Is Justin Trudeau being muzzled? Should he be?

There are a couple of reasons why Stephen Harper and his Tory caucus are scripted when speaking: the party wants an intelligent uniform message and they want to ensure that there are no bozo comments that become fodder for the media.

Maybe Justin Trudeau is taking a page from the Conservative Party playbook?

Following the Liberal leader's latest foot-in-mouth incident last week — where he told a Toronto crowd that he admired China — it appears that Trudeau's handlers are muzzling him.

At least that's what some are suggesting, after a Trudeau speech in Bourassa on Tuesday night. (Bourassa is one of the four ridings that will have a federal byelection on November 25)

The Toronto Star's Chantal Hébert was one of the journalists in attendance.

"Reading from notes the rookie leader delivered rambling remarks that belied his years on the public speaking circuit. If Trudeau wrote that text, he needs a speech writer. And if someone else wrote it, he or she needs a new assignment.," she wrote for the Star.

"In the unrelenting heat of a general election, Trudeau’s bizarre comments on China last week could have sent his campaign into a tailspin and his over-scripted performance in Bourassa would have reinforced the perception that he can only avoid putting his foot in his mouth by sticking to banalities."

[ Related: Tories want Liberal MP fired for comment that was “an insult” to veterans ]

The problem with Trudeau's "China" comment is that it wasn't a one-off. Trudeau has made several 'bozo' comments since becoming a Member of Parliament.

Sun News highlighted some of those, in an article titled: "Top ten dumb Justin Trudeau statements." While, some of the Sun's 'highlights' are clearly unfair, there is a growing perception that Trudeau is gaffe prone.

Communications consultant Gerry Nicholls suggests that there is a pattern here and that Liberal strategists need to be concerned.

"This [China] story will eventually blow over, but it has tarnished the Trudeau brand. In fact, it actually reinforces the Conservative message that he's "in over his head," Nicholls told Yahoo Canada News.

"More worrisome for the Liberals, however, is that this gaffe exposes Trudeau's main weakness: his lack of political savvy combined with his inexperience makes him prone to saying things that can land him in hot water. What will happen when he's thrown into the pressure cooker of a general election, when people will be out to trip him up and when every mistake is amplified a 1000 times?

"He's a communication crisis waiting to happen."

[ Related: Justin Trudeau mocked for suggesting he admires China ]

The problem for Trudeau — as explained by Postmedia News' Michael Den Tandt — is that being unscripted is part of Trudeau's appeal.

"Spontaneity is part of Trudeau’s brand, and his popular appeal. He won’t want to salt that well entirely. But here’s the thing about speaking unplugged: politicians who do it successfully over a long period have a kind of internal self-editor, which processes the words and weeds out the worst mistakes before they emerge. Think, Ralph Klein," Den Tandt wrote in the National Post.

"Where Trudeau is headed — a pre-campaign, a campaign, televised debates against fierce, experienced foes — he’ll need this skill, in spades."

At this point, it doesn't look like Trudeau has that skill.

(Photo by Aislin/The Gazette/Montreal)

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