Posted on 09/03/2004 5:59:13 AM PDT by NorthOf45
Tories find right-minded friends in New York Part of coalition of conservatives Get strategic tips from Republicans
TIM HARPER WASHINGTON BUREAU September 2, 2004
NEW YORK—Canada's Conservative party has a lively contingent at the Republican National Convention here, waving the flag for the Canadian right and picking up some electoral strategy from George W. Bush's party.
John Reynolds, the Conservative party House leader, says he and five colleagues have met with Republican officials and the likes of U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick and Nebraska Senator Chuck Hagel, touted as a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2008.
They are here as part of an international coalition founded in 1983 by the late U.S. president Ronald Reagan and then-British prime minister Margaret Thatcher to promote conservative thought worldwide.
But Reynolds says that is not an indication his Conservatives are aligned in any way with Bush, a charge that has always proved effective for Liberals who argue the Opposition under Stephen Harper is too pro-American.
"We're not aligned with George Bush," Reynolds said. "We're Canadians. I didn't come down here to show my support for George W. Bush, I came down here as a proud conservative to meet conservatives around the world."
Besides Reynolds, foreign affairs critic and former Canadian Alliance leader Stockwell Day, Alberta MPs Jason Kenney and Rob Anders, former Ontario health minister Tony Clement and onetime Progressive Conservative party president Peter Van Loan are here.
They have met Republican party officials, looking for ideas the Conservatives can use at their next convention in March, 2005.
Reynolds said they have also been impressed with a Republican strategy for the final three days of the election, known as Campaign 72, which uses innovative ways to mobilize the party base — something Conservatives may borrow in their next federal campaign. In Florida, for example, the Republican party has mobilized 35,000 volunteers to knock on doors in the final 72 hours of this campaign.
Reynolds said Republicans have welcomed them warmly, but have often asked why Canadians don't like them.
"They're talking about the likes of the (Liberal MP) Carolyn Parrish comments," Reynolds said. "We explain that those comments come from just a small minority but the Liberal government hasn't properly countered them."
Those were the remaining real Canadians of what used to be one of our closest allies.
In a country in which 70% of the vote goes to the Left, I don't envy our Canadian friends' chances. They'll be tagged as tools of America when they get back home.
Too many think this. At least 30% of us are Conservative ... and I believe that will only go up as the libs continue to ruin this country.
"They'll be tagged as tools of America"
Too late for that. : )
The international delegates of the Dems are based in Paris.
Not a joke. It's true!
It seems that the Canadians in the West detest those Quebec and Ontario liberals and would rather look south.
So would some of us Maritimers.
It would have been better if Quebec became independent. It will dilute the liberal stranglehold in your government.
Lets buy Western Canada and send these guys East.
OK, I'll put the "history geek" aside for now. Glad to see that there are some Canadians who support the "right" side.
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