Sometimes you just have to give your head a shake in disbelief. Today we learn that Justin Trudeau has once again copied his father. No, he didn't swear again in the House of Commons, but he did use his father's infamous words from the 1970 FLQ crisis "Just Watch Me." Those words of course were spoken as his father was implementing the War Measures Act designed to curtail civil liberties.
For someone who claims that he wants to do politics a new way, he seems to slip back into old proven methods of getting attention.
I doubt this was a planned slip up. In politics, sometimes you do say things to advance your issue or even create a smokescreen or diversion for a bigger issue. But, in this instance that doesn't seem to be the case.
It's no surprise that he thinks that he can beat Stephen Harper, but he chose the wrongs words to say so. He has to believe he can win or he wouldn't be running for the Liberal leadership, but really shouldn't he stop and think before putting his foot in his mouth?
Justin has a habit of doing this. Remember his swearing at Environment Minister Peter Kent back in December 2011? While it wasn't "fuddle duddle" he still had to stand and apologize. Other than providing him with a bit of ego satisfying extra media coverage, it didn't earn him many points.
He also put his foot in his mouth when he suggested "...maybe I would think about wanting to make Quebec a country" if Stephen Harper's vision of Canada was to come true. If people thought that might help him in vote rich Quebec, he probably lost an equal number of votes with his "Just Watch Me."
And of course if you want to alienate the west, why not mention that "Canada isn't doing well right now because it's Albertans who control our community and socio-democratic agenda. It doesn't work." While Trudeau did apologize and suggested that he meant Stephen Harper and not Albertans, that gem of a comment played a part in the Liberals losing the Calgary bye-election.
One can argue that we should give him a break, but he is playing in the big leagues now. Every word, every thought, every gesture will be analyzed and where applicable used against you.
One can see the Conservative election ads now... Justin Trudeau's scrawled "Just watch me" played back to back with a news clip of his father saying the same thing. His comment might play well with the younger generation, but there are a lot of baby boomers and seniors who don't have fond memories of his father -- and they vote.
His campaign team must be shaking their heads, but the good news for them is that so far Justin Trudeau hasn't given the "Salmon Arm salute" to anyone.
