Today's Emerson Mailbag

Today I received two pieces of correspondence related to the David Emerson scandal. One from the protagonist of this drama, and one from the tony west-side of Vancouver.

Mr. Emerson, using the privileges afforded to a member of parliament, has sent a communique to his constituents which attempts to explain and defuse the issue at hand – a first personal step at attempting to rebuild his credibility in front of his constituents.

I wonder how many will buy it, and how many will accept his apology? I wonder how many are waiting for an apology from Stephen Harper? I am.

I also received a letter from a west side resident – one of those so moved by the issue that she came out to attend our protest over the weekend. Its contents, unlike Mr. Emerson’s missive, were honestly expressed:

Dear Mr. Emerson:

I am not one of the ‘partisan zealots’ from the Vancouver Kingsway Riding. I am an elderly woman approaching my seventy-fifth birthday, who hails from Vancouver’s affluent west side. In fact, I might be described by some as part of Vancouver’s “creme de la creme.” I have never voted for an NDP government and probably never will. During the past week I have made my way across town with my cataract-impaired eyes, through bitterly cold weather, to attend rallies in support of the citizens of Vancouver Kingsway Riding whose democratic rights have been denied to them.

Mr. Emerson, how dare you deprive these citizens of their franchise and of their right to have their voice heard at the ballot box?

Mr. Emerson, you just don’t get it! This is not a partisan issue, but a basic tenet of democracy.—Donna Hossack, February 19, 2006

Hossack gets it, Emerson doesn’t.