'Stay the hammer until we identify the real enemy'

Your letters - Dear Editor:

Why is everyone all of a sudden dumping on Danny Williams re: the ABC campaign? Newfoundlanders and Labrador-ians gave overwhelming support to the specific tactic with the strategy being a better deal for our province, or at least sending the message "you better not screw with our people."

The fact that Prime Minister Stephen Harper appointed Nova Scotia MP Peter MacKay as our Newfoundland representative in cabinet speaks volumes. It may show how petty and vindictive our prime minister is if MacKay was placed there to block any initiatives on our behalf. Conversely, it may indicate how well Harper knows a seasoned Maritimer as MacKay can best represent us instead of a newly-elected female representative from Prince Edward island who lacks that experience.

Similarly, MacKay's utilization of defeated Conservative candidate Fabian Manning could represent his dislike for Premier Williams, but it could also show MacKay's need for a little buffer zone as good reason would dictate. After all, we praise Danny for his spirit, should we deny a fellow Scotian maritimer a little Gaelic spirit?

Of course, we are all in a state of supposition since political motives are seldom on the surface, but there's one thing I do disagree with and it is this contention by a gentleman in a letter to the editor in the Telegram: 'Williams has a lot of crow to eat, and I think we should give him time and space to continue to make amends' - Nov. 27, 2008.

When it comes to the ABC campaign, nobody who stood up and supported that tactic as a valid principle has any crow to eat, nor acts of contrition to perform. On the other hand, if there were fellow Newfoundlanders who supported the tactic and lost certain federal perks, contracts or favours as a result, I ask, 'why did you support it in the first place'? I further ask that in the future, if you can't stay the course, go back to the bunk and say nothing. We don't need a mini-version of John Diefen-baker and the 'night of the long knives' in this country. We need more men and women of principle who not only stand on those principles, but are mature enough to understand the defence of a valid principle is not ever easy.

Harper is still in power and these signs of contrition and/or vacillation are not only immoral, they also open our province to future political retribution if they sense any weaknesses in our palisades. So prime your flintlocks, but stay the hammer until we identify the real enemy.

Aubrey Smith

Grand Falls-Windsor