Posted on 05/14/2003 7:47:21 AM PDT by IvanT
MPs defend ailing John Richardson.
Two local Liberal MPs say Prime Minister Jean Chretien delivered a low blow when he tried to blame the party's Perth-Middlesex byelection loss on an Alzheimer's-ridden incumbent who waited "too long" to resign.
John Richardson, the popular former Perth-Middlesex MP forced to leave his post last fall due to the onset of Alzheimer's disease, caused a "problem" in the rural riding by running in the 2000 general election and staying in office until last October, Chretien said in Ottawa yesterday.
"Mr. Richardson had been sick for a long time and perhaps he waited too long to resign," the PM said.
But Roger Gallaway, Liberal MP for Sarnia-Lambton and Richardson's friend since 1993, called such comments unfortunate and illogical.
"(Alzheimer's) leads to a state of diminished capacity of making decisions. How can you blame him?
"The pot, being Mr. Chretien, is picking on a kettle that can't respond," Gallaway said.
Paul Steckle, Liberal MP for Huron-Bruce who roomed with Richardson in Ottawa from 1993 to 1997, called it unfair for Chretien -- who has come under fire from many for staying at his post too long -- to lay any blame on Richardson, who is in hospital.
"The prime minister maybe should look at his own resignation and time-frame of doing that," Steckle said, referring to Chretien's 18-month path to retirement.
"Mr. Richardson can't be blamed for staying on too long.
"Those who knew him from the party . . . had some responsibility."
Richardson's family was hoping to avoid any attention -- negative or otherwise -- during the byelection, said his ex-wife, Bonnie.
The real problem, she said yesterday, was Chretien's six-month wait in calling the byelection.
"It's too bad if they have to stoop to that," she said.
"There were a lot of other reasons Brian Innes didn't win this riding.
"It's unfair for Chretien to bring this up," she said.
There is no indication that voters in Perth-Middlesex were in any way bitter at Richardson, as even dyed-in-the-wool Conservative supporters spoke of him in glowing terms during the byelection campaign.
Innes -- who had criticized one man during a candidates' meeting for bringing up Richardson's health -- and local Liberal riding president Ernestine McKenna staunchly defended Richardson at every mention during the campaign.
Although she admitted she would dispute the comment had anyone else made it, McKenna excused Chretien yesterday for the remark.
"This is a man with more political smarts than you and me," she said.
"Whether (the comment is) just or not just, the man has his own take on this thing.
"It wouldn't be my take."
PERTH-MIDDLESEX FINAL RESULTS
(Candidate, party, votes won, percentage of 30,800 total votes cast)
- Gary Schellenberger, PC 10,407, 33.8
- Brian Innes, Liberal 9,413, 30.5
- Marian Meinen, Alliance 5,404, 17.5
- Sam Dinicol, NDP 4,705, 15.3
- Ron Gray, Christian Heritage 902, 2.
It would be about time. Hope it happens and good luck.
Pot, kettle, black.
Although it's nice that the liberals lost a seat, the fact that the PC won and not the CA will likley encourage the PC's to continue their resitance to uniting the two right wing parties.
Ivan, I lived in the Perth riding, Stratford to be exact , for over 20 years. Several of my relatives and friends who still live there knew during the election of 2000 that Richardson had the early stages of Alzheimer's . One relative, a long time strong Liberal , heard rumors and called his office. She was told that Richardson's staff had been and would continue to cover for him. She consequently refused to vote.
The Liberal party knew then , in 2000, he was suffering from a disease that would only get worse but in the interests of winning, ( Richardson was extremely well known and liked, a good MP for everyone and there was no replacement that would win ), the Crouton by signing Richardson's papers , not only allowed a sick man to run but encouraged him.
Chretien is a cheap shelfish little man. That's his real legacy.
- Gary Schellenberger, PC 10,407, 33.8
- Brian Innes, Liberal 9,413, 30.5
- Marian Meinen, Alliance 5,404, 17.5
- Sam Dinicol, NDP 4,705, 15.3
- Ron Gray, Christian Heritage 902, 2.
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