Some new spins on the spins "Not much French in Bob Rae speech"

So I thought I detected from the CBC 'Issues' Panel that Ignatieff spinners went on the offensive on Bob Rae's lack of French, after Bob Rae's quite strong and natural speech. I also saw Denis Coderre and newly added Ignatieff supporter Nick Discepola [a defeated MP who wanted to run again but was passed over by Paul Martin, whom Discepola supported ardently over the years, for a great Canadian (tm) Marc Garneau who left Carleton University but who also was defeated] They were playing it up on either CTV Newsnet or CPAC, I forget which.

So the attack line must have gone out on 'berries to key messengers and probably directly to key media pundits.

Meanwhile, as I watch some RDI analysis, which I don't do often enough out here in Calgary, I am hearing the Bob Rae speech excerpts about 'le succes du Quebec, du aux Quebecois' and, hearing it once again, I think the message was top quality (and Bob Rae's French has always been quite fine, from my recollections)

So I conclude that attempting to quantify the French is weak, fearful spin.

RE: RDI Analysis... Chantal Hebert deux fois consecutives (and she was also mocked on Air Farce! Maybe we should declare her the winner of the evening.)


Here are my comments about this. Please all take heed.

1. Rae and Ignatieff: These two good men are friends. Long friends. Getting them both into the Liberal Party of Canada tent will be a fine thing for the Party. I think maybe they have intellectual rivalry. If they get past that, they could form their own party, and I would probably respect it.

2. Ignatieff's camp, if going on offense in this way about something ultimately somewhat mundane, is afraid of something. Meanwhile, I don't personally believe Bob Rae needs to prove any French bona fides whatsoever. I mean, it would be more logical to question how little French was in Kennedy's speech (unless his French weakness and low Quebec organization are so obvious it's not worth mentioning anymore) But it is not that: it is more simple. Ignatieff's strategists and spinners appear to have chosen to attack the number two guy, the guy who has gained momentum, the guy who gave a pretty damn good speech, leaving Ignatieff's final speech in the dread 'tough act to follow' space.

3. I see Martin Cauchon currently defending Bob Rae and shrugging off this feeble attempt to start a 'Frenchgate.' I wrote some long time ago that Martin Cauchon was an intelligent and classy guy and would have been an asset in this Leadership race himself.

4. There is high risk, ultimately, in these type of tactics. The counter tactic may be a little more harsh. By the end of it, someone's delegates may end up yelling 'vendu' (or some similar personal insult) ... and the damage is tremendous. This is absolutely the type of thing the Liberal Party of Canada simply must not allow to be created right now.

5. Journalists, meanwhile, love it and eat it up, and continue their horserace journalism, talking of who scored points, who was cautious, who looked better, who performed or exceeded or underwhelmed. Not a one of them seems to go into policy.

6. The Party activists in all camps should not be enabling that style. Focus on the high minded forward issues as much as possible. Keep it on the high road. Keep it smart. Impress Canadians with vision.

7. I hope Ignatieff enjoys his glass of wine and dinner with his wife. That's a good thing. But if he thinks it's out of his hands right now...

NEW!

Chantal Hebert French analysis from RDI: Globe online says 'Volpe goes to Bob Rae after speeches' She correctly points out that Volpe and Rae in the same headline is barely helpful to Bob Rae. She says a better headline would have been "Strong speech from Bob Rae heats up convention going into Saturday." I agree with her on this one.