To flip or flop or not at all

Now, I’m not a political strategist, but if I was the first thing I would tell Stephen Harper after his recent cabinet shuffle is- a flip-flop on policy in Afghanistan will be the beginning of the end.

CTV.ca speculates that the installation of Peter MacKay as Minister of National Defence and Maxime Bernier as Foreign Affairs Minister may be a sign the PM is shifting positions on the war.

Harper still says it’s (the conflict) “the right thing to do,” and he’s an ideologue, which is why a change in policy on the war would be seen as nothing more than a classic pluralistic flip-flop. But Harper has told parliament that unless there is “some sort of consensus” on extending the mission, he will not keep the troops there longer than their mandate.

A change in direction would spell the beginning of the end for a number of different reasons. The first, and most likely the worst, is that this government would be seen as bowing to the pressure of the electorate in the hope they could gain enough support to form a majority. Second, it would show that Harper and the Conservatives are not as principled as they maintain they are. Put the two together, and the Conservatives begin to look a lot like the Liberals.

The Liberals, under Chretien and Martin, bowed to the pressure of the electorate at every occasion and for mostly “politically sexy”* issues, such as aid for Africa and Global Warming. The problem is that these two issues have never really been solved, despite many lofty platitudes and promises from the now opposition Liberals. Stephen Harper can ill afford to follow that yellow brick road, as it leads back toward the purgatory the Conservatives have managed to claw out of. The Harper Conservatives sell themselves as getting things done for Canadians, but the mere impression of another direction change like the Income Trust fiasco and the Tories will be branded as a government who says one thing, but does something completely different.

Don’t go back on your decision Mr Harper. Show Canadian that you are exactly what you said you were– A principled man, who stands by the decision made, politically sexy or not.


*That’s not to say these issues are any more or less important than others, but that politicians tend to grab onto issues that are more in the eye of the public and have the most ability to swing voters their way.