Another day, another scandal

Re Tory official resigns over ’inappropriate’ posts, Sept. 10 Every day brings a fresh reminder of the kind of people attracted to the Conservative party. It’s the party of bitterness, the party of contempt for people not like us. Stephen Harper doesn’t create jobs; he creates Jobbiks. Henry Lamb, Thornhill

The Harper Conservatives are in a mind-boggling embarrassing situation with their candidates. One caught urinating in a customer’s cup in her kitchen. Another making prank phone calls.

It seems that it is a carry-over from Stephen Harper’s Senate appointees Mike Duffy, Pam Wallin and Patrick Brazeau. Their candidates are turning off voters. They expect and deserve something more serious from the Conservatives choices.

We can watch candidates in the media and listen to them inferring their qualities. We can read what they write. When it comes time to vote, do we really know them?

It is time for political parties to vet potential candidates to protect the public. Vincent Last, Brampton

Re PM insists Wright alone was to blame, Sept. 8 So, Prime Minister Stephen Harper insists that Nigel Wright was alone to blame for the Duffy affair. As Adam blamed Eve, Richard Nixon blamed John Dean, Bill Clinton blamed “that woman,” now Stephen Harper blames Nigel Wright.

Great theatre but it is unclear whether it is a comedy or a tragedy.

Mr. Harper has cemented a legacy for himself as believing Canadians are idiots. Mr. Wright has created a legacy as one of the great dupes in Canadian political history.

The Germans have a word for what we feel about this, fremdschamen: to be embarrassed because someone else has embarrassed himself, and doesn’t notice. Bob Walsh, Wilton, Conn.