Trudeau’s youthful errors back to bite him
As election-campaign bombshells go, they don’t get much bigger than the one that exploded at the feet of the federal Liberals Wednesday and sent shock waves reverberating across the nation.
An 18-year-old photograph of Justin Trudeau wearing dark brown makeup and stereotypical Arab clothing at a Vancouver gala was published in Time magazine, instantly prompting accusations the prime minister is both racist and hypocritical.
Nor was this a one-off error by a younger Trudeau. In short order, two more troubling images emerged that showed him as a high school student wearing blackface. In one photograph, he was performing the Jamaican folk tune “Banana Boat.” In the other, a video, he was sticking out his tongue and waving his arms.
Embarrassing? Yes. Damaging? Certainly, and deservedly so. Fatal? Only Canadian voters can say.
In a tightly contested election race in which Trudeau’s Liberals and Andrew Scheer’s Conservatives are running neck-and-neck, this could be the gamechanger. The judgments of even a small percentage of voters could now make the difference between the Liberals winning a majority government, returning to Ottawa with a minority or being relegated to the opposition benches.
However, to be fair to Trudeau and, more to the point, given the importance of electing the best government for Canada, many factors should be carefully weighed.
When Trudeau painted his face, neck and hands brown and donned a turban and robes at an “Arabian Nights”-themed party, he was a 29-year-old teacher, not a politician. As a drama teacher with a flair for making a statement, he might have thought the costume and makeup were appropriate for the occasion, although no one else is seen wearing brownface in any of the photos from the event.
Even in 2001, it was widely considered racist for a white Canadian to pretend to be a visible minority. Even then, it was reasonable to conclude such an individual was parodying or ridiculing a member of a racial group that had traditionally faced discrimination in Canada. In the 18 years since that Vancouver party, such behaviour has rightly become taboo.
As of this week, Trudeau has apologized for past actions he acknowledges were “unacceptable” and “racist.” His clear, unequivocal admission should count for something.
Yet though the Middle East costume is long gone, Trudeau will wear the consequences of that night. This is the man who has cast himself as the epitome of the 21st century woke politician, unhesitant in proclaiming his progressive credentials and scathing in his criticism of those who lack them. Indeed, in this campaign the Liberals have happily pointed fingers at what they insist are their opponents’ misdeeds. The Liberals have made much of the fact that the Conservatives’ Scheer voted against same-sex marriage as an Opposition MP 14 years ago. They have also demanded that several Conservative candidates be ousted because of their social-media history. If Trudeau’s opponents can’t escape their past, can he shut the door on his?
And so voters have every right to remember what the younger Trudeau did. At the same time, it makes even more sense for voters to devote their greatest attention to his record as prime minister. Trudeau’s cabinet is likely the most racially diverse in Canadian history. Key members of his staff are Canadians from a variety of racial backgrounds, too. Trudeau championed the cause of Syrian refugees and has increased the number of immigrants Canada accepts each year. These are not the actions of a racist.
Voters should remember this, along with all Trudeau’s accomplishments in office — both laudable and disappointing. Then, let their ballot be their verdict.