“I don’t intend to change myself,” Harper told Vancouver radio station CKNW during a nationally syndicated call-in show Monday. “I’m not a believer in these so-called image makeovers. I’ve watched politicians who tried to be something they’re not and tried to have all these different incarnations. I think it just comes across as phoney.
“I am who I am.”
Which reminds me of this bit of cultural derision;
Ironically, no federal conservative leader has had more style surgery than Preston Manning, the man who founded the Reform Party specifically to bring substance to Canadian politics.
From the look and sound of a screechy preacher in cowboy boots, Manning gradually morphed into the kind of made-for- TV capital conformist he used to deride as the “Otta- washed.”
First it was the eyeglasses that went from aviator to designer and finally into the trash after laser eye treatment. Then came the wardrobe, a slow transition from barnyard chic to Hugo Boss.
“Barnyard chic”. Nice.
Not often we get a slam at both Christianity and Western rural culture in a single sentence.
No wonder Westerners don’t trust the bigoted Eastern Media. Though Weston’s points are valid, it’s disappointing to see them wrapped in petty ad hominem. Perhaps a “style” makeover is in order for this cynical and negative Ottawa columnist.
I’m with you on the “Thank God” remark. We need another snake charmer like we need the NDP in charge of spending…
Whatever happened to Greg Weston? At one time I looked forward to reading his columns, now he’s blending right in with the rest of the Liebral-luvin MSM hordes. Sad to see him go over to the Dark Side.
There is nothing wrong with a little style, but an image makeover is going overboard.
I’m sure Stephen gets enough wardrobe advice from his wife. Perhaps, he should listen to her the next time he insists on wearing a polo shirt one size too small to those political barbecues he plans to attend this summer.
Slim:
I’ve been thinking the same thing lately. I enjoyed his columns in the past, but it sure seems like the last month or two he’s gone down-hill fast.
Kate,
Ummmm, how do I point out the large chip on the shoulder without offending.
I think you are being a little sensitive on the “baryard chic” comment. Think about the “eastern” or urban politicians who put on blue jeans and string tie when they work a bar b q in western Canada. I mean how stupid would they look if showed up wearing a brooks brothers suit and leather brougues, or a nice versace dress with prada pumps….what names do you think they would be called? and justifiably so.
I dont disagree that there is a problem in the media that looks down its nose at anything that doesnt fit into the general young, urban, cosmopolitan, educated, upper middle class professional culture that they all swim in ….but pick better examples. If you take offense at all of it, real or imagined, then then none of your criticisms will stick, it just becomes curmudgeonly (sp?)
When image gets in the way of message or negatively becomes the message then there is a problem. It is a real problem when people dont hear what a speaker says only how they say it and what you look like when you say it. Manning needed the change, but being the crafty guy he is he used the outsider personna when he needed it at the beginning…”Ottawashed”…it suited his initial audience, and then changed when it got in the way with other audiences. But at the end of the day he was still Preston Manning, he didnt change his personality.
Harper shouldnt change who he is…being unauthentic/inauthentic (?) is death for a politician….could he use some more relaxed clothes, sure….could he stand to go on a bit of diet…sure (so could I)….read the Globe editorial today…it essentially says let Harper be Harper, I couldnt agree more. If he says what he believes but happens to say it while wearing polo shirt and khaki’s and that gets people really hearing him, I am all for it.
But to the original point….not every side comment about rural culture is “bigotry” (a word chosen to highlight a point I am sure) although it often is “snobbery”
Just caught my eye today for some reason and I hope it doesnt get me tracked down by the rural western mafia ( :-> ) when I am on vacation in Alberta and BC for the next 10 days.
Harper only has to begin looking at the cameras rather than the journalist who asked the question & his personality will begin to come across more warmly. He is a serious person with integrity, who looks on his stint in Ottawa as important & is trying to do the best job he can. Too bad the Liberals & the rest of the barnyard folk there don’t have the same attitude. But I guess their attitude is affected by the MSM found in the same locality.
Excellent points Stephen.
Where exactly are the slams against Christianity and Western rural culture in the sentence? This victim mentality (think Oprah) needs to stop on the part of the right if we want to move forward.
I am sticking with ”eastern MSM Liberal Lickspittle”
Sadly Greg Weston is spending too much TV time at the CBC with Don N ewman and that lefty lot.
Maybe Greg is also due for a “makeover.” Harper needs to take him out behind the barn.
It’s more of a longstanding pattern in the media and on the part of “progressive” politics to use images of western rural culture as perjoratives.
It’s why the word “rednecks” and “knuckledraggers” can still be used as a slur in polite society – and on air – to belittle conservatives.
The theme is pervasive in Weston’s piece – the problem isn’t that conservatives are “thin-skinned” – the problem is that our thick skin has allowed the political left the advantage of a double standard – one that makes nearly every criticism of their pet cultures or viewpoints off limits (bigots!), while leaving our own open to dehumanizing ridicule.
It’s time we took that away from them.
Here’s a thought experiment for you to try… go back to election night, and the image of Scott Brison gloating before the cameras – in response to the defeat of BQ members in Quebec, with this quote:
“There’s not a lot of room for Red Tories in a party with a lot of frogs.”
anothersteve,
Um, first line of sentence, “from screechy preacher (religious) in cowboy boots (western). . .”
Stephen,
Dont’ you see, this type of remark that mocks and ridicules western Canadians happens *all the time*, if we just ignore it then others think it’s acceptable to alienate a large portion of Canadians. Personally, I hate it when eastern Canadian politicians come out West and dress up in their warped view of what it means to dress western.
Also, the negative image you mention is a creation of the MSM — *every* leader of the Conservatives (and Reform/Alliance) in the post-war period has been mocked and ridiculed relentlessly.
Diefenbaker was jowly and paranoid, Stanfield was dull and clumsy, Clark was inept, Mulroney was slick, Campbell was a flake, Charest had frizzy hair, Manning was screechy, geeky, frumpy, Day was flaky fundamentalist, and now Harper is too cold. See a trend? Now name a “negative” image of a Liberal PM that dominated the media? Yes, Trudeau was considered arrogant, yet the media explained it away be asserting that it was only because no one else around was as brilliant as Trudeau which made him frustrated and “appear” arrogant.
The point is, as has been said by several different people on this blog, Harper’s so-called image problem can never be “fixed” because the MSM created the image, they despise him, and nothing he can possibly do will convince them to alter how they represent him in their coverage. Period. So, Harper & the Conservatives need to forget the make-over crap, go grass roots, talk to the people, get the message out, and hammer it home — directly to the people.
Fashion Firm Discovers Its Holocaust History
Clothier Hugo Boss Supplied Nazi Uniforms With Forced Labor … factory founded
by Mr. Hugo Boss manufactured work clothes and we think SS uniforms as well. …
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The problem is the MSM want and need a one dimensional CPC. The Libertal and NDP characters are conflicted and complicated individuals. As three dimensional beings their lapses and trangressions can be explained away as the vagaries of the human condition, much like you and me.
By contrast, Consevatives are one dimensional caricatures. Unlike you and I; no complications; no dichotomies; simplistic, shallow and naive. As such they are worthy and deserving of our (all thinking people) derrision.
It is sad really that these apparently educated people can’t see beyond the limits of their own prejudices.
Weston, on the last roundtable on Politics, belaboured a point that “over a beer with a Liberal operative”, he learned……..
Apparently all it takes is a six pack to get on Greg’s good side. Who knew?
2 comments and a question-
1. I love Stephen Harper. He and his Conservative caucus colleagues are so refreshing, and a happy change from the tired old liberal bs.
2. There is a liberal media virus that affects everyone who goes to Ottawa, or associates with Ottawa media types. Don Martin, Greg Weston and Joan Crockatt have all caught it. I hope Dave Rutherford is immune.
Question: How real is western separation? If Ontario re-elects the Liberals, I am thinking of moving to Calgary and joining the separatist movement. Personally, I think the West needs to play this up more to wake up Ontarians.
Just curious, Kate, is the “Thank God” heading in reference to this:
http://bible.gospelcom.net/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=3&verse=14&version=31&context=verse
given the Harper quote?
Hey Cons in TO:
If we get the right leader in next time, we won’t make alot of noise. We will start collecting our own taxes, pension, police force, etc. That’s your sign that Albertan’s are finally getting fed up, which will include separation if put to a referendum.
So I say – vote Liberal…. vote Liberal… vote Liberal.
Maybe Weston is angling for a government job like Jim Munson, former CTV hack, then communications guy for the Little Thug from Shawinigan, now Senator Jim, if you please. Susan Murray, a former CBCer, now mouthpiece for Scott Brison. I’m betting Paul Wells will end up there sometime soon. I e-mailed Weston and told him he’s been contaminated by CBC types, so great is his flip-flop. He e-mailed back and said you can’t argue with polls. Sigh. Slam Harper time again today on Don Newman. can’t watch this shit anymore. It’s summer. I’ll ignore the MSM and trust you guys for a more balanced view of my news.
Iron Lady,
I doubt if Greg Weston is angling for anything from the government. After all the slams he has given the Libs over the years, he’s lucky he isn’t in jail– where he couldn’t get his hands on Cabinet Ministers receipts and scare the bejasus out of them. Trust me, Weston comments on everybody and is unbiased in his coverage.
C’mon, girl, lighten up. Preston’s voice, unlike Anne McLellands, will deepen with maturity. Our beliefs, or faiths, should be able to withstand a little scrutiny, even from an Eastern reporter who has exposed more Liberal crap than the whole Toronto Star. And maybe my cowboy boots could stand to have some of the cowshit scraped off…
Cons in TO – I’ve only been in Alberta a short time (Sask-boy before this). As much as I dislike the western separatism whining (I liken it to my kids threatening to do something they don’t have any real intention of doing), IF it did happen, I don’t think it would happen loudly. I think Quebec is loud because that feeds into the feds trying to buy them off. What can Ottawa offer Alberta in the line of buy-offs? Take our own money to give back to us? We’re smarter than that. The noisiest part would be Albertans convincing our neighbours to go through with it – many Albertans have strong emotional attachments to Canada (that’s why separatism hasn’t gone anywhere here yet).
As another aside – related to another post somewhere. I am extremely proud that Alberta is doing what it can to deal with our flooding on our own. I think Paul Martin had an opportunity to put principles above politics and stop out here to acknowledge the losses in many communities (as he would undoubtedly have done in other regions). It seems as though everything has become politicized in this country under the Liberals.
Albertans never say to much, but then react with lighting speed. Look at the history of government changes, it generally is a 180 sweep the other way. Don’t count separation out, what’s happening is a quite preparedness. Everyone is slowly getting ready, then after an election, if there is not a clear change, it will happen all at once. We don’t piss around making a lot of noise, if we want a change, we make it, and have learned to depend on know one but our selves.
You’re right old squid. Can’t really see Weston as a mouthpiece for anybody. But some of his pieces have been so superficial of late, I was disappointed. Maybe he’s just hoping the Tories will wake up. But he is a tad too cozy with CBC types. I haven’t lost faith in Harper. If anything, I think he stands out because he is who he is. And the latest CanWest poll shows the Tories at 29%, Libs 35%, and NDP back where they were at 15 or 16. I suspect the Tory numbers are higher, but who knows where they polled.
Harper not interested in change
“I don’t intend to change myself,” Harper told Vancouver radio station CKNW during a nationally syndicated call-in show Monday. “I’m not a believer in these so-called image makeovers. I’ve watched politicians who tried to be something they’re not and…