Angry in the Great White North

Greg Fergus, the new National Director who replaced Jamie Carroll, sent out a mass mailing to Liberals across the country:

Hello Steve,

In my first weeks as National Director of the Liberal Party, I have met with the staff, spoken to Liberals across the country, and mastered the halls of Parliament Hill. The more time I spend listening to Liberals like you, the more I learn that the Liberal Party is about more than just one woman or one man. The strength of our Party is in all of us, working together to win. This is why I'm writing to you today.

I accepted this job for one reason only: I'm a Liberal. I believe we are fighting the good fight. I believe that service for a political party is service to a country.

Liberals are working hard. Week after week, positive news is coming from Liberals across the country. And the Party needs to make sure these victories are shared with you.

During the last election, over 4.4 million Canadians voted Liberal. This probably includes a number of your family and friends. I recently sent this note to my entire network to ask them to show their support for the Party. I'm asking you to do the same. Please consider sending this note to everyone in your network. Spread the word. With time, we will reach all Canadians with our positive message of speaking up for Canada and Canadians - for social justice, jobs, and taking care of the environment.

Thank you for taking the time to read this email. Over the weeks and months ahead, I will be sending you the occasional email. Feel free to reply to these messages with your thoughts and ideas.

I look forward to strengthening the Liberal Party with you.

Be good,

Greg Fergus
National Director
Liberal Party of Canada

Notice anything? No mention of Stephane Dion, either by name or in reference to the leader. The Party needs your efforts. The Party is delivering the message. The Party will grow stronger with your help.

Nothing about Stephane Dion connecting with Canadians, or providing inspiring leadership, or the hard work he is doing to prepare the Party for the next election. Not even a thanks, explicit or implicit, to Stephane Dion for giving Greg Fergus the job as National Director.

Indeed, there is one specific mention of how the Party is not about any one man (or woman). A veiled suggestion that Stephane Dion's problems ought to be considered Stephane Dion's problems only, and not problems for the Party as a whole? If so, that would be unfortunate, because the logical conclusion is that those problems would go away with Stephane Dion's departure.

After I first read the email, I couldn't shake the feeling that it was odd. I waited twelve hours, read it again, and my feelings haven't changed. I doubt it's very significant, but I would have thought a mention of Stephane Dion in the very first email from Greg Fergus would have been expected. And then there is that "more than just woman or one man" reference...

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