Why Not Harpermania?

I was driving to Edmonton last week and got a rare opportunity to listen to the radio. As luck would have it, I was tuned to Charles Adler, one of my favourite talk show hosts. I find Adler a no-nonsense shoot-from-the-hip kinda guy. To me with my redneck stance on most everything, he just kind of goes right to where I live.
On tap for the hour was the press conference during American President Obama’s Canadian visit. Questions where limited to two from the Canadian press and two from the American press. And I have to say right up front that I have always been a Harper fan, I find the man articulate and intelligent. But I as the question period progressed I became more and more enamored with our Prime Minister. As the questions rolled in, (and there were more than 4), I found that Harper’s answers were more detailed, smoother and easier to understand. I do however believe that we will have one of the most productive and co-operative periods in Canadian-American relationships seen in recent history. Don’t misunderstand me and think that I don’t care for Obama, I just find that he is not living up to the “Rock Star” image that his groupies have saddled him with. Although I do like the man, I believe that an Aardvark could have run against George W. and won hands down. Obama didn’t need policies and platforms, he just needed the good looks God gave him and a pulse.
I’m okay with the whole thing, but what rankles me is the fact that Canadians are lining up in droves to worship the American President. These “Rock Star” groupies seem to be star-struck by this good looking youngish charismatic leader. I’d like to say that I can’t remember when an American President has garnered so much attention from the Canadian public and press alike but unfortunately I am old enough to remember the Kennedy years. Although I was only a teenager and a young one at that, I remember well that although he was martyred, but even he didn’t live up to the hype that surrounded him and I don’t believe Obama will either. When was the last time Americans worshiped a Canadian Prime Minister?
As I watched the CBC coverage of the event on the evening news, I was disgusted by the fact that our national media service, the CBC barely even mentioned that Harper was in attendance. Why are we as Canadians paying for the CBC to embarrass us to that extent?
Some factions have elevated Obama to the status of the Saviour of the world, the Messiah if you will. Let’s get real folks, he’s just a man and he puts his pants on one leg at time just like the rest of us.
If we as Canadians are going to worship anyone, perhaps we should be looking in our own country and leaving American Hero worship to Americans.
I still remember Chretien sitting with George W. and seeing the obvious look of “Why am I sitting here with this guy who speaks out of both sides of his mouth in two languages and you can’t understand either one”. on Bush’s face.
This definitely did not occur with Harper and Obama. On a scale of 10, I would give Obama a 7, but I would give Harper a 8.5.
Ted Okkerse