[photo: Prime Minister Harper meets candidate Rob Clarke in Ottawa. From www.RobClarke.ca]
Conservatives offer top-quality candidate Rob Clarke for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River byelection
Monday, January 14, 2008
The federal Conservatives have nabbed a top-quality candidate in RCMP Sergeant Rob Clarke for the byelection in northern Saskatchewan. And he's aboriginal, too.
Not so long ago, aboriginals in northern Saskatchewan helped elect Gary Merasty, a top-quality Liberal candidate who would have fit in perfectly in Paul Martin's government. However, Paul Martin lost the election.
The possibility of a federal cabinet minister from northern Saskatchewan was almost reality. Aboriginals supported an Opposition MP when what they really wanted was their star in the government.
In fact, it could still happen.
No, I'm not talking about Joan Beatty. For some reason I don't see a Liberal government happening this year. Or, next year, for that matter.
I'm talking about Rob Clarke, the Conservative candidate in Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River. Sergeant Clarke is a top-quality choice for the Conservatives. Law enforcement professionals make credible candidates and understand the constituency. They deserve the support of the community- they keep the government honest. And they win, in Saskatchewan, these days.
The Conservatives are wise to have Rob Clarke as a candidate. This should be national news. While the Liberals are doing everything backwards and inside out, the Conservatives seem to be doing everything by the book. Contrast the stories of Beatty versus Orchard with a story about a police officer with seven northern postings running for the federal Conservatives. See?
A friend of mine was a radio announcer at Missinipi Broadcasting Corporation for years. I asked him what he thought of Rob Clarke's candidacy. Joan Beatty "will have a run for her money... Conservatives are smart to get an aboriginal candidate." Hey, that's what I thought.
Yes, this should be national news.
Sincerely,
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Brendan William Cross
