David Miller, Buzz Hargrove and NDP Double Standards

I remember during the last federal election how angry NDP activists were at CAW leader Buzz Hargrove for suggesting that people should vote Liberal in ridings where the NDP did not stand a chance of winning. (Incidentally, he also suggested that Quebecers should vote BQ). At the time, I pointed out that many rank-and-file New Democrats were being hypocritical for spewing hate at Hargrove while David Miller was given a free pass for endorsing Liberal MPs and attending a press conference with Paul Martin in Toronto during the campaign. I also pointed out that Peggy Nash had supported the CAW council's strategic voting strategy and that Olivia Chow had endorsed an independent candidate running in Toronto Centre in the 1999 provincial election. Whereas Buzz got the boot, no one ever suggested that remedy for Chow, Nash or Miller.

Now that Miller has officially dumped his NDP membership, (and Nash and Chow are now NDP MPs), it's a moot point. However, I do believe that this kind of double standard is incredibly hypocritical.