candidates who are essentially running on the same platform in the debate," Harper said at a campaign event in Richmond, B.C.