November 10, 2000
A mixed bag: American and Canadian democracy - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- I’d have thunk by today that we’d know who’d be the next President of the United States of America. A couple of thoughts on that today, as well as the election campaign here in our fair, Canada. As exciting as the American one is, don’t put any money on Canada to deliver the same on November 27th. Before that, lemme just say this on Hillary Clinton’s win for the New York Senate seat. Her win is nothing short of historic and I’m sure she’ll do a formidable job representing the Empire State in America’s upper house. I also think it notable that she is one of at least 3 more females elected to the Senate this time around. A couple of months ago, the 9 Senators currently in the Senate wrote a book about their numbers in a male dominated upper chamber. Kudos to America for adding a couple more. I guess they are on their way.
It’d be good, however if they got on their way with their democratic system. At deadline for this posting, the Associated Press is pegging Bush’s lead over Gore at 229 votes. In a country as large as the United States, it shows that getting out and voting is of a paramount nature, especially when the nation is so divided. Some have said the ballot was too confusing. With that comment I shudder to think that such idiots would be out voting in the first place. Andy Rooney, 60 Minutes’ veritable curmudgeon said he knew why America has such a low turnout rate at election time: Americans are too dumb. He went on to say that it didn’t bother him, as his vote would probably get cancelled by the idiocy of some of his fellow Americans.
The people in Florida, in particular this precinct in Dade County, had ample opportunity to voice concern regarding the ballot’s look, before and during their visit to the poll. I am told that advertisements were circulated with a sample ballot enclosed clearly showing the arrows and the punch-hole. Had they been the responsible democrats that they think they are, they’d have carefully noted their predicament beforehand, instead of displaying themselves on the news last night, as a bunch of “assholes” bitching about their beloved democracy in the hiccup stage they find themselves in today.
Another facet of the election is the media coverage. Some blame the snafu on irresponsible reportage by the press and this ‘giving’ of a particular state to a candidate without all the votes actually counted. The media faces a barrage of criticisms both before and after an election, but the blame is on the media. Not for taking Florida from Gore, giving it to Bush and taking it back - but for this entire exercise of providing coverage to the viewer on election night.
Before the 7th of November, I questioned the lunacy of the amendments to the Canada Elections Act which now prevents polls from being published on the day of the elections. I also questioned the entire exercise copied by Canadians, from the Americans, that have results broadcast the night of the vote. First, the entire practice of having ‘election night’ coverage is to inform the citizen, but really it boils down as the network’s news division’s night to shine. Networks like ABC, CBS and NBC rarely dole out their news divisions for an entire broadcast night. (Case in point the end of gavel-to-gavel convention coverage.) On CNN, well these are the night’s CNN shines, and on the 7th (into the 8th) they certainly did. But the reason they broadcast election results, declaring their own winners, no matter that the official results aren’t official yet, is because they know as apathetic as Americans are, they will tune in any part of election night to see just what the heck is going on. No better reason then to put NBC’s Tom Brokaw with Tim Russert’s white board, or ancient rocks like Dan Rather, Bob Schieffer, Ed Bradley and yes, Leslie Stahl of CBS, so as to show off the amazing news divisions of their networks, for publicity and yes, for pundit gazing.
In Canada, we’re lucky somewhat in that election results aren’t broadcast here, until polls are closed here. See, in the US, Florida’s votes were harped up as going for Gore, while California, Oregon and the other western states’ polls were still in business. Perhaps, seeing that Gore took ‘battleground’ Florida, some decided not to bother voting, as Gore looked to have secured the White House.
I say we’re lucky, even though the law stinks, this being the age of the Internet and such, but damnit, television does have impact. It certainly did last Tuesday night.
It’s historical sure, what’s going on in the United States, but perhaps it may disuade voters from wanting to vote. It may just as well turn Americans off the democracy they seem so eager to defend in foreign lands. Try doing it in Florida, Sam, now, the world awaits it’s new leader.
Last night, in fair Canada, we had the leaders of the major political parties in debate in the other official language, English. The night previous, they debated en français, and having spent more time watching that one, it was clear that the Liberals look to gain in Quebec this time around. Giles Duceppe was actually more effective in deflating the Liberal arrogance in the English debate. Joe Clark was superbly in fine fighting form, sadly it’s his swan song, as he doesn’t look like he’ll win Calgary Centre from the hands of the Alliance’s Eric Lowther. Following his loss, the Tories will have no alternative but to install Peter Mackay as leader, which will blow the lustre off Stockwell Day’s monopoly on youth, thus far. (Mackay is in his early 30s and pretty good as an MP.)
Stockwell Day was, in my opinion, very good in emerging from his podium and challenging the Prime Minister to call him a liar or to remove those silly ad’s on Alberta’s 2-tier system. Now, any breathing Canadian who’s looked into their current state of Medicare, knows full well that this American style of care is not in place. The ad’s are also revolting as they insult the intelligence of Canadians, not to mention these so-called Albertans, featured in the commercial. Now that tactic employed by the Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition may be interpreted two ways.
First, he may be seen as a bully, trying to scare Canada at the expense of flustering an old man from Saint Maurice. Another impression, could be seen as Day throwing off the staid old way of politicking in Canada and his effort in making politicians more personable, not some middle-aged white guys behind a box, spewing platitudes.
His chide on Joe Clark as having 30 years to make his point, is slightly incorrect. It’s been no more than 28 years, yet the point was well made. The stuff of legend, I guess. Stockwell Day emerged on the Canadian political scene, the same way Brian Mulroney angrily told John Turner, he did have a choice, in 1984. Maybe it’ll work.
On that note, the US Presidency is still to be decided and Stockwell Day’s star is rising. One thing he ain’t is Pierre Trudeau. As the patron saint of columnists, Allan Fotheringham, said, “They don’t make giants anymore.”
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