As you might recall, NDP MP Irene Mathyssen rose in the House of Commons to complain that Conservative MP James Moore had been viewing pornography on his laptop within view of Mathyssen the day before while sitting in the House.

Mathyssen discussed the matter with the NDP caucus before making her shocking statements the next day.

After linking Moore with violence towards women, Mathyssen had to offer an abject apology when it was revealed that she was, in fact, totally mistaken.

During a year-end interview on CTV's Mike Duffy Live, NDP leader Jack Layton was asked about the incident.  After a vague and qualified answer, Tonda MacCharles (sitting in for Mike Duffy) pressed Jack Layton on the fact that the caucus had discussed the issue and had given Irene Mathyssen the green light to make a public accusation against Moore.

His answer comes at the end of this clip:

Tonda MacCharles: That was discussed at your caucus.  Why did you let her go ahead with it.

Jack Layton: <pause> Uh, well, uh, no...I only learned that, that she was going to make that statement just before it happened.

Jack Layton goes on about seniors after this.  He never provides an answer to the question of whose responsibility it was.

This is the second time he's done this.  Immediately after the incident, a reporter asked Jack Layton to comment:

The politician who appeared the least eager to jump on the bandwagon was NDP Leader Jack Layton, even though the issue had been discussed and backed by the party's caucus.

"I wasn't there myself," Layton told reporters yesterday, moments after the allegations were made.

"I wasn't in the room" is a kneejerk reaction the first time it happens, and can be forgiven.  But twice, weeks apart?  Jack Layton seems convinced that as leader of the NDP, he is not required to apologize or take responsibility for the actions of his caucus members in the House of Commons if he wasn't around to give them precise and direct instructions.

So who is responsible for the NDP when Jack Layton goes to get a coffee or gets lost in his copy of Das Kapital?

Was it Irene Mathyssen's fault for making the accusation?  He could have just said that.

Was it Libby Davies fault as NDP deputy leader?  Though she was made to apologize for the David Oliver mess on behalf of the NDP instead of Jack Layton, she doesn't seem to play a role in the Mathyssen debacle.

Maybe she wasn't in the caucus meeting either.  Is anyone ready to admit they were at that meeting with Irene Mathyssen?

Still, Mathyssen insists she brought the issue to the caucus.  She left the caucus with the mission to smear James Moore.  It backfired badly.  No one is claiming responsibility for giving Mathyssen the green light to go forward.

As for "leader" Jack Layton?  So far he's the only one to actively avoid taking responsibility.

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