Release: Is Carney’s flip-flop on Iran a sign of the same old Liberals?
By now, you're likely aware of the glowing reviews Prime Minister Mark Carney's speech in Davos received, where he waxed poetic about a "New World Order" among his globalist elite friends. Make no mistake -- but to some extent, understandably -- it was a direct shot across the bow at the United States, but delivered in the company of those who share his worldview. The Liberal establishment media, unsurprisingly, foamed at the mouth in praise, hailing it as a speech for the ages. (Of course, that's no shock, given the Liberals' financial ties to them.)
But as they say in politics, a day can feel like an eternity, and yesterday may have been one such day for PM Carney. Emerging from his arrogant, no-questions bubble to face the media, whom he clearly holds in contempt as beneath him, he diminished his own stature, revealing a small man on a big stage.
When the Iran conflict erupted, PM Carney initially shocked many, including myself, with a press release supporting our allies' right to self-defence, and self-determinism, in regards to an evolving Islamic Republic threat. This displayed a rare moral clarity from the Liberals, who over the past decade have mastered the art of talking in circles while saying very little, and standing for even less.
Many of us couldn't help but wonder how long that rare moral clarity would last. Not long, it turns out.
During his appearance yesterday, Carney was already in full backtrack mode. Why? You be the judge, but to me, it's clear: many in his caucus would never support traditional Western values, and their influence is evident to anyone paying attention. Many of our great and proud Canadian-Iranians, who fled persecution, have been celebrating in the streets, while Carney's more radical caucus members have issued statements nearly indistinguishable from those of the mullahs in Tehran.
This flip-flop exposes Carney as a weak leader without firm principles, highlighting that the Trudeau DNA still runs deep in a Liberal Party more fixated on internal polling and managing the demographics in their ridings than on what's truly best for Canadians, and the globe.
Is the aura of Carney as the supposed "man for the moment" starting to fade? For nearly a year, PM Carney has dominated the media and public discourse unchallenged. To my pleasant surprise, Pierre Poilievre has begun doing what we've long advocated at the NCC: broadening his reach beyond echo chambers. His 45-minute interview with Peter Mansbridge on The Bridge podcast was excellent -- I encourage you to listen. His recent trip to the UK and the speeches he delivered there showcased him in a new light. He discussed substantive policy with depth, proving he's far from how he is often portrayed by Tru-Anon and many in the Liberal subsidized press. The international media has taken notice.
Why does this matter? Substance counts, especially on issues affecting everyday Canadians -- like tackling unaffordability, getting our resources to market, cleaning up the Liberals' immigration disaster, and fixing our broken health care system.
At the NCC, we'll continue pushing these priorities on your behalf. As I noted, a single day in politics can change everything. For PM Carney, whom I've never seen as the star the media proclaims, one can only hope more Canadians recognize his flip-flops, lack of backbone, and absence of resolve as displayed yesterday. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to read this message. Please support our ongoing work by donating here.
Our Canada deserves better than more amorphous Liberal weakness. If these are Carney's "Values", consider us increasingly skeptical.
Sincerely,
Peter Coleman
President, National Citizens Coalition