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Broadbent slams Grits over voter 'manipulation'
In his final news conference of the election, former NDP leader Ed Broadbent gave a scathing attack on the Liberals and accused the party of manipulating voters.
"These are not progressive people," Broadbent told a news conference in Ottawa Friday.
"The only time they talked about being progressive is in the dying days of the campaign. It's the only time they use the word -- when they try to go after the votes of ordinary people who are indicating they're going to vote for the NDP. Well I can tell you that this time it's not going to happen."
While campaigning in Vancouver, B.C. on Monday, Liberal Leader Paul Martin had said his party was the best choice for a progressive government.
"Fundamentally, if you are a progressive voter, you should essentially vote for the progressive option -- and that is the Liberal option," he said.
Broadbent, 69, returned to federal politics in 2004, but decided against running for re-election in order to care for his ailing wife.
"The Liberal campaigning has been deeply offensive," Broadbent continued.
"Offensive to women, offensive to workers, and offensive to members of the armed forces, and offensive to all Canadians for suggesting that a vote for anyone but themselves is not progressive. This, my friends, is the height of arrogance. It is clear the Liberal Party no longer has the moral authority to deserve people's votes. Their cynical manipulation … will not work this time."
Broadbent also had harsh words for the Tories, warning they were not a good alternative to the Liberal Party and that "their Conservative agenda must be held in check."
Instead, he predicted the NDP will win several ridings where Liberal support has fallen, such as Whitby-Oshawa in Ontario.
"The Conservatives are no option for Canadians whatsoever," Broadbent added.
"Speaking of Oshawa, the Liberal seated MP (Judi Longfield) is going to be defeated by a New Democrat (Maret Sadem-Thompson), as we spend our time in Oshawa and many other parts of the country vigorously attacking the Conservatives."
The NDP's best results came under Broadbent in 1988, when the party won 43 seats. In the last election, Broadbent secured a seat for the Ottawa Centre riding.
That riding is currently being contested by NDP candidate Paul Dewar, who Broadbent predicted will win against Liberal candidate Richard Mahoney.
"I'm going to surprise you," he told reporters.
"Paul's going to win. I won't be glib or facetious about it. When I ran a year and a half ago, I said it was going to be a close race then, and we won. I think it's going to be a close race now between Paul and the Liberal candidate. But I also feel confident we're going to win the riding."
Soft on Harper
Some critics have accused NDP Leader Jack Layton of not being tough enough on Conservative Leader Stephen Harper during the election campaign.
Analysts believe Layton is being soft on Harper in the event of a Conservative-led minority government, where the NDP would have to work closely with the Tories.
Such a situation would be a nightmare scenario for Layton, who gave up his party's leverage with the minority Liberals in order to help bring down their government and trigger the election.
However, Broadbent is not under Layton's restraints and the NDP could use him to freely attack the Liberals and Conservatives without political repercussions.
Broadbent defended the NDP campaign Friday and said he called the press conference to be "supportive" of his party.
"I have no regrets whatsoever about this campaign," Broadbent said.
"I think Jack's done a terrific job. I'm here today in a supportive role for a brilliant team: a brilliant campaign, a set of candidates, and a leader I admire."
Broadbent slams Grits over voter 'manipulation'
In his final news conference of the election, former NDP leader Ed Broadbent gave a scathing attack on the Liberals and accused the party of manipulating voters.
"These are not progressive people," Broadbent told a news conference in Ottawa Friday.
"The only time they talked about being progressive is in the dying days of the campaign. It's the only time they use the word -- when they try to go after the votes of ordinary people who are indicating they're going to vote for the NDP. Well I can tell you that this time it's not going to happen."
While campaigning in Vancouver, B.C. on Monday, Liberal Leader Paul Martin had said his party was the best choice for a progressive government.
"Fundamentally, if you are a progressive voter, you should essentially vote for the progressive option -- and that is the Liberal option," he said.
Broadbent, 69, returned to federal politics in 2004, but decided against running for re-election in order to care for his ailing wife.
"The Liberal campaigning has been deeply offensive," Broadbent continued.
"Offensive to women, offensive to workers, and offensive to members of the armed forces, and offensive to all Canadians for suggesting that a vote for anyone but themselves is not progressive. This, my friends, is the height of arrogance. It is clear the Liberal Party no longer has the moral authority to deserve people's votes. Their cynical manipulation … will not work this time."
Broadbent also had harsh words for the Tories, warning they were not a good alternative to the Liberal Party and that "their Conservative agenda must be held in check."
Instead, he predicted the NDP will win several ridings where Liberal support has fallen, such as Whitby-Oshawa in Ontario.
"The Conservatives are no option for Canadians whatsoever," Broadbent added.
"Speaking of Oshawa, the Liberal seated MP (Judi Longfield) is going to be defeated by a New Democrat (Maret Sadem-Thompson), as we spend our time in Oshawa and many other parts of the country vigorously attacking the Conservatives."
The NDP's best results came under Broadbent in 1988, when the party won 43 seats. In the last election, Broadbent secured a seat for the Ottawa Centre riding.
That riding is currently being contested by NDP candidate Paul Dewar, who Broadbent predicted will win against Liberal candidate Richard Mahoney.
"I'm going to surprise you," he told reporters.
"Paul's going to win. I won't be glib or facetious about it. When I ran a year and a half ago, I said it was going to be a close race then, and we won. I think it's going to be a close race now between Paul and the Liberal candidate. But I also feel confident we're going to win the riding."
Soft on Harper
Some critics have accused NDP Leader Jack Layton of not being tough enough on Conservative Leader Stephen Harper during the election campaign.
Analysts believe Layton is being soft on Harper in the event of a Conservative-led minority government, where the NDP would have to work closely with the Tories.
Such a situation would be a nightmare scenario for Layton, who gave up his party's leverage with the minority Liberals in order to help bring down their government and trigger the election.
However, Broadbent is not under Layton's restraints and the NDP could use him to freely attack the Liberals and Conservatives without political repercussions.
Broadbent defended the NDP campaign Friday and said he called the press conference to be "supportive" of his party.
"I have no regrets whatsoever about this campaign," Broadbent said.
"I think Jack's done a terrific job. I'm here today in a supportive role for a brilliant team: a brilliant campaign, a set of candidates, and a leader I admire."