Once again Stephen Harper is attempting to soften his image by granting an interview with Quebec City’s Prestige magazine invoking God, country and family.
In the article, Mr. Harper said it’s too early to consider how history will treat him, adding that a more pressing and ever-present priority is ensuring family comes first.
“The important thing, for me, is to preserve family ties. I can win elections, but if I lose my family, it’s a disaster.”
He said he is not troubled by thoughts of what judgment history will render.
“To be honest with you, I am a lot more concerned by God’s verdict regarding my life than the one of historians,” the Prime Minister said with a laugh, according to the article.
I have no problem with anyone being concerned with God’s verdict regarding their life. But when you are the Prime Minister working to get a majority government, I walk away thinking Harper is once again invoking God for his own purposes in a conservative friendly Quebec riding.Â
He’s done this before, and I’m left feeling like its 2000 and the talking points are supplied by The Republican Party and Tom Flanagan. I’m glad his family is important to him, political families are under immense pressures, but he might have been further ahead to talk about his real passion – hockey.Â
Harper and the Conservatives are in constant election mode, I don’t believe he will get his majority and that isn’t going to have anything to do with God.Â
His senate appointments have bothered even his own party members, and dismissing what historians (who are also voters) will think of him indicates a disregard of anyone he doesn’t believe is his base.
I cannot and will not judge a man’s heart, I can only say I don’t believe there isn’t hidden motive in Harpers supposed off the cuff comment. This doesn’t come across as a softer side of the PM, given his Reform background. His family comments may tug some heart strings, but has little to do with his platform and performance in office.
Other points of view
Blue Like You
Harper is a coward who hides behind God.
He is always front and centre when there’s
good news but nowhere to be found when
it’s bad news. That’s when a minister has
to take the hits from the press.
He short circuits convention, tradition, protocol,
accountability and responsibility–to name a few
shortcomings.
He’s never really worked a day in his life and
really had to earn a real paycheque in the real
world. He probably doesn’t know the price
of a pound of butter or how far $50 will go in
the supermarket.
He doesn’t listen to his handlers and he likes
to hold audiences hostage particularly at inter-
national conferences where he can get the last
word in and force the final communique to be
reworded to his liking.
I still cannot find anything redeeming about him and
I’ve got an open mind–unlike Harper.
I do not refer to him as Prime Minister because he
doesn’t deserve the title. He is not a leader on any
count.
Why does his office staff turn over so frequently?
They can’t stand to work with him!
I pity the caucus and the cabinet.
I fell saddened for the people whose rights he’s trampled
on or neglected.
It must be tough for his children at school–probably like
the Mulroney children in their day.
There’s a saying that “Classical music died with Elgar and
it’s been downhill ever since”.
Conservatism died with Diefenbaker and it’s been
downhill ever since.
I can’t wait to see the back of that man heading back
to a firewalled Alberta.
I think you are being a little hard on him, folks. His faith and family are part of who he is. If he wanted to make a big deal out of this and use to make electoral points, telling a small circulation paper in Quebec is hardly the way to go about it. And quite frankly, Torontonian, I’m surprised that Bene Diction allowed such a nasty piece of slander to stay online. I expect better from this site.
I still stand by my words. That’s something Harper
doesn’t do.
I have my opinions and I vent them and if it is
necessary to be a little unsparing in the truth then
so be it.
What I am demonstrating is that his actions are
not the result of Christian upbringing and learning.
Christianity does not inform his politics in a
way of fairness and open-mindedness.
Obstinacy is not a Christian trait.
Ted Kennedy was a Christian through and through.
Harper is hardly a Christian of the type I’ve known
all my life.
Have your opinions and I’ll have mine and if Bene
Diction wants to take down my posts–then fine.
So be it.
You are right on one count. The quality of comment
on this site has gone downhill in recent months and
it seems to be several persons who relentlessly
impose themselves on the rest of us and distract
and detract from the matter at hand.
In that, you are right.
I agree his faith is part of who Mr. Harper is Glenn.
There are Christians in the federal square who do not toss out faith points when it suits them to shore up support.
Yes he used a friendly magazine to speak about personal things, moot point, he’d be scrutizined no matter what platform he used.
There is a lot coming up in the fall session, if you think Torontonian was blistering, don’t read some of the Blogging Tories who are currently upset, identified opposition blogs aren’t a place you’d want to wander for edification.:^)
Layton, Duceppe, Ignatieff, Harper – people have strong opnions. Harper got personal as PM – that’s open for opinion and comment.
I don’t think Torontonian’s opinion is slander; strong and forceful, tempered compared to most of what is currently being said.
Politicians invoke humilty before God part out of honest reverence and part out of wanting to look humble before voters. If you don’t like Harper, like Torontoian, you’re going to assume more of the latter.
Neither Teddy Kennedy or the PM are perfect believers; Teddy had his party animal streak in younger days but did strive to look after the poor and disposessed, much to the chagrin of many on the right. Torontoian will focus on the latter and forgive him the former as many progressive churchgoers are wont to do.
Harper seems to be more of a straight-shooter on the personal morality front (save some spin on political issues that may be less than frank and seen as lies from his foes) but has a different political agenda that Torontoian doesn’t like much. Harper may be more orthodox but his orthopraxis leaves liberal Christians cold.
Sorry, Torontonian. I left off the middle n in your nom-de-cyber.
“Conservatism died with Diefenbaker and it’s been
downhill ever since.”
Yes, and so has just about everything else in recent years come to think of it…sign of the times for some of us. I notice the Liberals aren’t doing too well either. Ah well, never fear, it looks like Canadian politics will soon be rescued by the ayatollas and sharia law at the rate we’re going. (I very seriously wish some wise-as-serpent-but-harmless-as-doves Canadians would form a think-tank and figure a way out of that cheery prospect.)
I think that genuine Christianity and politics mixes about as well as oil and water – even more so as the days grow more evil. Sure hope Harper doesn’t intend to make a habit of flaunting his faith to score political points the sickening way they do in the U.S.A.
From an article written in 2003 by Laurence Britt listing the 14 characteristics of fascism:
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism (see: wear red days,olympics, Arctic Sovereignty “Canadas Back” messaging)
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights(maher arar, afghan detainees)
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause (“chattering classes”, Richard Colvin, Linda Keen)
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism (afghanistan, support the troops meme, afghan detainees, harper in military garb)
5. Rampant sexism(harper calling women ‘right wing fringe group, low participation of women in cabinet, appointing blatantly sexist senator’)
6. A controlled mass media (CTV, Canwest and Fox exclusive “friendly access” to PMO, Many trolls on media message boards, trolls in Facebook, Revamping entire Government of Canada website in CPC website image)
7. Obsession with national security (Body Scanners, Deportation, Denial of refugees, refusal to turn over documents demanded by parliament)
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together(See Charles McVety advisor to Harper)
9. Power of corporations protected (Oil Sands, Bank Mortgage Bailouts)
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated (intimidation of public employees, clement ordering striking workers back on the job)
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts (“chatter”, “elites”, Harper’s comments on artists and “galas”)
12. Obsession with crime and punishment (“tough on crime” meme, non-support of safe injection sites, etc.)
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption(untendered contracts, unelected cabinet ministers, “Con friendly” TV hosts as Senators)
14. Fraudulent elections (See disenfranchisement by changing ID requirements for voters, moving electoral boundaries with short notice, snap elections, breaking own 4 year term election law)
I think the Quebec City quote, specific to the priority of God, offers an opportunity. That it is a brief quote and, perhaps, off-the-cuff takes nothing away from its significance; Harper either takes the matter seriously or he does not. Assuming truthfulness, my default position, we may hold Harper to his own convictions. We may, perhaps should, ask him – what does the Lord require of you (Micah)? I would very much like to know how he would answer.