How not to launch a campaign, Tory edition
February 5, 2008 | 08:24 AM
John Archer
As lacklustre as the Alberta Liberal campaign launch may have been, at least they did it on their own dime. The same cannot be said of the Alberta Progressive Conservatives.
The party that has ruled the province for more than 36 years and has a reported war chest of almost $4 million decided on Monday that the legislature and its media room were the best venues to get things rolling for the next 28 days.
Reporters from across the province were invited to dial in to a teleconference so they could hear Ed Stelmach speak and to possibly ask a question. But in order to do that, taxpayers' money was used to pay for the link and the staff needed to make it all happen.
Tory Leader Ed Stelmach speaks to reporters Monday after calling a provincial election.
(CBC)
When pressed by reporters about the propriety of using government property and government workers for partisan purposes, Stelmach insisted he was commenting on the speech from the throne, not launching his campaign. How he did this with a straight face while the campaign's communications director was a few steps away is a dramatic feat few could pull off.
The fact is the throne speech WAS the campaign launch and using government workers to help get his message out is crossing a line that politicians in other provinces dare not approach.
Where was the off-site boisterous rally with loud music and sign-waving volunteers? Many of us in the media believed we'd find out where and when we had to be at the last minute before bundling up and heading to a hotel conference room somewhere in Edmonton. Alas, it never came to be.
Organizing a late-day rally seems like it would be something a party like the Tories could pull off. It could be as simple as sending a warning note to the executive members of all the local riding associations. Tell them to watch for an urgent email that might come in the late afternoon to get all their campaign volunteers to a central location.
We've heard from so many Tory candidates that their teams have been coming together and are excited about the untold number of people wanting to help out. If that's the case, why weren't they herded to a kick-off rally so the TV newscasts could have some action shots for their shows? Were the Tories worried about whether people would show up?
Comments: (1)
I couldn't agree more! This sense of 'entitlement' is exactly why we need to throw the PCs out for a change -- they've been in power too long. They work for us, and we wouldn't tolerate this from any employee.
Posted February 5, 2008 09:50 AM