Practice makes perfect

There is nothing spontaneous about it. The NDP rallies (actually they are all the same) are contrived. Before Leader Jack Layton arrives, supporters practice cheering and waving signs, are told where to stand and when to be excited on cue. The big thing with with the Layton rallies is to have many supporters lined up behind him so the crowds looks much larger than they are. Seldom does Layton break out of the safety of the NDP family.

- Richard Brennan

Comments

[B. Long]

Mr. Brennan, I know you've been around a while. Surely this can't
be the first campaign you've covered, is it ?
Because your capacity for shock makes it sound that way.
Perhaps you'd be good enough to do a comparison with other
campaigns that may or may not have shocked you.

[Michael Watkins]

What... you mean Layton shares something else in common with Harper? The two are kissing cousins when it comes to staged photo ops.

There is one distinction though. Anyone can show up at a Layton event. Harper has the RCMP acting as bouncers.

[Jane Doe]

Wow - you really HATE Layton don't you? Why else would you pick on him for doing what every other leader does- earning a salary, having a 'car at his disposal', and having staged rallies?
Is this your first campaign? Ahve you never met a political leader before?
I'm beginning to wonder if you've actually MET Layton - if you did you'd know he's not a 'wealthy' man a la Paul Martin. He and Olivia live in a modest row house with Olivia's mom. And they struggle like other families to get adequate health care for her.
And everyone who half-pays attention knows that Layton's car in Ottawa rarely leaves the parking lot - he rides his bike everywhere.
If you're going to make judgements about politicians 'perks' or political rallies, don't just pick on Layton.

[Michael Stacey]

Just read a few pages of the campaign notebook and I have to say that you seem to have a personal vendetta against Layton. Most of your entries are extremely negative. I've read the entries about the other parties and they are not half as negative as your entries are. In fact, many are positive in nature.

I believe the coverage within the campaign notebook has been very unfair towards the NDP in comparsion to the other parties overall.