MONTREAL - There's a surprising new star making a cameo appearance in Conservative ads attacking Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff: his name is Justin Trudeau.
French-language TV ads that have begun airing in Quebec show the rookie MP blasting a few volleys of friendly fire at his leader.
The ads include clips from an interview Trudeau did during the 2006 Liberal leadership race.
Trudeau was not yet an MP at the time but, being the son of the most revered figure in the party, his comments about Ignatieff made headlines during the race.
Trudeau had endorsed Gerard Kennedy and was particularly critical of the front-runner.
"Ignatieff, he's a little all over the place sometimes," Trudeau says in the spot, in a clip drawn from a 2006 TV interview.
"He says this, he says that - he contradicts himself."
Trudeau then delivers this little parting shot: "For me, he's not someone with... maybe he has the intelligence, but maybe not the wisdom required."
At the time, the young Trudeau and candidate Ignatieff had crossed swords over whether Quebec should be recognized as a nation - something Ignatieff supported.
The ad's narrator ends the spot by asking viewers: "Liberals themselves doubt (Ignatieff's) judgment. How can we trust him?"
Ironically, Ignatieff is now getting a taste of the same medicine he unwittingly dished out once to his own leader.
Conservative ads before the last election showed Ignatieff, from the same leadership race, criticizing Stephane Dion's environmental record, saying: "Stephane, we didn't get it done."
When asked about the new spots, Ignatieff responded with kind remarks about his new MP.
He tried using the episode as evidence he was more collegial than Harper, who keeps a notoriously tight leash on his caucus.
"As compared to Mr. Harper, I can work very well with people who have opinions that differ from mine," he said.
"Justin Trudeau is a man with a remarkable future in the party and I'm proud that he's part of my team and that's all I have to say."
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Gary
2 years ago
Here we go again
Harper knows he's a failure at leading the country so he tries to deflect his incompetence to others.
Something Harper never got done. Scrap the long gun registry. He's a joke.
southdeltawalker
2 years ago
Justin Trudeau-a "remarkable future"?
Don't make me laugh-has anyone ever heard him say anything "remarkable"?
As for Trudeau saying Ignatieff "..has intelligence but not wisdom"-Justin Trudeau has neither.
All he has is a name.
As for Ignatieff saying Trudeau is the "future"...the Conservatives have nothing to worry about.
NicS
2 years ago
Classic framing of issues and individuals.
Another feather in the cap for Harpers election team. Come out swinging, frame the person or issue and watch the reactions, whilst the damage is already done.
Barryeng
2 years ago
Trudeau-Iggy?
I think that the conservatives must be gettng a little desperate. If they are digging up liberal statements made about a candidate in a leadership campaign, by a supporter of another candidate, then it looks like they have run out of original thoughts of their own. If you look far enuogh back, you can probably find complaints anyone has made about some other politician, including ones that now support Harper. This is just another non-issue.
It looks to me like the two major parties are going to be so busy this fall slinging mud at each other that nothing is going to get done . . . again!
morechatter
2 years ago
Political Fluff
Do you remember the presedential campagain?
I do. Obama an Hilary sure said had a lot to say about each other when the race for a leader is on. They now work together. Now, thats politics.
morechatter
2 years ago
Desperate Indeed
And talking about contridictions? Harper is a leader of contradictions.
I wonder what Trudeau has to say about Harper? Now that should be interesting read.
A few contridictions are?
Canada is out of Recession/Expect hard times ahead, at least for the next five years. Convieniently after an election no doubt.
Recovered Economy/Things are a lot worst than thought? What were they thinking?
Interest rates record lows
Increased employment
Full time job loses
Increased part-time retail(women make the job gains) low paying no affordable daycare) men sit on the side lines except for a few part-time employment gains
Increased immigration
250,000 immigrantant workers/not considered unemployed
New immigrants looking for work/not considered unemployed
60 Billion Deficit??????
No reductions in transfer payments/ Its down to the bone so expect a great deal of reduced services?
Harper's Hated Sales Tax, HST as Harper gets cash crazed premiers to sign on the dotted line. Harper says It wasn't my plan. Well who made up the tax plan? It is a back door tax. Isn't Harper getting the cash?
What other deals is Harper handing out?
Harper says Iggy lived in the USA/ while Harper can't wait to sell out Canadians to big oil.
Harper is into the great divide as the gap widens between working families and the rich.
Skywalker
2 years ago
How about
asking Joe Clark to comment about Harper or maybe David Orchard. Eiher one has much more credibility,
Sask Resident
2 years ago
David Orchard.
David Orchard has no credibility. He has belonged to 4 parties and is against anything that he doesn't propose. Orchard was originally a Liberal.
As for Trudeau, he is a name and the only guy I know that would get fewer Liberal MPs elected in the west based on his name.
The Liberals have lost the meanness of Chretien that got 3 majorities. Chretien would use humour and, if necessary, physical force to put the opposition into their place.