Earlier today Oz Clark complained that Ontario PC leader Tim Hudak flip-flopped on HRCs and the Tory leader deserves to be criticized for doing so. But I want to add to Clark’s comments on political parties broadening support. Clark observes that often politicians seek to broaden support by abandoning the positions that got them elected leader in the first place (this happens on both the Left and the Right). Clark says social conservatives should make politicians pay a price for abandoning the principles and positions that got them where they are (the leadership), and I don’t disagree, but Clark and the politicians themselves are ignoring another possibility: broaden support by educating the general public about what is wrong with human rights commissions — or abortion, gay rights, euthanasia, or whatever “controversial” issue they think will cost them votes. In other words, instead of chasing voters, bring them to you. It isn’t easy, but neither is broadening support by abandoning previously held positions because the general public will rightly be skeptical of the politician who is seen to be flip-flopping for political gain. Politics can serve an educational function, but politicians have abandoned that role. Those who take hold of the bully pulpit — a lectern — might be able to use it for political gain, without sacrificing principles or those voters that helped advance the career of the politician in the first place.
