I almost feel sorry for Erin O’Toole today. I say almost because it was his political organization and his staff’s work on the policy convention that has pretty much handed him a loss in the next election. Losing the fight for pro-O’Toole delegates at the riding level selection meetings, cost O’Toole dearly at the convention.
Just think four more years of Trudeau because a majority of Conservative delegates cannot see climate change as a reality.
The Conservative spin machine is in overdrive doing damage control. They need to understand that no one is listening to them.
After losing the vote they are trying to say that adding these few words “we recognize that climate change is real. The Conservative Party is willing to act.” was just tinkering with what was already in the platform etc. is BS. You do not move a motion at a national policy convention unless you really believe those few lines are essential to the party’s success.
The spin team is also reaching back to past leaders for proof that the Conservatives are tough on climate issues. Well, the Conservative team lost back then and in the last election as well. Come to think of it, isn’t it a standard Conservative talk point to criticize the Liberals for reaching back in time to the Harper era?
The issue for O’Toole and the next Conservative leader and the next one after that will always be how to attract more voters to the party. It will be tough going as the Liberals have successfully framed the Conservatives as climate deniers and on other issues as well.
Perception in politics is reality. Just as the Conservatives successfully framed Dion as incompetent and Ignatieff as just visiting, the Liberals have successfully framed the Conservatives on the climate issue. Thanks to the convention delegates, O’Toole is now a wounded leader with a tough road ahead of him.
The Liberal platform is taking shape- run on climate change (try and grab some Green Party and NDP votes), abortion (the one issue Conservatives can never seem to shut down), a national day care program (which will appeal to millennials) and maybe toss in some type of universal basic income program.
Good luck Erin, you are going to need a lot of it.
