Hidden Agenda? More like a 'Quiet Agenda'....

Was alerted by a watchful blogger to this article at cbc.ca. Hat-tip to Capitalist Pig vs. Socialist Swine.

Harper may have softened his media persona, and they may be offering nice baubles and trinkets of social spending to every special interest group they can sink their fangs into, but they cannot shake the right-wing loony nut-jobs from their ranks.... Or maybe they really don't want to?!?!

From the article:

Abortion and a traditional definition of marriage weren't mentioned, but social conservative groups that consider those to be important issues say they're satisfied with the direction the party is taking in its effort to form the next government.

"They have to talk this way to get elected," said Link Byfield, chairman of the Citizens Centre for Freedom and Democracy. "I think a lot of conservatives honestly agree with that."

Hermina Dykxhoorn, president of the Alberta Federation of Women United for Families, says no mainstream party is talking about the issues she considers most important, such as abortion and same-sex marriage.

But she says she's willing not to talk about those issues during the election if it means electing a Conservative government.

"We need to be able to win the hearts and minds of the majority of individuals. So I think we could go ahead and do a lot of things that would not be attractive to most people, and we would not change governments," she said. "We can't have every issue.

"Everyone knows that this is political and we will not be able to have every demand that we would individually have met. I'm happy to see they're doing what they are doing."

Dykxhoorn says no matter who forms the government after Jan. 23, her group will be pushing for movement on the issues that matter most to them.

Can't you just hear Harper (in your best Montgomery Burns voice) laughing.... "Exxxccellent... now to fool Canadians into thinking I am moderate... it is all going according to plan...."

This is my favourite, and possibly the most telling line of the story:

"We need to be able to win the hearts and minds of the majority of individuals. So I think we could go ahead and do a lot of things that would not be attractive to most people, and we would not change governments," she said. "We can't have every issue.

Seems like she steps on her tongue a bit there, but to me her intent is clear as day. Act moderate, keep the true thoughts zipped up and the skeletons in the closet... then we'll start the social regression!

This is one of the reasons why I can't fathom voting for Harper's Conservatives....

McKay's Conservatives...? Possibly.

Clark's Conservatives (second edition)... Sure.

But not Wacko Nut-job Harper's Conservatives. No Way.

Don't get me wrong, I am disappointed with Mr. Martin's iteration of the Liberal party. If there were any other way to vote against the Conservatives I would consider it, but I have no choice.

This is where the real Harper hangs his hat.

A. L.