It takes a lot of courage to run for public office. In many cases, those who take up the challenge have to sacrifice their work and family lives while campaigning long hours leading up to election day. During that time they open themselves up to the scrutiny of not only the media, but everyone in their community. That's why it's called public office.
Therefore, if a potential candidate has said or done something they're not particularly proud of in the past, they had better think long and hard about running, because once in the race there's no turning back.
That said, what was NDP candidate Andrew McKeever thinking when, just last summer, he went on a rant on the popular Internet website Facebook about American deserters and threatened a local woman?
His comments came in July when Mr. McKeever posted to a Facebook group aimed at supporting U.S. war resisters in Canada. On the site he referred to "American crybabies who are trying to turn this country into a hotel." He then took aim at the group's female administrator, Krystalline Kraus.
"I can guarantee if I ever see you face to face I will make you squeal for the same authorities that you have such a (baseless) disdain for."
That remark is tame measured against the obscenity-laced vitriol he extolled on this poor woman who now just wants to forgive and forget the whole incident now that it's exploded into the election campaign.
But we're not as forgiving. Mr. McKeever may have apologized for his comments, but they speak volumes about his character and they fly in the face of the NDP's own party platform. In June the House of Commons passed a non-binding parliamentary motion sponsored by NDP incumbent Olivia Chow (Trinity-Spadina) calling on the Conservative government to let Iraq war resisters stay in the country instead of being deported to the U.S., where many would face jail time for abandoning their military duties.
Mr. McKeever has refused numerous requests for comment from the media. He has also been a no-show at many debates for which he formerly confirmed he would be in attendance.
His experience should serve as a lesson to anyone else thinking of running for public office in the future.
-- Clarington This Week
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