The Man And His Office

"This whole story illustrates three chronic features of Harper's style. Playing hardball politics to the limit, exploiting rules to the limit, and then a strong degree of ruthlessness about other people if they become inconvenient, even if they're people that you've worked extremely closely with in the past, and recruited yourself, and praised lavishly."
Tom Flanagan former advisor to Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Mr. Flanagan is an academic, a political know-how kind of guy, interested in politics and specifically Conservative politics. Much of what he says is reasonable and makes eminently good sense. His statement some months ago giving excuse to child molesters left the impression that he condones what they do; he does not, but he does feel humanly sympathetic for their criminal tendencies and the punishment they earn, it appears.

His once-solid reputation was badly tarnished by an idle comment expressed during an interview that was widely published, remarked upon and earned him public condemnation. More than amply and aptly demonstrating that we all make errors in judgement, that we are all vulnerable, none of us is immune to appearing to say things perhaps not meant to be construed as they will be or behave in a manner that leaves us appearing less than perfect.

For none of us is. The Prime Minister of Canada, a man of high principles and personal integrity no less than Mr. Flanagan. In politics politicians do play hardball. They have little option but to do just that, since they are generally surrounded by political adversaries intent on removing them from power and installing their own power base and themselves at the head. It reflects the nature of human aspirations. Genteel protestations and acclaim for the good are seldom noticed.

And if Mr. Harper, a man of stern priorities and values, can be faulted for anything it is that he expects others to share his values and priorities, if he places them in an appointment of trust. When that trust is established on the record he is able to perceive, he may find it difficult to believe that an individual has callously chosen to elevate themselves in entitlements beyond reasonable expectations. Which may be why he initially commented that Pamela Wallins' travel expenses were not out of whack.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper wants Conservatives – and Canadians – to keep in mind that the next federal election isn’t some reality TV competition. (CP) | CP
 

He knows now of a certainty that three of his appointments to the Senate of Canada proved themselves to be beyond self-control having committed themselves less to the public weal and far more to their private entitlements at the public teat. A matter which would strike him with great repugnance. If he has been guilty of making unfortunate choices, he cannot be thought of as guilty by association when his unfortunate choices have allowed their moral compass to go awry.

As the individual who had the influence and the power and the executive capacity to elevate them to an area of government administration, he also has the authority to chastise them in a manner that would most clearly reflect the slap at their avaricious entitlement that would most dismay them. The Prime Minister's wish to disassociate and distance himself from the entire sordid, sad affair by distancing himself from his former chief administrator, Nigel Wright, on the other hand, was unfortunate.

Mr. Wright obviously had the most immediate interest on his agenda being that of protecting the Prime Minister from having to deal with a truly unsavoury character whose authentic persona became evident as he pleaded poor, refused to admit wrong-doing, and insisted that he not be discommoded by any form of investigation nor request for restitution to the public purse. Mr. Harper's initial reaction to stand by Mr. Wright was the right one; surrendering to the impulse to distance himself from Mr. Wright more latterly, is the wrong one.

For a man of reputation and important function as the Prime Minister of Canada, Mr. Harper has far more on his plate than soothing the ruffled feathers of his one-time appointees, and assuring his political base that the entire affair really is a molehill that has outgrown itself. The affairs of the nation, the economy and employment for Canadians, along with Canada's international relations have been soundly administered by this government under Mr. Harper.

He has concerns over how most diplomatically and effectively to meet the tantrums of Quebec, of ensuring that Canada meets its obligations abroad, of making persuasive agreements with other countries and blocs of nations in free trade accommodations, and he must present himself in the House of Commons to feint and exchange verbal unpleasantries with political opponents who rejoice in juvenile antics during Question Period.

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The Prime Minister's dislike for journalists and the news media have come home to haunt him, with a vengeance. All those members of the news media who resent and chafe at his penchant for avoidance and his refusal to place himself at their disposal for question-and-answer sessions to enable them to meet the day's news deadlines have finally had their day. With rare exceptions they have indulged themselves in portraying the Senate scandal as a matter worthy of eclipsing all other news of note.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

It sells, it piques the public interest, it reawakens the public's need for occasional outrageous titillation. And it most certainly seems to allow journalists to exercise their imaginative theories to their hearts' content, portraying an honourable man as a blackguard, a man three times superior to themselves as someone who just slipped into the office he holds by some accident of history; unworthy in their opinion of holding office.

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Because they would have it so.