I will be voting for Jack Harris in the upcoming election. This will be the third time that I have voted for him in some capacity or another. Once as MHA, once for Mayor and now for my Member of Parliament. I have a tremendous respect for Jack that goes back twenty years. He has more credibility than half the House of Assembly, past and present, rolled together. I can not think of a finer person to represent the North Eastern Avalon in the House of Commons.
Jack just happens to be a New Democrat. As a left of center liberal with three young children that is pretty comfortable ground for me. I have only voted for one other New Democrat, and I have done that twice now. Lorraine Micheals is a good constituency member and is doing a fantastic job in the House of Assembly. The candidates have trumped the party.
Does that mean I am now a federal New Democrat? No. It means I am no longer a cool aid drinking, dyed in the wool autobot programmed to march to the beat of a liberal drum because it expected of me. I may have held my nose and quietly voted for Walter Noel if I had not been given a better option. It means I am now part of the swing vote. Someone that you need to convince to vote for you as opposed to take my vote for granted. It is the swing votes that matter, that turn elections.
Walter demonstrated the bitterness and arrogance that has eclipsed his better days as a politician on VOCM Open Line today. Personal attacks are no substitute for policy when you are asking people for their votes. It is a shame that some people do not know when to hang up their skates and depart the political scene with grace and dignity. When the dust settles I expect a Liberal-NDP coalition government. Newfoundland and Labrador will be in a great position to realise the benefits of that.
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