Do you remember the Thrilla on Capital Hilla? I wrote all about it that May 19, 2005 night if you need to refresh your memory.
Here's a taste of what I wrote that day:
When Independent Chuck Cadman sided with the Liberals, it completed Paul Martin's Hulk Hogan-like rebound from certain defeat. When Hulk Hogan wrestled, there was always a part of the match when he was getting pummelled and appeared certain to lose. Then, with each punch, slap and kick, he'd shake as if his body was being shocked and he'd start to get stronger and stronger until he was able to block a punch and return the favour. Hogan would win in the end, much like Martin has won today. Martin appeared certain to fall until Belinda's epithany and Cadman's last second surprise.
Chuck Cadman passed away that summer and now his wife Dona, in a forthcoming book, Like A Rock: The Chuck Cadman Story, alleges the Conservatives offered Chuck Cadman a million-dollar life insurance policy in exchange for his vote.
Cadman's daughter, Jodi, corroborated her mother's story, saying her father discussed the offer with her and her mother because he couldn't talk about it publicly. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is in full denial mode even though there is an audio copy of an interview between him and the book's author, Tom Zyturuk. Here's a transcript from the CBC.
"The insurance policy for a million dollars, do you know anything about that?" Zytaruk asks.
"I don't know the details. I know that there were discussions," Harper replies on the tape. "This is not for publication?"
"This will be for the book, not for the newspaper," answers Zytaruk, who works for a Surrey newspaper.
Harper goes on to explain on the tape that the offer to Cadman was "only to replace financial considerations he might lose due to an election." He adds that the offer was carried out by people who were "legitimately representing the party."
He also tells Zytaruk that he knew there was little chance Cadman would agree.
"They wanted to do it, but I told them they were wasting their time. I said Chuck had made up his mind," Harper said.
The shit's really starting to hit the fan now. Following Adscam, Harper is trying to present himself as Mr. Clean, but there's a lot of smoke here for there to be no fire. Cadman was in the last stages of terminal cancer and Harper needed his vote, but an indecent, unethical and illegal offer of a million dollars couldn't taint the Surrey, British Columbia MP's integrity. Cadman couldn't be bought, and in the end, he very well may help defeat Harper's Conservatives once more.
There really should be a Chuck Cadman Day.
Thanks Mike - I'm in the Surrey riding of Chuck Cadman, and he is a hero to a lot of people here. The only way that the Conservatives can clear themselves is to taint Chuck; I hope that doesn't happen, because he deserves to rest in peace.
He may not deserve a day, but we owe him a Young Offenders Act that means something.
Thanks again for your post.