Impostor syndrome

 Liberals have dredged up even more sketchy letters written  in support  of Helena Guergis.  Now there's lots of talk about this being the tipping point for the beleaguered minister -- that she's not far away from firing or resignation. 

For what it's worth, I think if the letters do her in, this is probably just a convenient excuse. My suspicion is that it's not a firing offence in Harper's government for staffers to be writing letters on behalf of their bosses. I've been casting around for examples,  and have only been able to find one more so far. Others welcomed... please feel free to email or paste them into the comments section.

* Here's a staffer for Royal Galipeau, for instance, found out for his letter to the editor in a Timmins newspaper.

Note  that on the Conservative website, if you go  to my.campaign.ca, there's a fancy little tool there to help the die-hards write letters to the editor. (I just tried to do it and found out I'm blocked -- too bad, I was going to write to the Star editor, suggesting I get a raise. But I digress.)

My point is that if you're going to go to all the trouble of encouraging partisans to write letters to the editor, providing the tools for it even, and the script,  it shouldn't be a surprise that eager staffers are going to see that as part of the job description of fluffing up the boss. 

Comments

[SpyMaster618]

I would be shocked if this practice wasn't common in every single MPs office actually. How many campaign volunteers write letters to the editor in favour of their candidate without identifying they work the campaign? Is that really any different?

[Jay]

I could be wrong but I suspect there are a lot of government of Canada staffers working for conservative MPs who "anonymously" write letters to the editor and post on blogs to make it look like they are "ordinary" Canadians supporting the government.

[J Teller]

I think everyone should leave her alone. Hot chicks should always get a free pass when they screw up.

[Dale]

I thought it was in poor taste when I received 10-percenters from her in Rahim's old riding just after he had lost it and was still talking about running again.

[Freudly L. Binderkinder]

Is anyone suggesting that the issue is staffers "writing letters on behalf of their bosses"?

I thought the issue was the dishonesty involved in concealing that the author is a staffer. And now that it's been shown to have happened on more than one occasion it looks like a concerted effort which suggests that the Minister was involved, and lied about her involvement.

It's always the lie that does it.

[geo]

"My suspicion is that it's not a firing offence in Harper's government for staffers to be writing letters on behalf of their bosses. I've been casting around for examples, and have only been able to find one more so far."-Susan

Susan,in a story like this,does a reporter,only look at misdeeds done one party?
Or does a good reporter look for similar misdeeds done by all parties?

I'm not a reporter,but my gut feeling is that this goes on beyond a single party.

Isn't this what reporters do? Look for the story behind the story?

Or is this too much to expect from a reporter?

[Wascally Wabbit]

Susan - I am well aware of an editor of a Torstar Group publication / flyer wrapper - who admitted to me that - in his former life as a communications assistant to a politician - used as SOP - to feed talking points to tame supporters who would then feed them to the local rags...
I can't speak for other Liberals - but I have always written over my own name - my own opinions - I refuse to use central party feeds (except to fact check where needed) and everyone who knows my name knows whose team (generally) I am in...

[Michel Boucher]

Freudly L. Binderkinder wrote: Susan,in a story like this,does a reporter,only look at misdeeds done one party? Or does a good reporter look for similar misdeeds done by all parties?

Actually, one follows the story. If the issue concerned a liberal staffer, then an effort would be made to elucidate what Liberals have done. In this case, it's conservatives, so that's who's on the hotseat. No sense in casting around without a clue.

[Johnnyk]

Customers and food inspectors have decided the turkey is cooked. Someone tell the head short-order cook.

[GeorgeH]

"...fluffing up the boss." A rather unfortunate turn of phrase, methinks.

[geo]

"Actually, one follows the story. If the issue concerned a liberal staffer, then an effort would be made to elucidate what Liberals have done. In this case, it's conservatives, so that's who's on the hotseat. No sense in casting around without a clue."-Michel Boucher

So according to your logic, put blinders on and don't bother to see if there is MORE to the story.
Just make it a partisan one sided story and ignore the potential that there may be something more.
With your thinking,we'll never know.
Funny how curiousity doesn't interest todays' reporter to dig deeper.
I personally would want to know if this is something common for all politicians or just the Conservatives.
Without reporters doing some leg work(and why not?),it becomes a partisan story and not one that would give the reader some real information about this issue which may or may not affect all parties.
Today's media has too much in the way of opinionated columnist and not enough real reporters doing real research for real answers to real questions.

[Streetcar]

I'm sure it happens to MP's of all parties at one time or another. It think it would be something the MP's should have a policy on because it is certainly puts them on the hot seat if it becomes public. Maybe they already have such a policy in place but I don't know.