This piece is pretty harsh, especially from a former aid to Rae; still it’s worth a read. Rae would be a fine leader and whoever wins needs the Party to rally around them; I see Rae has serious issues in
The
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Page: AA06
Section: Opinion
Byline: Rob Mitchell
Source: Special to The Star
There's a brilliant scene in the final act of John Osborne's The Entertainer, magnificently played by Laurence Olivier in the film, where the central character, Archie Rice, cannot leave the stage even when the spotlight is slowly, inevitably contracting around him and the audience has long gone.
The curtain just rose on what could be the last act of Bob Rae's political career with the official announcement of his candidacy for the leadership of the federal Liberal party. It's his second run at the gilded prize he hopes will refashion his legacy in triumph and give him a place in history as
There are few men as driven as Rae. He seems possessed of an insatiable need for attention and recognition. He positively thrives in the public eye. His commitment to public life has always been couched in altruism that he has chronicled over the course of three books and countless op-ed articles and essays.
After enduring a brutal tenure as
Not so. His post-Queen's Park years have been crammed with an astonishing array of commitments to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the Leukemia Research Foundation, the Red Cross, the fishery crisis in Burnt Church, N.B., the Air India inquiry, chairing the International Forum of Federations, the Rae report on post secondary education for the McGuinty government, the Giller Awards and a professorship at his alma mater, the University of Toronto.
It could be said he harbours a compulsive need to be front and centre in the public domain, anxious to avail himself of any reputable cause that might afford a media interview, a headline, a television news clip, or simply a stage and an audience.
Sometimes his judgment is questionable: dancing in the Caribana parade, flogging his songwriting to perplexed record labels, performing treacly compositions such as We're in the Same Boat Now for MuchMusic, skinny dipping with Rick Mercer on national television.
It takes an indomitable force of will to project yourself so fearlessly upon the world.
Rae's tenure as premier has been ruthlessly dissected. It is a crippling yoke he must carry into this race from which he cannot detach himself and is valiantly trying to turn to his advantage.
If Rae is glorious in his self-determination, he's not been so gracious in defeat. This was evident in his loss on the convention floor to Stephane Dion two years ago in
That side of his personality emerged recently following a closed-door meeting with riding association presidents in
Rae sought to draw a distinction between himself and his rival by declaring his campaign would be open to all in the party, the media and the public. His gambit backfired and the front pages of all four
Still, this is just the first act; we're a long way from last curtain in the twilight drama of Bob Rae.
Rob Mitchell was a senior aide to former premiers Bob Rae and Ernie Eves. His column appears every other week.
2 comments:
So true.
I remember Rae being on all the political shows right after he went skinny dipping with Rick Mercer and making sure we were reminded of it.
I reminds of of McCain - did I tell you I was a POW
Rae - did I tell you I skinny dipped with Rick Mercer.
Mr. Rae - do I care? NO!
I have concerns about Rae, but am keeping an open mind.
I too noticed Rae's apparent lack of grace under defeat at the last leadership convention. Then I read that there was some possible anti-Semitism around, in connection with Rae's wife, and realized that he might have been reacting to that news. So I am not willing to draw any conclusion with how he appeared on television after he lost.
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