Classic Chretien
“His truthfulness lies in his exaggeration. Whenever he does not exaggerate, he lies.”
Elias Canetti’s aphorism perfectly captures the essence of Jean Chretien the politician. His press conference was vintage Chretien - combative, humourous, irreverent and blunt. Were it not for the seriousness of the underlying reason for his return to the Ottawa press gallery theatre, one could almost regret his absence from the political scene.
A confident Chretien first apologized for any wrongdoing that occurred while he was Prime Minister. He told us the sponsorship program was created for a good cause; unbeknownst to him some dishonest people in his administration perverted it to satisfy their greed; as soon as he learned of problems he called in the police. He had to make a lot of decisions as P.M. and he was never afraid to make them, even if there was the potential for fallout. He even claims to have received a call from a worried Pierre Trudeau concerning the Clarity Act. Are you sure about this Jean, Trudeau asked. No, but I am going to do it anyway he claims he responded. If I am wrong I can come and practice law with you.
Chretien says Justice Gomery was biased against him from the beginning as evidenced by his hiring of Brian Mulroney’s former chief of staff Bernard Roy to be counsel to the commission. And don’t forget Gomery’s daughter works for the same law firm as does M. Roy. Gomery only called witnesses who would have bad things to say about Chretien, leaving it to him to call those who would support his contention that their was no political interference in the administration of the sponsorship program, or at least interference that would reach to the PMO. This sums up Chretien’s position.
The culture of entitlement Gomery speaks to in his report is evident in M. Chretien as is the arrogance of the Liberal Party and its presumption that it is indeed the natural governing party in Canada. This culture long ago created within its members an understanding that deniability at the PMO level must always be maintained. The creation of the sponsorship program and the granting to Alfonso Gagliano of spending powers would have been a clear enough message to those below the PMO that Chretien’s only concern was in results.
Chretien feels so entitled that he is genuinely puzzled at why Gomery would hold him accountable but exonerate Martin of any responsibility beyond that borne by all members of the Chretien cabinet.
Chretien continues to have many friends in the Liberal ranks, in the press gallery and throughout the country. One is reminded of another Canetti aphorism, which says: “Friends are people whom one presents with splendid accounts of oneself, and it doesn’t matter that these accounts never come true.
Elias Canetti’s aphorism perfectly captures the essence of Jean Chretien the politician. His press conference was vintage Chretien - combative, humourous, irreverent and blunt. Were it not for the seriousness of the underlying reason for his return to the Ottawa press gallery theatre, one could almost regret his absence from the political scene.
A confident Chretien first apologized for any wrongdoing that occurred while he was Prime Minister. He told us the sponsorship program was created for a good cause; unbeknownst to him some dishonest people in his administration perverted it to satisfy their greed; as soon as he learned of problems he called in the police. He had to make a lot of decisions as P.M. and he was never afraid to make them, even if there was the potential for fallout. He even claims to have received a call from a worried Pierre Trudeau concerning the Clarity Act. Are you sure about this Jean, Trudeau asked. No, but I am going to do it anyway he claims he responded. If I am wrong I can come and practice law with you.
Chretien says Justice Gomery was biased against him from the beginning as evidenced by his hiring of Brian Mulroney’s former chief of staff Bernard Roy to be counsel to the commission. And don’t forget Gomery’s daughter works for the same law firm as does M. Roy. Gomery only called witnesses who would have bad things to say about Chretien, leaving it to him to call those who would support his contention that their was no political interference in the administration of the sponsorship program, or at least interference that would reach to the PMO. This sums up Chretien’s position.
The culture of entitlement Gomery speaks to in his report is evident in M. Chretien as is the arrogance of the Liberal Party and its presumption that it is indeed the natural governing party in Canada. This culture long ago created within its members an understanding that deniability at the PMO level must always be maintained. The creation of the sponsorship program and the granting to Alfonso Gagliano of spending powers would have been a clear enough message to those below the PMO that Chretien’s only concern was in results.
Chretien feels so entitled that he is genuinely puzzled at why Gomery would hold him accountable but exonerate Martin of any responsibility beyond that borne by all members of the Chretien cabinet.
Chretien continues to have many friends in the Liberal ranks, in the press gallery and throughout the country. One is reminded of another Canetti aphorism, which says: “Friends are people whom one presents with splendid accounts of oneself, and it doesn’t matter that these accounts never come true.
posted by Ben Buan | 3:35 p.m.
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