Liberal leadership forum takes aim at NDP

[tuvor]

Surrey, B.C. — The Liberal Party may be hoping to dislodge the Conservatives from power, but the candidates for the party leadership spent much of Monday night debating ways to attack the NDP.

At a mini-debate leadership “forum” in Surrey, B.C., the Liberal contenders took as many swipes at NDP Leader Jack Layton as they did at Prime Minister Stephen Harper, accusing New Democrats of hiding hardball tactics behind a façade of moral principle – with most candidates arguing the Liberals need to win back ground on the left.

“As Liberals, we know those guys all the way down: high moral principles, and they fight like alley cats,” said Toronto MP Michael Ignatieff. “I mean it's the worst combination. We have to go out and say, this high moral principle stuff – give me a break, here. You fight elections in the dirtiest way anybody's ever seen in Canada.”

“Number two is we have to say that we are the progressive social conscience of this country, always have been, always will.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20060822.wliberals0822/BNStory/National/home

[Telly Savalas]

1. When talking about ways to win back ground on the left...

did Ignatieff suggest that it might help if the Liberals chose a leader who didn't hold a far right position in support of the U.S. invasion of Iraq?

[Spazito]

2. LOL, given Ignatieff is one of those "supporters", I suspect not...

Very good point.

[MrPrax]

3. Good one!!

Yean I was going to brab a few juicy Iggy quotes...but you nailed him. It will be funny if this Amerikan warmonger gets elected...Steve and Iggy will be arguing over who best represents Canadian values.

The small 'l' crowd will probably fall for it too.