Harper’s early writ drop was a cynical political ploy — one that might backfire badly.
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s hubris led him to “game the system” by calling for an extra-long, massively expensive election campaign, and to offer an insulting defence for his decision, writes Robin V. Sears.
“Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make proud.” — Sophocles
Canadians are a tolerant breed when it comes to indulging their political class. We permit them to tell tall political tales usually without retribution. We allow them to claim laughable political virtues, and only snicker occasionally. We even allow them to fling buckets of our money at us, and usually say, “Thank you.”
But there are lines you should not cross.
Conservative Leader Stephen Harper may just have crossed one. We do not often reward politicians who call unnecessary, sneaky or excessively short or long elections. Our “fair play” instincts kick in. As Jean-Pierre Kingsley, the former Elections Canada commissioner pointed out, Harper is “gaming the system.” Calling an election on a long weekend in midsummer is simply rubbing salt in an irritated Canadian vacationer’s wound.