Roundup: The damage control campaign

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The fallout from Wednesday’s Brownface/Blackface allegations were met with yet another instance, this time video that seems to be from the 1990s of a third incident, which Trudeau hadn’t mentioned (later saying that he hadn’t remembered it) – and, plot twist, Andrew Scheer a short while later admitted that the party had been sent the tape and they turned it over to Global News days ago, who set about trying to verify its authenticity. It wasn’t until mid-afternoon in a Winnipeg park that Trudeau held another media availability, looking extra contrite, and more forceful in his language in insisting that yes, it was actually racist, and he was owning up to it and didn’t want to be definitive as to how many times because there may be other incidents he couldn’t remember, and why he couldn’t remember them was likely because he grew up in a very privileged position and he has come to realise that it left him with an enormous blind spot when it comes to these kinds of things – something that I don’t think we’ve ever really a political leader admit to.

Later in the day, Trudeau’s rally in Saskatoon was changed into a town hall – likely because it’s an environment that he seems to do better in, and because it would allow him to get some of the airing of the grievances right off the start – ripping off the Band-Aid, as it were. The issue was only raised a couple of times off the start – once by someone who wanted an estimate of how many times he’d done it, another who insisted that he shouldn’t dwell on the past, but much of the event was on Indigenous issues, and Trudeau seemed much more his usual self.

Singh, meanwhile, held a small event in Hamilton to highlight how his plans around things like dental and pharmacare will help small businesses, but mostly answered more questions about the Trudeau Blackface revelations and suggested that it’s a pattern of behaviour with Trudeau. (Singh also launched into a whole rant about how great protectionism was during the media availability, for the record).

Andrew Scheer was in Saint-Hyacinth, Quebec, to lay out a policy around increasing the age credit for seniors, before suggesting that he didn’t accept Trudeau’s apology because “he lied” during it (not recalling the third video), and suggested that Canadians heed Singh’s words (because remember, a stronger NDP is a boon to Conservative fortunes).

https://twitter.com/kevinmilligan/status/1174722497687638016

Other election stories:

  • Justin Trudeau was removed from the lineup of Lilly Singh’s talk show after the Blackface photos emerged.
  • Here’s a recounting of how Wednesday evening’s revelations went down on Trudeau’s campaign plane.
  • There is some expert commentary on Blackface in Canada, some pointing to it being not an unusual lapse for 2001, others are less convinced he wouldn’t have known.
  • A number of racialized Liberal candidates and ministers came forward to say they accept his apology – such as Harjit Sajjan or Greg Fergus.
  • Here’s a look at how it’s playing out in Quebec, which is very different from the rest of Canada.
  • Federal candidates of all stripes made their pitches to the BC Assembly of First Nations general assembly.
  • Six former Conservative MPs in the GTA are running to reclaim their seats.
  • Jody Wilson-Raybould was “extremely disappointed” by the Blackface photos. She also pledges “non-partisan cooperation” if she gets re-elected.

Good reads:

  • Here’s a deconstruction of how an Ontario MPP’s bill to ban hate demonstrations became a disinformation campaign on “banning Christian demonstrations.”
  • The Bank of Canada appointed a new deputy governor to replace one of the retiring members of its governing council.
  • Outgoing Liberal MP Andrew Leslie says part of his decision to retire had to do with ethical issues with some people around him – but wouldn’t elaborate.
  • Chantal Hébert suggests that the Blackface photos will diminish Trudeau’s international stature.
  • Matt Gurney notes how this revelation has blunted the Liberal strategy of pointing out Conservative candidates’ problematic past, but Scheer also bunted his rebuttal.
  • Chris Selley encourages the federal government to fight Quebec’s Bill 21 as fears that it could ignite separatism are likely short-lived as that generation ages out.

Odds and ends:

I was on CPAC’s Have Your Say again on Wednesday, and here’s the link if you missed it. (I’m in the second hour).

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3 thoughts on “Roundup: The damage control campaign”

  1. It is time for Trudeau to cease apologies and get back to what matters most…ensuring Scheer doesn’t control the narrative before and after October.

  2. I really do hope he wins, damaged as he is, because Scheer and his *unapologetic* racists would be and are far, far worse. It is entirely possible that his phone call with Jagmeet could be the beginning of a process to work out a coalition agreement and maybe even collaborate with the NDP on a robust anti-racism strategy. We won’t know for certain because the call is private. But the fact that he is reaching out to the only party leader who is of visible minority status shows that he is sincere about putting his apology into concrete action. He is a crucible for Canada’s watershed moment in which it is forced to confront its own issues surrounding race. Perhaps that is what he was placed on this earth to do.

    I doubt he’ll ever get back to the level of popularity he had early on. If he does manage to pull off even a “minority” government (in more ways than one), he would be wise to step aside prior to the next election and hand the torch to Freeland, then hunker down for awhile and keep a low profile, maybe write a book in the meantime. I enjoyed “Common Ground” and look forward to reading and hearing from him in his own words. Eventually he’ll do another sit-down with “60 Minutes” about whatever he ends up working on in the future. Which may even be nothing at all, just a quiet private life with his family at home in Montreal.

    “Time” (magazine) opened up a wound, but time itself heals most wounds. Amnesia benefited Ted Danson and even Mel Gibson. If he raped somebody or abused a child, I could see him being permanently “cancelled.” Other world leaders have done far worse, yet been rehabilitated and forgiven by the media class and the general public. George W. Bush killed tens of thousands of people in two useless wars he put on a credit card. Now he goes around showcasing his dog paintings on Ellen’s show. (Though I doubt the same will be true of Trump, but who knows.) LBJ could be a foul-mouthed racist. Today he’s remembered for the Great Society. Policy matters, and I seriously doubt there will be any movement to take down monuments or commemorations of either of the Trudeaus like there is for, say, Andrew Jackson or John A. Macdonald, whose policies matched their attitudes. Trudeau the younger is 47 years old and has neither racist policies nor attitudes. He has a long life ahead of him to burnish his legacy yet. Just watch him.

    Justin Trudeau is not a racist. His actions and policies over the past decade in Parliament show it. He is guilty of poor judgment in his youth (who isn’t?) and, like he said, a privileged blind spot. Multiple layers, as he said — including the complex and culturally-specific issue of how this has long been thought of in Quebec. But the fact that he’s owning up to it and demonstrating a sincere effort to make amends for his mistakes shows courage, leadership and compassion. I actually mailed him a letter telling him so. And I can’t even vote for him. I’m stuck on the wrong side of the Orange Curtain with Trump!

    I do hope he survives this election if only to keep Scheer Nastiness out. But I know for certain that the entirety of his life will not be defined by this. When he passes on in old age, there will again be massive lines forming around the streets to pay tribute to another great Prime Minister Trudeau.

  3. Maybe the place to reveal this was in his book. But Chantal Hebert said last night on At Issue that if Trudeau had told people earlier it would have stopped his career in its tracks. Now if he’s elected again, it will be because he’s already been Prime Minister for four years. (Chantal).

    I’ve been to parties where people were in blackface (Hallowe’en, probably without exception and generally to go as a celebrity). Not a lot, and certainly not lately, but I can see how it happened. I found it a little unsettling, but frankly, I couldn’t promise I found it racist.

    I just hate this election. This take no prisoners atmosphere is really not healthy and it’s honestly got me depressed. I don’t know how Trudeau stays on his feet, but that’s his gift. Since this website is about the media, my two cents is that most of the media wore out my respect with their self-indulgent dramatics about SNC. I don’t appreciate journalists telling me how I should react. “This bombshell will be devastating for the Liberals.” And so on.

    Dale, thanks for the links, because I will follow you to CPAC.

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