Trudeau kicks off his national tour of regret

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/09/2019 (2230 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

When Justin Trudeau finally arrived in Winnipeg’s Old Market Square, it was evident times had most definitely changed.

Not so long ago, the mere sight of the youthful Liberal leader was enough to drive crowds into a frenzy. Above-average charisma and movie-star good looks added to the frantic response he often received.

On Thursday, however, it was much more subdued.

The question now for Trudeau is not whether his apology was heartfelt. Whether he was sorry for what he had done, or only sorry he was caught, he seemed genuinely contrite. The real question is whether anyone will accept that apology.

As he strode across the square’s neatly manicured grass, a throng of Liberal election candidates in tow, there was some polite applause and cheers, but it became obvious the majority were standing silently, waiting to see what would happen.

History will show it was on an uncommonly sunny mid-September day in Winnipeg that Trudeau launched a desperate bid to recapture his political “sunny days.”

His appearance came less than a full day after Time magazine interrupted a relatively sleepy federal election campaign with images of Trudeau in an Aladdin-type costume and brown face makeup. In the hours that followed, more images arose, showing at least two other incidents where he had donned black or brown face makeup.

Speaking to reporters travelling with the Liberal campaign, the 47-year-old apologized for his actions and claimed the person he was in those photos, some of which go back to high school, does not reflect the man and leader he is today.

Thursday afternoon marked the first opportunity to test his apology with actual Canadians.

To be sure, there was a strong number of Liberal volunteers and organizers. But as the crowd swelled in the early-afternoon sun, it was clear it was not a rent-a-supporter event. Many of those gathered were, in fact, students from nearby Red River College’s creative communications program.

Tie undone and shirtsleeves rolled up, Trudeau looked almost disheveled as he launched into his apology.

He was unequivocal in his regret about the incidents in question. He made no excuses for his decision to adopt costumes that most people now view as utterly racist. He acknowledged, as a child of a privileged family, he clearly had not stopped to think about the people who had been hurt by the images of him in offensive makeup. He asked for forgiveness and asserted over and over again he is a changed man.

However, Trudeau was also evasive. Journalists asked him repeatedly if there are any other instances where he had worn similarly offensive costumes. He claimed because these incidents were so embarrassing, he had suppressed the memories and could not be definitive about whether there are any other examples out there, lurking for journalists and political enemies.

The question now for Trudeau is not whether his apology was heartfelt. Whether he was sorry for what he had done, or only sorry he was caught, he seemed genuinely contrite.

The real question is whether anyone will accept that apology.

When all the factors are weighed, the odds are long he can escape this scandal. Trudeau is a leader teetering on the edge of what is undoubtedly the most unsympathetic ways of ending a political career.

Death by hubris.

When people of power and privilege engage in blatantly racist characterizations such as blackface or “brownface,” they are demonstrating a belief that are somehow above normal social conventions.

When people of power and privilege engage in blatantly racist characterizations such as blackface or “brownface,” they are demonstrating a belief that are somehow above normal social conventions. In Trudeau’s case, the racist costume story seems to dovetail with other events in his life where he demonstrated a self-confidence so overwhelming, it eclipsed self-awareness.

The other best example: the SNC-Lavalin affair, which continues to simmer in the subnarrative of the 2019 Canadian election. The Prime Minister put himself and his senior political aides in an untenable position by trying to exert an almost dictatorial authority over then-justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould.

Trudeau still feels he was acting in the national interest in trying to defend SNC-Lavalin from criminal prosecution over fraud and corruption charges — but all the public seems to remember is the arrogance he demonstrated when he demanded a high-profile member of his cabinet capitulate to his authority without question.

The blackface controversy seems to demonstrate this unbridled self-confidence and sense of entitlement began long before he got into politics.

How badly are the Liberal election prospects hurt by this scandal? The photos and videos of Trudeau are scandalous, but may not prove to be politically fatal.

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Of great concern for the Liberals, even at this early stage of the election, is Trudeau will not be able to get media or the voting public to focus on his policies — the one area he believes he has a distinct advantage over the Conservatives and Tory Leader Andrew Scheer.

It is quite unlikely these ugly tales will convince many core Liberal voters to support another party. However, it is likely to demoralize volunteers and discourage many who voted for him in 2015 to stay home this time around. At the same time, the story has energized the opposition.

The next few days will be critically important as Trudeau continues his national tour of regret.

Over the next month, he will be trying to sell the image of a contrite man who has learned from his past mistakes. It is unclear, as of yet, whether voters are ready to buy it.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca

Dan Lett
Columnist

Dan Lett is a columnist for the Free Press, providing opinion and commentary on politics in Winnipeg and beyond. Born and raised in Toronto, Dan joined the Free Press in 1986.  Read more about Dan.

Dan’s columns are built on facts and reactions, but offer his personal views through arguments and analysis. The Free Press’ editing team reviews Dan’s columns before they are posted online or published in print — part of the our tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.