A picture of me and 39 other eighteen year olds dressed in our finest uniforms, nervously waiting to parade in front of 1,000 other trainees at our "Passing -Out parade", being reassured by the man we regarded as God: the Regimental Serjeant Major, with his soothing words "Just remember the sun shines on the righteous!" flashed back into mind Saturday afternoon. The reason was a visit to Tantallon Farms, in Hamilton Township, to document the Canadian Alliance Party's barbecue and rally; to present its leadership candidates. When the riding association looks back on the event they can fall on their collective knees and thank the weatherman. This was an occasion when the "sun shined on the righteous".
Standing in scene one; nestled in a large country garden, to the side of the main house and next to a large swimming pool and being invited to eat real beef in a bun (not hamburgers) in a large white tent, I felt another flashback; to my sister's wedding in a similar scene in an English country garden. The only things missing today were the cucumber sandwiches! I mingled with many people I have met and worked with for many years but I was here on a mission: to record a slice of life with people looking to overturn the enemy. They were here to listen to people who want to lead the charge and they were extremely receptive. No new ideas for them they wanted to feel comfortable and Gordon Gilchrist, as host did a magnificent job.
It is not easy owning points of view that may be different from the mainstream, but it feels better when four hundred other people with the same views are with you, and then you think you are the mainstream! From the opening remarks of the master of ceremonies, Steven Gilchrist (He certainly has emerged from political purgatory in good shape), to the ending remarks of Sandra Manning, the faithful got their moneysworth. Standing on a haywagon, just recently vacated by the rudimentary and obligatory six piece jazz band from Trinity College School (where else?), he introduced the headline speaker: our very own Doug Galt MPP. Despite being recently castigated in an editorial in the Port Hope Crier for trying to ride two horses at the same time (being a provincial Tory and a federal reformer) he looked more than at home at this horse ranch.
Launching into a recitation of the "accomplishments' of his provincial party and using such quips as "kids are now proud because mom and dad have now got jobs" (in a reference to having claimed that 500,000 less people are on welfare) and "hard work is encouraged and rewarded" he hit all the "hot-buttons' and validated the audience's own point of view by making it a virtue. Boasting about "standing up to the unions and those who said it couldn't be done" he evoked the image of the last revolutionary still looking for a fight. Explaining that the enemy to the mainstream is the Federal Liberal Party, led by that bumbling incompetent Jean Chretien, he said he is supporting the Alliance because "it [the revolution] has worked in Ontario and it will work for Canada." In a curious way the largest audience responses did not come from Doug's boasting of his achievements but the slagging of bogeywomen. Negative references to Sheila Copps and Jane Stewart produced large applause. But in closing the bible thumper inside Doug emerged "Where's the promised land? We in Ontario have reached it and uniting the right will do it for Canada!" A good speech, seven on the clapometer, but I had the funny feeling that I have heard it before. In fact I had heard most of it, this is Doug's one speech and repeated daily for six years. "Thank you Doug," says Steven and then introduced Tom Long.
Tom Long, a curiosity for most of the audience, did not disappoint. There was not a mantra or hotbutton missed. "I'm running because we have to change the economic course. Real families need more dollars." "I want a party that stands up for the mainstream." "People know as much today about the Alliance as they did about Mike Harris in 1995." I've never spent a day of my life around government!" "God would have created Canada if it didn't exist already." "I'm not just a business man, I'm not just a conservative, I'm a Dad!" Picking up where Doug Galt left off he bashed the Federal Liberals crying out to great applause, "I don't want Sheila Copps running this country" and leaving us all with a finale performance worthy of Pavarotti "If you like what Mike Harris has done in Ontario and you like what Ralph Klein has done in Alberta you are going to love me when I get to Ottawa.
"Thank you Tom" says Steven "here's Preston". Preston delivering the same speech as he did in Lindsay and Peterborough, (information gleaned from the one national reporter on the trail) earlier in the day, proceeded to invite the crowd to, a, join the CA and b, vote in the leadership election. He did in his ten-minute speech and the questions following explain just what he is up to: to sell things. He was selling the idea that the whole leadership process is one great big job interview "You write the job description and see if we fit" and selling tax cuts. As if tax cuts are being sold like a commodity he did boast that "The Alliance offers the biggest tax rate removal of any party". He ended with a slogan I hadn't heard before "The word tax ends with an X, the solution starts with an X". Another image: Preston sitting down with Jesse Jackson long enough to pick up his manner of speech.
Then along came Sandra (Manning's wife). Having watched a CBC segment the night before about Sandra's political skills and the way the couple tag-teams the delivery and closing, I expected this - it worked. The largest applause of the day was given to a questioner who spoke about gun control. This crowd hates it and loves the promised repeal of Bill 68 (again large applause). One nasty image of the crowd came in a question "Preston, what are going to do about taking back our streets from the wild youth?" Obviously a setup because Preston conveniently passed the microphone to Chuck Cadman (a back bench reform member from BC) who proceeded to tell the crowd that he only got into politics because his son had been murdered and he wanted to repeal the Young Offenders Act. "Criminals have to be accountable" and "If rehabilitation works we advocate it".
All in all the day could be counted a success: good turnout, good food nice people and no gaffes. Did I see anybody that I did not expect to see, No. Breaking the numbers down 400 came, about 200 were reform members, about 60 new members, about 35 out of riding people and the conclusion is that the Alliance put on a good show but has not broken through. With the average age of the audience being about 63 years old and the only youth being their family members they still have to convince the 'real family', whoever they are, that they stand for them.
Driving away I tried to sum up the experience and another image came to mind: classy surroundings, good product, smooth and easytalking salespeople, easy financing: a nice time overall, BUT I AM STILL NOT BUYING. Just like a 90 minute timeshare sales presentation.