Canada PoliticsPrime Minister Harper endorses Rob Anders for Calgary Signal Hill nomination
They don't come anymore controversial than Conservative MP Rob Anders.
This, of course, is the guy who was forced to apologize for saying that current NDP leader Thomas Mulcair partly "helped to hasten Jack Layton's death." He's the MP who who allegedly fell asleep in a meeting with veterans and once described Nelson Mandela as a terrorist.
More recently, he said that he doesn't think the West should rule-out military intervention against Russia — a suggestion that had the National Post write this: "never underestimate the extent to which Conservative MP Ron Anders is willing to go to cement his status as an idiot."
Nevertheless, the Alberta MP has received a ringing endorsement — for his Calgary Signal Hill nomination contest — from none other than Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Here's an excerpt of a statement Anders posted on his campaign website on Monday morning.
Prime Minister Harper said:
"Rob Anders has been a strong voice in our Caucus and Conservative Government as well as a valued member of our team. The Road to 2015 is one that needs strong, stable leadership and I've been able to count on Rob to get real results for his riding and our country.”
“The people of Canada and Prime Minister Harper need a Member of Parliament who will work with the Prime Minister and the Conservative Caucus to fight to keep taxes low for hard-working families and to make our streets safe,” said former National Director of Canadian Tax Payers Federation and MP John Williamson.
“Prime Minister Harper knows that I will always fight against tax-and-spend liberals like Ron Liepert and his good friend, Alison Redford.” said MP Rob Anders.
Just as some background: Harper and Anders have some history. When Harper left politics in 1997, Rob Anders took over the riding keeping it out of the hands of the 'Red Tories.'
Journalist Lawrence Martin recently wrote a great piece about the duo's relationship for iPolitics here.
[ Related: MP Rob Anders slammed for posing in front of Osama shooting target ]
Regardless, the Conservative Party seems to okay with Anders' website post.
"I can confirm that this quote can be attributed to the Prime Minister and Leader of our Party. It reflects the Prime Minister's views about his caucus member," party spokesperson Cory Hann told Yahoo Canada News in an email exchange.
"Re: nominations - As a Party we are running a fair and open nomination process."
[ Related: Contest for Rob Anders' job triggers Tory infighting ]
Harper's endorsement should buoy Anders chances in Calgary Signal Hill in a nomination race that is turning out to be a rock-em sock-em event.
As you might have guessed from Anders' statement, his main opponent is former Alberta MLA Ron Liepert.
According to the Calgary Herald, Liepert has come out swinging suggesting that Conservatives in his riding have "held their noses" voting for Anders for the past four or five elections.
"I’m going to run on my record of accomplishments versus his litany of embarrassments," Liepert is quoted as saying.
I guess he's now running against Anders' "litany of embarrassments" and his Stephen Harper endorsement.
(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)
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