Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

Liberals to propose voting age be reduced to 3

by Aaron Wherry on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 12:11am - 99 Comments

Tags: child care, day care, daycare, Michael Ignatieff

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The Commons: Smiling Diane

When you smile, the whole world smiles with you–sometimes

http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

Looks like Volpe might one day have a shot at the Liberal leadership after all…

http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

Phenomenal. Someone needs to give you kudos for this.

http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

Why, thanks, WDM.

http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

Just watched the vid. Did he violate any daycare policies on touching the children? I have a feeling his affection for those kids might have surpassed what the early childhood education workers are allowed to offer.

Not saying it's wrong. Every child deserves love and affection. And I am not saying MI did anything wrong. Not at all. Just saying that warped pervs have warped what unrelated adults are allowed to do for children these days.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

Just watched the vid. Did he violate any daycare policies on touching the children? I have a feeling his affection for those kids might have surpassed what the early childhood education workers are allowed to offer.

Every child deserves love and affection, and I am not saying MI did anything wrong. Not at all. Just saying that warped pervs have warped what unrelated adults are allowed to do for children these days.

Mr Dressup

Have you ever been to a daycare? Hugs are allowed.
Mr Dressup

Have you ever been to a daycare? Hugs are allowed.

http://www.intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

Kisses, too? I mean, besides for Casey and Finnigan.

dan in van

Your pathetic. Are you really that desperate to draw attention to a natural moment of warmth?

knick

That comment is truly pathetic.

http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Scene: Liberal Warroom

Liberal Operative 1: "We're tanking in the polls, nothing MI says is getting any traction, what do we do?"

Liberal Operative 2: "GET THIS MAN AND A CAMERA CREW INTO A DAYCARE ASAP"

http://intensedebate.com/people/jolyon jolyon

I think Michael Valpy's Oct 6 column in Globe/Mail tells you what Lib war room is trying to fix:

"Dubbed a cerebral sex symbol when he entered politics, Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff now faces a wall in his appeal to women. They don't much like him.

The issue is hugely significant for his party, which historically has enjoyed high levels of women's support. Ignatieff predecessors such as Pierre Trudeau and Jean Chrétien held 20-point leads in the polls with women over their Conservative opponents.

But Monday's Strategic Counsel poll shows women age 35 and over – and particularly women age 50 and over – have rejected the Liberals in droves in the past six months. "

Dakota

Will women enjoy watching an old creepy man kissing and hugging little children….I doubt it.

Andre

He's old and creepy to you but for us cerebral types he's a real blown up doll.

http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

Kisses, too?
http://intensedebate.com/people/TwoYen TwoYen

Daycare? Oh, I thought that was a LIberal caucus meeting.
John

did MI violate daycare rules? Wow, you Conservative "rapid response" guys are the biggest bunch of losers.

The fact is, this video is great TV and if I were a Liberal strategist, I'd be sending this thing far and wide, as the kids clearly loved him. I'd also tell Iggy to wear glasses more often. He looks more personable, like a fatherly statesman. This could never happen to Harper… he couldn't get the kids to warm to him like that. Though, I suppose he could probably get a kiss and a hug from Yo Yo Ma (but his wife would have to stage it for him…)

Jesse

This is Iggy's piano moment!! You guys and the media are hilarious. Nobody wants to elect grandpa.

And Harper has two children and is known to be an excellent father.
http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

More in sorrow than in anger, must I respond: I am not Conservative, and (feel free to actually read the comment) I clearly state that MI did no wrong. It was a lament on what we as a society have come to. So, please relax.

knick

It's the fact that you would find it necessary to interject something sinister into what seems to be an innocent display of affection that makes your original comment so distasteful. It's a matter of relevance.

http://intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

You so seriously do NOT get it. I have been lamenting that this world has reached the point where such innocent displays of affection are in sinister trouble. This is my last attempt to let you guys try to understand that we are actually on the same page. Except for the how-dare-you-even-bring-this-up part.

Dakota

How many times can you cut and paste this post?

dan in van

He's just trying to keep up with you…

http://intensedebate.com/people/Crit_Reasoning Crit_Reasoning

Interesting PR move, but it's not exactly Iggy's "piano moment". This is child's play, in both the relative and literal sense. Ignatieff is hardly the first politician to kiss young children in a cutesy photo-op. If the Liberals view this as an effective response to Harper's PR triumph, their tactical vision may be somewhat lacking.

Still, as a small step, Ignatieff is on the right track. It beats Feschuk's jokey "one-man play" suggestion: Michael Ignatieff plays Michael Ignatieff in his three-hour monologue, Michael Ignatieff.

http://intensedebate.com/people/VinceClortho VinceClortho

It is the right move. But coming as it does it doesnt really help because it is….well transparent, but hey Harper has doen the same thing. What works for Harper in these is he gets demonized as a robot/conbot etc that something that pricks that bubble so badly helps.

But this will help blunt the snow balling attacks against him. I mean how can you be mean to a guy who likes kids and who kids like, human nature. So less yelling with the adolescents in Parliament and more playdoh eating with toddlers.
Michael

Well Crit, this is the sort of thing all politicians do. I don't think it was anything other than a regular, run of the mill type of event. What made it special was the spontaneous outpouring of affection from the children.

I highly doubt it was a planned response to the piano, but it'll do in a pinch.

http://intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Right. Ignatieff just happened to be in the neighborhood of a daycare and dropped in for a visit, at the exact same time as an off duty camera crew. Happens all the time at my kid's daycare.

And was it really spontaneous? I doubt it… I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the children were encouraged by an adult in the room to give Ignatieff the big hug. A roomful of kids at a daycare don't do that kind of thing with strangers without some encouragement.

If this were Harper, you all would be up in arms about the crassness and obviousness of this staged photo op, coming at a time when it's so desperately needed.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Right. Ignatieff just happened to be in the neighborhood of a daycare and dropped in for a visit, at the exact same time as an off duty camera crew. Happens all the time at my kid's daycare.

And was the affection really spontaneous? I doubt it… I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the children were encouraged by an adult in the room to give Ignatieff the big hug. A roomful of kids at a daycare don't do that kind of thing with strangers without some encouragement. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it was genuine…but spontaneous? Please…

If this were Harper, you all would be up in arms about the crassness and obviousness of this staged photo op, coming at a time when it's so desperately needed.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/john_g2708 john g

Right. Ignatieff just happened to be in the neighborhood of a daycare and dropped in for a visit, at the exact same time as an off duty camera crew. Happens all the time at my kid's daycare.

And was the affection really spontaneous? I doubt it… I certainly wouldn't be surprised if the children were encouraged by an adult in the room to give Ignatieff the big hug. A roomful of kids at a daycare don't do that kind of thing with strangers without some encouragement. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it was genuine, these are kids…but spontaneous? Please…

If this were Harper, you all would be up in arms about the crassness and obviousness of this staged photo op, coming at a time when it's so desperately needed.

dan in van

I've got two kids in that age group. I can tell them to do something but it doesn't happen unless they want to do it. I fairly doubt your scepticism is authentic; if you actually had a dose of scepticism you'd be training it on the government these days, rather than 3-4 year olds…

Andre

the first hug was planned, the group tackle was spontaneous

knick

Harper's 'piano moment' was well staged, Ignatieff's 'daycare moment' seems to have been spontaneous. Big difference I'd say.

http://theplaceofbiff.blogspot.com biff

Harper's vilified as a crass political opportunist,

and here we have Iggy literally hugging and kissing toddlers of strangers on camera.

Giving a single baby a peck on the head, may be a good photo op, but having a group of toddlers to gang tackle the politician with hugging and kissing en mass, on airs of awkward desperation.

Andrew (not P or C)

I get the impression you're jealous, because Harper would never be willing to have kids pile on in a similar fashion. He's the man who shook his kid's hand in lieu of a hug.
http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

Vilified? C'mon. I am no fan of Mr Harper, but I thought his turn at the piano was great.

I still don't trust him though.
http://intensedebate.com/people/M_A_N M_A_N

As a communications guy, I can't tell you how hard it is to convince a group of 5 year-olds to stay on message.

Seriously, the only way you could force a moment like this would be to wrap ignatieff in fruit roll-ups at snack time. Unless you think the kids are liberal plants?

http://intensedebate.com/people/YYZ YYZ

God I love fruit rollups.

http://www.intensedebate.com/people/madeyoulook madeyoulook

Well, one kid did say he wanted to be an astronaut when he grew up, and another wanted to be a goalie in the NHL, and another wanted to be an NDP provincial premier, ANOTHER one wanted to be an NDP provincial premier, another wanted to be a bank vice president who couldn't clearly recall what car he drives, and…

John

did MI violate daycare rules? Wow, you Conservative "rapid response" guys are the biggest bunch of losers.

The fact is, this video is great TV and if I were a Liberal strategist, I'd be sending this thing far and wide, as the kids clearly loved him. I'd also tell Iggy to wear glasses more often. He looks more personable, like a fatherly statesman. This could never happen to Harper… he couldn't get the kids to warm to him like that. Though, I suppose he could probably get a kiss and a hug from Yo Yo Ma (but his wife would have to stage it for him…)

Maureen

Guess what – I don't want (or need) a father figure as I'm a mature, independent woman.

MJ Patchouli

I'm a mature independent woman and I adore father figures. And I hope this get played on media outlets across the country because there's something very trustworthy and kindly about a man who kids just want to spontaneously hug. It makes people like him.
http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

How about a smiling piano man?

http://intensedebate.com/people/YYZ YYZ

How did you get thumbs down for that!? I put a thumbs up for you. Even a raging Liberal should be able to laugh at this comment.

http://intensedebate.com/people/M_A_N M_A_N

"bon barker grey"

Possibly the best three words in there.

jarrid

If ever anyone needed a hug right now it's Iggy, these kids have obviously been hearing about the polls.

Anon Lib

http://www.nanosresearch.com/news/in_the_news/Win…

Dakota

Yes, because Nanos is so accurate….didn't he miss the last election by 5 points?

http://intensedebate.com/people/WDM WDM

If so, their parents should lose custody rights.

jarrid

Liberals can stage photo ops until kingdom come.

They can have Warren Kinsella work overtime with his negative attacks.

They will never succeed until they get policies and start standing for something. They seem to think it's all spin. Spin's fine, as far it goes. But if you don't stand for something and propose a platform why should Canadians vote for them?

Because they're Liberals? I guess that's the "strategy". And it largely explains why they've been trending from 30% in 2006 downward to the mid-20% range as of late.

http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

Yeah…. the Liberals are abusing the CPC with negative attacks…..I hope a puffin poops on you
http://intensedebate.com/people/M_A_N M_A_N

Spin comes from both sides, Jarrid. You know better.
Boethius

Almost anything you say loses all credibility because it's coming from you Jarrid.

dan in van

Jarrid is looking through the looking glass again. The mad hatter is bringing him his tea and someone will be by to loosen the straps on his full-buckled suit anytime now…

BCer in Mtl

“They seem to think it’s all spin. Spin’s fine, as far it goes. But if you don’t stand for something and propose a platform why should Canadians vote for them? ”

That is rich coming from you.

- No election platform until someone figured out it might a good idea to have one (for an election they engineered, no less)
- Constant spin machine, whether its about gag cheques, Hillier, detainee abuse reports, preferential spending; their whole report card exercise was completely content-free spin.

http://intensedebate.com/people/tigerinexil1428 tigerinexile

When you're in trouble, get back to basics.

That's what this is. It's a decent start…
jarrid

"When you're in trouble, get back to basics."

Good advice. But in the Liberal's case, getting back to basics means getting some policies and standing for something.

The problem with photo-ops is that they're read and interpreted in the political context they're taken. If Iggy was brimming with confidence and leading the Liberals with a robust vision the photo op here would make him look like a winner.

Instead he's down and out, going nowhere, and this photo makes him look like a bit of a sad sack who needs the unconditional love that small children can give. A picture of him with his dog right now would be read the same way.

Anon Lib

Somone needs to give Jarrid a hug.
http://www.intensedebate.com/people/YYZ YYZ

Jarrid I don't disagree with you about the Liberals, but please remind me what the Conservatives (who are governing) stand for.

Fiscal responsibility? Ha!
Accountability and Transparency? Yeah right.
More democracy in our political institutions?
No more being at the mercy of Quebec?
Environmental stewardship?
Intelligent tax policy?

The only policy the Conservatives have been consistent on is Crime, which long before they came to power was actually declining in almost every jurisidiction in the country. I do not give much credit to the Liberals right now either, but don't act like the Prime Minister has laid out a grand plan for Canada which he is now following.

http://intensedebate.com/people/Thwim Thwim

Don't be too hard on jarrid. He really wants Ignatieff to get his policies out there..

..after all, Harper can't copy them until he sees them.

http://intensedebate.com/people/AJR79 AJR79

Watching Iggy in the news today, I think part of his problem is his voice when he gets heated.

I don't mean this in a mean way, (I kinda like Iggy the academic), but his voice gets a bad, whiny quality to it.

He should modulate his tone better. It is off-putting.
Andrew (not P or C)

More to the point, it's none of our business. I don't give a rats ass about Harper's family, except where they get involved in his politics.
Sigh

Innuendo based on lack of information. Good one.
Anon Lib

Your comment is truly despicable Maureen.
MJ Patchouli

You're a bit of a freak job, aren't you Maureen? Are you also Lorraine? You seem on the same page with your eewwwwy comments.

Actually, Tom Clark talked specifically about this incident on Power Play, and said the kids adored Iggy — and swarmed him with affection.
http://intensedebate.com/people/TwoYen TwoYen

I agree with the comment above that Iggy should wear glasses more often. It softens his image. Just my two yen.
MJ Patchouli

When he was in Regina last week, he was at my niece's high school, and those kids really seemed to like talking to him too — not all bored looking, but interested with lively questions.
Mike514

Well, at least he's sticking to his commitment to not have any "adult conversations."
Maureen

Just pointing out the obvious people.

MJ Patchouli

It doesn't have to be true, just plausible, right?

Good con, good girl. Wanna milk bone?

http://intensedebate.com/people/M_A_N M_A_N

Seriously? How may MP's on both sides want to go there? You can't be a conservative plant, because the PM's war room isn't crazy.
http://intensedebate.com/people/danby danby

I'm trying to remember what the RH Peter MacKay said about a certain ex of his…….. hmmmmm. Oh that's right, he denied it.
Arf! Arf!

dan in van

The obvious only reflects back on you.
Maureen

My, my we are just the most sensitive wee beings on the face of the earth. The fact that my original post has been deleted goes to the heart of my comment. We know very little about Iggy's personal life (because it has been deemed off-limits by the media except for a G & M reporter from about 2 or 3 years ago) yet, you know, I know and everyone knows that if Harper had an ex-wife and two kids that were never talked about in the official party narrative, the media would be on the doorstep of the ex-wife until they got a 'story' – doesn't matter what the story is, they would twist it into whatever they wanted it to be. But nothing on Iggy's first wife and children and the circumstances of the divorce! And yet the same media is quite willing to trot Iggy out as a friendly father/grandfatherly figure as opposed to the wooden and stiff Harper – again while missing in action is any reference to his own children. So all of you – get off your high horses and stop being so tut, tut!

The official Iggy narrative that the LPC wants out to the public is that Canada is so fortunate to have this man come back to Canada to save us from the right wing hordes and his flaws are minor, whereas Harper eats kittens for breakfast. Except the official narrative is falling apart on Iggy so we have drag out a visit to a daycare so he looks more human.

Dakota

This clip is creepy…I'm sure daycare workers have been fired for less.

Good job though CBC, what's next, a puff piece on Iggy handing out loonies to homeless people in Toronto?

Chuck Vs Macleans

Oh Ya, that was a creepy clip. There is no doubt about it.
http://intensedebate.com/people/OntarioTown OntarioTown

If you find it creepy – I suspect you are the one with creepy mind.
http://intensedebate.com/people/M_A_N M_A_N

"Good job though CBC, what's next, a puff piece on Iggy handing out loonies to homeless people in Toronto?"

They wanted to ask him what his favourite beatles song is, but they got scooped byt his website.