Tory Or Wildrose? Online Quiz Tries To Answer Alberta Election's Toughest Question

The Huffington Post Canada  |  Posted: 04/17/2012 4:57 pm Updated: 04/17/2012 5:22 pm

Alberta Election Redford Smith
Tory or Wildrose? An online quiz asks a pretty tricky question.

Tory Or Wildrose? An online quiz is trying to answer the Alberta election's toughest question while at the same time point out the two right-wing party's similarities.

The site, authorized by the Alberta Liberal Party, throws up quotes drawn from statements made by Tory and Wildrose politicians on everything from abortion, to gay rights to health care funding.

The site includes such gems as:

"For years I have warned Christian educators that you can't partner with public education because public education is godless... Accepting people the way they are is cruel and not loving!"

If you guessed Wildrose, you'd be right. The quote was made by Wildrose candidate Allan Hunsperger on his blog last year. Hunsperger, of course, got in trouble earlier this month for saying that gay people would burn in a lake of fire.

Here's another one:

"Men are attracted to smiles, so smile, don't give me that 'treated equal' stuff. If you want Equal, it comes in little packages at Starbucks."

If you guessed Progressive Conservatives, you're right again. That's something Doug Elniski, a Tory MLA, said to the CBC in 2009. We are guessing he didn't say that to party leader Alison Redford.

The Liberals, who were responsible for the little online quiz, have found themselves in a distant third place and trying to find traction in a race that many see as a fierce fight between a surging Wildrose Party and the Progressive Conservatives, who have ruled the province for more than four decades.

Earlier on HuffPost:

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  • Highlights Of The Alberta Election

    Here's a look back at some of the most memorable moments from the campaign.

  • Wildrose Anti-Gay Blog Revealed

    A blog post saying that gays were destined to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/15/wildrose-anti-gay-blog-alberta_n_1427008.html" target="_hplink">burn in a "lake of fire" for eternity was brought to light on April 16.</a> Allan Hunsperger, a pastor who's running as a Wildrose candidate in Edmonton South, also referenced Lady Gaga's 'Born This Way': "You see, you can live the way you were born, and if you die the way you were born then you will suffer the rest of eternity in the lake of fire, hell, a place of eternal suffering." Wildrose leader Danielle Smith said she was aware of Hunsperger's religious views.

  • Smith Booed, Mocked

    Wildrose leader Danielle Smith found herself <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/20/danielle-smith-booed-climate-change-alberta-election-debate_n_1439858.html" target="_hplink">on the receiving end of booing and mockery at a debate on April 19 for questioning climate change .</a> "There is still a debate in the scientific community," said Smith before being drowned out by a chorus of boos and catcalls. PC leader Alison Redford said Smith leading the province would be an embarrassment.

  • Candidate Makes 'White Advantage' Comment

    Wildrose candidate Ron Leech <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/17/ron-leech-wildrose-candidate_n_1432653.html" target="_hplink">made some controversial remarks about race on a South Asian radio show.</a> "I think as a Caucasian I have an advantage. When different community leaders such as a Sikh leader or a Muslim leader speaks, they really speak to their own people in many ways. As a Caucasian, I believe that I can speak to all the community," said Leech. He apologized for his remarks on April 24, saying that his comments did not come out the way he intended.

  • Redford Under Seige

    During the April 12 debate, the candidates for the Wildrose, Liberal and NDP took the opportunity to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/12/alberta-election-debate_n_1419850.html" target="_hplink">gang up on Progressive Conservative leader Alison Redford</a>. It was an unsurprising tactic given that the Tories have held power in Alberta for 11 consecutive majority governments, although polls reveal the Wildrose may have a fighting chance.

  • Bus Cleavage

    When the Wildrose first rolled out their campaign bus, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/03/23/alberta-wildrose-campaign_n_1375998.html" target="_hplink">there was something distinctly odd about the wheel placement </a>in relation to Smith's image. Late night host Jay Leno even poked fun at the busty bus before a new, less suggestive design rolled out.

  • Closing The Gap

    An April 10 poll showed that Danielle Smith's Wildrose party was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/11/alberta-election-2012-poll_n_1417267.html" target="_hplink">neck and neck with the Progressive Conservatives</a>. The Leger Marketing poll showed the Wildrose has the support of 36 per cent of Albertans, compared to 34 per cent for the governing Tories.

  • 22 Minutes Pokes Fun At Candidates

    This Hour Has 22 Minutes gave their own take on the Alberta election by poking fun at the similarities between Alison Redford and Danielle Smith. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/03/alberta-election-2012-22-minutes_n_1400747.html" target="_hplink">CLICK TO WATCH</a>

  • PC Staffer Gets Personal

    Progressive Conservative staffer<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/03/31/pc-staffer-resigns-danielle-smith-wildrose-tweet_n_1393807.html" target="_hplink"> Amanda Wilkie "resigned" on March 31 after tweeting</a> "If @ElectDanielle likes young and growing families so much, why doesn't she have children of her own? #wrp family pack = insincere." Backlash came swiftly from the PC, the Wildrose and Twitter users alike. Alison Redford herself issues an apology, but not before Smith revealed that she didn't have children due to fertility issues.

  • Awkward!

    In a moment of levity, but mostly embarrassment for Danielle Smith, the Wildrose leader's <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/03/31/danielle-smith-dogs-wildrose-alberta_n_1394069.html" target="_hplink">dogs got frisky during a photo op in Calgary</a>.

  • The Other Guys

    In a province where conservative values dominate politics, Brian Mason's NDP and Raj Sherman's Liberals are left to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/06/alberta-election-liberals-ndp-edmonton_n_1408884.html" target="_hplink">duke it out in left-leaning pockets such as Edmonton</a>.

  • Controversial Issues

    On April 10, for the second time, Wildrose leader Danielle Smith was called out for her<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/10/danielle-smith-pro-choice-gay-marriage_n_1416319.html" target="_hplink"> supposed opposing stance on abortion and gay marriage</a>. Smith however snuffed out the controversy: "When our members elected me they knew they were electing a candidate that was pro-choice and pro-gay marriage." The issues came up earlier in the election when <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/07/alberta-election-abortion-social-issues_n_1409963.html" target="_hplink">Smith was less forthcoming</a> on the subjects.

  • Tory Candidate Assaulted

    Alberta's education minister Thomas Lukaszuk claimed he was <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/04/07/thomas-lukaszuk-assault_n_1410308.html" target="_hplink">assaulted while canvassing in an Edmonton neighbourhood</a>. He said he knocked on the door of a residence with a Wildrose support sign and, once recognized, was punched by the resident within. The resident, Al Michalchuk, says he merely nudged Lukaszuk when he refused to leave.

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Tory Or Wildrose? An online quiz is trying to answer the Alberta election's toughest question while at the same time point out the two right-wing party's similarities. The site, authorized by the ...
Tory Or Wildrose? An online quiz is trying to answer the Alberta election's toughest question while at the same time point out the two right-wing party's similarities. The site, authorized by the ...
 
 
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Add In Canadia
Egotism is a weakness
10:17 PM on 04/17/2012
If it's on a question of economics then Wildrose is going to win, if it's a question of social equality and justice then the PCs are going to win because they've been able to present themselves better on that field.

The problem with the quiz the Liberals have created is that they are pushing forward the notion that there's no difference in social stance between Wildrose or PC, which means the only thing it's going to do is make people vote Wildrose. A dangerous notion.

Vote for the PCs who plan to spend the most of any of the parties, or vote for Wildrose who apparently have the exact same social values as the PCs but are pushing for putting the fiscal side of things back in order. When the question is framed in such a light, it's telling people to vote Wildrose. Probably not the intended effect...
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freeSpeakr
I stand on the shoulders of giants
09:34 PM on 04/17/2012
OK something is wierd - everytime I came across a Frederick Lee quote it was from Ted Morton. Let's get Frederick Lee and Ted Morton in the same room, then put 'em in opposite corners and see which one is the MLA and which one is satan's little concubine.. Problem solved.
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freeSpeakr
I stand on the shoulders of giants
01:02 AM on 04/18/2012
or maybe things are just … weird.
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MyTake
Release the Hydrogen Economy now!
07:20 PM on 04/17/2012
Well, SUN Media are supporting Conservative "B" and castigating Conservative "A" by comparing Redford to Kim Campbell.

Conservative "B" will not disclose the Alberta under-the-table deals with the Oil Cartel when they gain office.

So, this will be yet another decade of the most massive rip-off of resource dollars by the Corporate State. The Alberta Heritage Fund is capped at $15 Billion while The Norwegian Oil Fund sits there at $500 Billion and growing.

The only hope is a split vote giving one or the other a bare minority government. And then the Oil Cartel will start to SWEAT!
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Glass Cannon
Let every eye negotiate for itself.
06:23 PM on 04/17/2012
I choose neither.
06:11 PM on 04/17/2012
The eastern media seems to be confused about Wildrose vs. Conservatives , implying that
the political differences are minimal. Such is certainly not the case, since the present Conservative Party leadership, under Alison Redford is almost as left wing as the NDP.

A majority of Albertans prefer their politics on the conservative side, hence, the rise of the Wild Rose Party.
compro01
Conservatism : Policy-based evidence making
06:21 PM on 04/17/2012
This westerner is having difficulty seeing the differences from next door.
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albertarick
These are questions for wise men with skinny arms
02:02 PM on 04/19/2012
A majority of Albertans are an embarrasement to the rest of Albertans.
03:04 PM on 04/19/2012
The majority of Albertans are comfortable in their views of themselves , and of others. They tend to be independent, and not particularly concerned about how others view them. That's a good thing, and if a minority of Albertans feel the way you do, then perhaps you might find it more comfortable living in politically correct jurisdictions such as Ontario, for example.
05:47 PM on 04/17/2012
Will that be a Conservative, or will that be a Conservative? Danielle Smith gained a lot of support from Big Oil when she pressured Premier Stelmach into retracting the increase in oil royalties. I lean towards Premier Redford. Conservatives are not known for their ability to compromise. Controlling 70% of the polls doesn't leave much of a choice. In the end the lobbyists call the shots.
05:38 PM on 04/17/2012
That's like comparing apples to apples.