NDP expels Hargrove, Miller next? Fat chance.
The Ontario NDP have revoked Buzz Hargrove's party membership (hat tip Far and Wide again) which he has held for 41 years, an action which terminates his Federal membership. Funny that a week ago the rumour was about that Buzz's membership was in doubt but he claims to have not seen it coming.
NDP executive member and fellow CAW official Mike Shields noted that David Miller's NDP membership is questionable given his endorsement of Liberal candidate John Godfrey if Hargrove's actions deserved expulsion. Paul Martin mentioned Miller (and had the handgun ban photo-op) during the campaign which the NDP tried to explain away. Needless to say, NOW, helped by former employee and now Hizzoner's media flack Don Wanagas, got Miller's excuses in a row during the campaign.
NDP executive member and fellow CAW official Mike Shields noted that David Miller's NDP membership is questionable given his endorsement of Liberal candidate John Godfrey if Hargrove's actions deserved expulsion. Paul Martin mentioned Miller (and had the handgun ban photo-op) during the campaign which the NDP tried to explain away. Needless to say, NOW, helped by former employee and now Hizzoner's media flack Don Wanagas, got Miller's excuses in a row during the campaign.
Comments
I don't dispute that Hargrove was probably out of line, especially if you read the letter of the Party constitution. But, Hargrove was already a pariah within the Party hierarchy, so the formal explusion only serves to alienate some CAW people with divided loyalties. The appearance of "tow the line" also doesn't reflect well on the NDP, or at least isn't necessarily a plus.
I think it might have been better to just isolate Hargrove from policy discussions and leave him on the margins. Now, for consistency's sake, the question is what to do with Miller. I understand the need for the NDP to hold ranks and not bleed support to other parties, but I don't see how this public display accomplishes that. In fact, it only highlights divisions in the public eye. That being said, it is a credible argument to say Hargrove tied their hands with his actions.
As for Miller: although he is a member of the NDP, he is also the non-partisan mayor of Toronto, so he has a job not to campaign for the NDP, but to campaign for his city. That gives him some leeway to endorse other politicians -- or it should.