Receiving a death threat was “the final straw” for Airdrie, Alberta, MLA Rob Anderson to decide not to run again for public office.
Shortly after Dec. 17 — now known as defection day — when Anderson and eight other Wildrose MLAs, including party leader Danielle Smith, crossed the floor in an unprecedented move to join the governing Tories, Anderson got a voicemail on his private cellphone that rattled the 37-year-old father of four young children and “terrified Anita” his wife of 13 years.
“We were already leaning heavily towards not running again when I crossed the floor,” explained Anderson, who was the main negotiator for the Wildrose party floor crossers just one week prior to Christmas.
“About one year ago, Anita and I discussed that this should be my last term,” he said.
But politics is one of those callings that is not unlike a magnet. It relentlessly pulls those drawn to it despite their better judgment and Anderson was no different. So, he hadn’t fully decided either way. Then came the death threat.
The message, which is now in the hands of police, said in part: “Rob Anderson . . . where I’m from, we take care of people like you with a knife to the bowels. You need to be knifed in your bowels. You don’t deserve to be alive.” Unsettling words to be sure.
It was people I respect like you, people like (former federal Conservative MP) Jay Hill, all kinds of friends on the federal side of things who knew Jim really well and kept saying the same thing, to a man they had nothing but praise for him — even family members — and myself too
“The death threat isn’t the ultimate reason for our departure — but this threat and frankly some of the other hateful things people expressed about us and our character — certainly played a role in clinching the decision,” added Anderson in a lengthy interview Wednesday.
“When you try to do the right thing and then get portrayed as the scum of the earth for doing so while your family is threatened in the process … politics becomes less and less appealing.” That’s understandable.
But what will forever be difficult to understand for most Albertans is why someone who was planning to quit politics would work so hard to destroy a party he sacrificed so much for, to turn into a viable political threat to the long-governing Tories.
“I wish people could see inside my heart and head and see that my motives are pure. I fought hard for this province and I’m doing what I think is best now, that is supporting a very honourable man, Jim Prentice, who is the best equipped to lead this province during a difficult time,” explained Anderson.
“It’s funny,” admits Anderson,”your strong endorsement of Prentice,” he said referring to my columns and editorials, “helped make me take off the partisan blinders and take another look at him.” Hmm? As someone who believes in the importance of having a strong opposition to the 43-year Tory dynasty, I’m not thrilled to be blamed or credited.
We were already leaning heavily towards not running again when I crossed the floor
“It was people I respect like you, people like (former federal Conservative MP) Jay Hill, all kinds of friends on the federal side of things who knew Jim really well and kept saying the same thing, to a man they had nothing but praise for him — even family members — and myself too. . . Obviously, we started out saying and doing what any opposition party would do. We were cynical and we kept trying to find the chink in the armour, but over time, I just lost all interest in opposing him. The more I saw him perform, the more I was convinced that he was the real deal and that he was the best person to lead this province and to unite conservatives.”
The arguments against the floor crossings have been made ad nauseam now on these pages and elsewhere. I believe that Anderson and the other floor crossers made a terrible mistake that is bad for democracy and disrespects the electorate. But he’s also done a lot to help improve this province — including helping to get rid of two damaging premiers.
There is plenty to oppose in this current Tory government, which still suffers from ethical lapses and has many rotten apples in its political barrel. Now, thanks to Anderson, the Alberta PCs could literally bring in a provincial sales tax and still get elected in the next election, unless the Wildrose can rebuild quickly and attract a strong new leader. But Anderson’s slaying of democracy doesn’t deserve to be met with a death threat. Here’s hoping the Airdrie RCMP get their man.
Source:: National Post
