Canada

Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Doer hobnobs with U.S. bigwigs

Waves Canada flag at both conventions

By: Lee-Anne Goodman

Posted: 09/8/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

Gary Doer, Canada's ambassador to the United States, has been on the ground at both the Democratic and Republican conventions over the past two weeks, "flying the Canadian flag" to a barrage of the biggest power brokers in the United States. (PAUL CHIASSON / THE CANADIAN PRESS)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Gary Doer has been on the ground at both the Democratic and Republican conventions over the past two weeks, "flying the Canadian flag" to a barrage of the biggest power brokers in the United States.

"All the people who are going to be making decisions in both parties are here," Canada's U.S. ambassador said in an interview in Charlotte, N.C., during a break in his jam-packed schedule of briefings at the Democratic National Convention this week.

"You meet governors, former governors, congressional representatives, candidates, senators, people who are advising and informing policy on the teams that are standing for the presidency of the United States," said Doer, one of 70 foreign ambassadors who descended upon the conventions.

"So it's a very good place to meet a lot of people very quickly. You just walk down the street and you meet them."

Doer said he's been struck by the vast differences between Canadian and American political conventions as he's taken in the events in Tampa and Charlotte.

"The corporate, special interest lobbying that goes on at both conventions is quite overwhelming," he said, sipping a mug of black coffee a few blocks from the downtown Time Warner arena.

"There is very little debate on the convention floor; you don't get debates about Afghanistan on the convention floor, or debates about trade versus protectionism on the convention floor, like you would see at a political convention in Canada."

Instead, each U.S. convention had a slickly produced, carefully controlled narrative as U.S. President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, his Republican rival for the White House, run neck-and-neck in public opinion polls.

In Tampa, it was all about Romney's likeability, Doer said, while in Charlotte, Democrats tried to get the word out Obama deserves respect for his foreign policy triumphs and the job he's done dealing with a devastating economic recession.

"You have a disciplined message but democracy, as muddy as that can sometimes be -- you don't see it in as transparent a way as you see it in Canada."

Which convention was best? Doer, ever the diplomat, declined to say, although he did allow that he loved Bill Clinton's speech. He even provided a fleeting -- and bang-on -- imitation of the 42nd president.

-- The Canadian Press

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 8, 2012 A10

Factual inaccuracy? Something missing? Help improve our journalism.

Know about news? Share your story suggestions, photos and video.

Spelling error? Punctuation problem? Send us an email if you’ve found a typo.

More Canada

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.