A federal Conservative statement hot off the e-mail:
Minister Hearn Challenges Premier Williams To Allow Caucus to Campaign for Conservatives
The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador, today issued the following statement:
Today Premier Williams said he would not threaten any MHAs to adopt his position of ABC in the next federal campaign.
My comments in local media were based on a growing number of calls we have received from concerned caucus members and Progressive Conservative staffers who used exactly that that phrase. They felt there was a clear expectation that they needed to publicly campaign for ABC, even if they didn't agree with it, or there was a threat to their career advancement within the Williams government.
If the Premier's statement is true, and he wishes to let democracy take its course, will he send another e-mail to his caucus and clarify that there is no threat? Will he tell them he means it when he says members are free to do whatever they believe is in the best interests of their districts -- even if that means campaigning for Conservative candidates at the federal level?
If there is no threat, will the Premier commit publicly that there will be no action taken against MHAs who choose to volunteer for Conservative Party of Canada?
He can put this issue to rest by sending another memo to caucus right away.
As your humble e-scribbler already maintained, Hearn is a scrappy silverback politician. Experienced, used to being dominant, savvy and fully of inherent political strength just like the biggest gorilla in a family group.
He'll tolerate nonsense for a while but at some point he'll be ready to rip apart any challenger.
Hearn's been working the local media this Friday before the writ drops and his language is designed to go right at the heart of the so-called ABC campaign.
With the comment on leaks a couple of days ago, Hearn and his federal Conservative brethren have already shown they know how to campaign hard when they need to and, in the caucus leak story, set the other guys to constantly responding instead of setting the agenda. Hearn's release today will increase the pressure and counts as another shift in the political agenda.
If this campaign keeps going with the same intensity, the repercussions will be felt in provincial politics.
-srbp-