Limousine Liberals, Champagne socialists or neither?

So much for Liberal criticism that NDP MP Olivia Chow is tooling around Toronto in a limousine.

Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis distributed photographic proof that Chow, wife of NDP Leader Jack Layton, was being driven around in a chauffeur driven-car.

“While Jack and the NDP state that they support the people of Main Street they get around like Wall Street tycoons,” says Karygiannis’s accompanying e-mail.

Alas, there is an explanation.

“The RCMP in the election requires the spouse to be in an RCMP car because they’re worried about safety. It’s not her choice. I’m being taken around by the RCMP,” said Layton today.

“Most people know Olivia and I normally ride around town on our bicycles. That’s how we travel,” he said.

“I would prefer that right now, but the RCMP suggests to me that while they would be happy to ride bicycles with me – and they do look good in spandex, I’m told – that in an election I’m running for Prime Minister a certain minimum set of practices have to be in place.”

Layton laughed and said it’s “ridiculous” for the Liberals to make the charge against his wife.

“I would suggest that they may have other things they should be focusing on.”

-Robert Benzie

 

Comments

[jim karygiannis]

I wonder would the RCMP verify the story of Jack Layton?

[Simon Dougherty]

Jim,

In a democracy, it's up to the person making the allegation to verify the story.

Also, taking pictures of Jack's wife being escorted by the RCMP in an attempt to discredit the NDP's long-standing record of standing up for middle-class and working families is not the best way to distract from the Liberal record of supporting Bay street tycoons.

I understand you have little to work with, but if you continue throwing punches like this into thin air, you just might end up knocking yourself out.

As someone who values peace, I don't want to see that happen.

Take care of yourself and don't worry about Olivia; she's doing just fine.