It’s election season in Canada and the politics are thick as ever. Stephen Harper, Jack Layton and pals don’t want Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party, participating in the televised debate for the upcoming Canadian federal election. Despite the Green’s earning a seat in the house and over 600k popular votes in the last election, the political leaders of the other parties will not recognize the Green Party’s role in the Canadian federal scene.
We know the televised debates are important in getting the position of the party and the character of the candidate out to everyday Canadians. TV is an extraordinary medium, but using to it host this debate has limitations, one of which is math. In front of the TV cameras these candidates get a one in four chance that a question will be targeted to them – a one in four chance they’ll be heard on a particular issue.
TV is not the only media out there.
Elizabeth has an unprecedented opportunity to take the debate online to respond to every question asked and to any off-sided comment or audience question. While the leaders of the other parties talk amongst themselves, she could steal the show simultaneously on the internet.
Some slice and dice segment editing would make great YouTube fodder along with a digital media kit for the traditional press and television the next day.
Maybe CBC TV won’t have Elizabeth that night, but will CBC.ca? And if not them… the Greens always have their own website. I wonder what kind of ink taking the debate single-handedly online would generate?
Either way, I want to know what Elizabeth has to say, and I want to know how she performs under pressure. This is her opportunity to take.
Today pundits, politicians and regular people are arguing for and against this strange political maneuver in excluding her from the debate. Most are touching on the irony that her exclusion has already generated more media attention than her inclusion ever would. However, this kind of coverage doesn’t help the average Canadian learn anything about the Green Party or Elizabeth, so I’m afraid this will not generate the momentum the Green party needs to get more seats this election.
Elizabeth, if Stephen, Jack and the boys won’t have you in your sandbox, why not make your own?
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3 Responses to “Elizabeth May: If you can’t join them, beat them.”
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September 10th, 2008 at 1:54 am
I stumbled across your post as it was picked up in by a site we’ve created at the UBC School of Journalism to track the social media buzz on the Canadian elections at NetPrimeMinister.ca.
If you like it, tell you friends, if you don’t, tell me.
September 10th, 2008 at 8:19 am
They’ve tried the YouTube questions in the States, so why not YouTube answers from parties not involved. What a great way for May and any other party to participate in the debates. Even better in a way since the other candidates don’t get the chance to rebut her answers.
This would be a media coup for Elizabeth May. If she was feeling brave she could even stream it live with Ustream or Mogulus.
September 12th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Thanks David.
You probabably have caught that Layton and Harper have backed off their position and May is in the debates now. I got this letter this morning from the green party.
“Dear Mr. Douma.
Thank you so much for expressing your concerns about Elizabeth May’s exclusion from the televised leaders debates.
We are pleased that since you wrote us your thoughtful email, the Broadcast consortium has reversed their decision and allowed Elizabeth May to take part in the nationally televised leaders debates.
It is thanks to Canadians like you who signed our petition, as well as calling and emailing the other political parties and broadcast consortium. It was by your actions that this change in decision was made. Democracy and free speech are safe in this country as long as there are thousands of Canadians like you making sure wrongs are made right.
This victory isn’t just a victory for the Green Party; it’s a victory for democracy and for the fundamental Canadian values of equality and fairness.
Thank you again for standing up for our democracy.
Sincerely,
Andrew Muir
Green Party Information Centre
Centre d’information du Parti Vert
1-866-868-3447
http://www.greenparty.ca/donate
A form letter is better than nothing I suppose.
Still, I think they are missing an opportunity here.