The Liberal Party of Canada should “bite the bullet,” come out of the closet, and declare itself “pro-choice,” its senior strategist said recently.
Liberal Senator Keith Davey, candidate recruiter for the federal liberals, said Jean Chrétien should go ahead with plans to block pro-life candidates by appointing his own.
“I think the party should just bite the bullet (and declare) this is a pro-choice party and that’s it,” he said in a recent interview.
The comments came as Chrétien ponders using his new powers and appointing candidates in ridings where there is a chance pro-life candidates will be successful.
But Liberal House Leader Don Boudria takes issue with Davey over declaring the party officially pro-abortion.
“As far as He said Davaey’s “choice may I’m concerned there is only one leader in the party, “ he said. “In Hull (the party’s last policy convention) Mr. Chrétien said in our party there is room for all points of view.”
He said Davey’s “choice may be to be pro-choice,” but that was only one view within the party. Boudria is pro-life although not specifically identified with the Liberals for Life.
The two appointments made by Chrétien so far have backfired politically and many say he is reluctant now to appoint people. Boudria said the leader of his party should be able to use his right to appoint candidates adding “no power should be theoretical.”
Dan McCash, Liberals For Life national Co-coordinator, said he is not surprised by Senator Davey’s comment that pro-life candidates should no longer be welcome in the party. He said Davey was the “major architect” of changes in the party constitution designed to allow the leader to appoint candidates over pro-lifers.
“He (Davey) has been the major force behind kicking us out,” McCash said. He added Liberals For Life are not afraid of having such a powerful foe.
“Our enemies are more openly out there, “he said. “We’re flushing them out. We can take them on face to face.”
David Smith, chairman of the Ontario campaign, has said the liberal leader could appoint candidates to get more women involved and to keep pro-lifers out.
McCash said Davey and Smith are two of the prominent Liberals who are urging Chrétien to use his power to appoint candidates.
Most liberals, however, are “definitely against them,” he said. “this is nepotism at the highest level. They are not allowing the party to be the open party it used to be,” not afraid of having such a powerful foe.
“Our enemies are more openly out there,” he said. “We’re flushing them out. We can take them on face to face.”
David Smith, chairman of the Ontario campaign, has said the Liberal leader could appoint candidates to get more women involved and to keep pro-lifers out.
McCash said Davey and Smith are two of the prominent Liberals who are urging Chrétien to use his power to appoint candidates.
Most liberals, however, are “definitely against them,” he said. “this is nepotism at the highest level. They are not allowing the party to be the open party it used to be.”
In a letter to Chrétien, Smith called Liberals for Life “nasty single-issue people who are prepared to try every trick in the book.”
He urged party officials to purge itself of any group which disagreed with his own pro-abortion view. According to Smith, any candidate who cannot support this view would be left out in the cold.
He said it would be “inappropriate” for candidates who can’t accept a pro-abortion party to seek nominations. He added they are “at odds with the party on what they themselves regard as the most basic and fundamental issue.”
McCash has said he isn’t worried by the public attacks by top Liberal organizers.
“This is my party, no matter what these non-elected officials say,“ he said.
