Flora MacDonald, a former federal Progressive Conservative cabinet minister passed away late last month. She was 89. Although her ardent supporters would probably disagree, her most memorable accomplishment was to lend her name to what is now referred to as the “Flora Syndrome.”
MacDonald worked for the PC party when she decided to run for elective office in the 1972 election. She was successful in being elected as the MP for the eastern Ontario riding of Kingston and the Islands.
PC leader Robert Stanfield lost three straight elections; 1968, 1972 and 1974 to Pierre Trudeau who these days is better known as Justin’s daddy. The year following his last defeat Stanfield announced he was stepping down as leader. Stanfield is best known for teaching generations of future politicians not to play catch with a football while the cameras are rolling because you might drop it and be forever remembered by the electorate as a klutz.
Although she had only been an MP for three years, Macdonald announced she was running as a candidate for the leadership of the Progressive Conservatives.
Almost 40 years ago, a woman prime minister or premier for that matter was unheard of. Times have certainly changed and although Canada has only had one female prime minister who held office for a brief time, the country has had its share of women provincial premiers. And despite the whining of radical feminists, these women, like Hillary Clinton and Carly Fiorina, are and have been judged on their abilities and policies, not on their gender. Times have certainly changed.
The leadership convention was held in Ottawa in February 1976. Looking out over the convention floor there were a lot of people holding “Flora” signs or wearing “Flora” buttons. Observing her supporters, she had an excellent chance of becoming the next leader of the Progressive Conservative Party of Canada.
But after the first ballot was tabulated, MacDonald finished a poor sixth. She eventually dropped out of the race and threw her support behind Joe Clark, another Red Tory, who would eventually go on to win. Clark would later become prime minister in 1979 although he only governed for nine months before his government fell and the Liberals under Trudeau were returned to power.
It was obvious a significant number of delegates at the leadership convention who had openly supported the Kingston and the Islands MP changed their minds when they cast their secret ballot and voted for someone else and this became known as the “Flora Syndrome.” Canada and the PC Party just wasn’t ready for a woman leader.
All of which leads us to Donald Trump. As has been stated, the numerous Republican candidates for president fall into three broad groups. There are the establishment candidates such as Jeb Bush and conservatives like Ted Cruz. The third category represents political outsiders such as Trump, Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina. Most polls indicate the New York City businessman in the lead among all the candidates.
Although Democrats and establishment Republicans are shocked by Trump’s popularity, it is really easy to understand. Republican voters are fed up with both parties; the far left Democrats and the establishment Republicans who talk a good game but in the end go along with Obama on such things as amnesty, ObamaCare, the half-hearted approach to the threat from Islamic terrorism and the disregard of Congress in favour of executive orders.. Trump has been able to tap into these things, especially the porous southern border and the concept of sanctuary cities that allow dangerous criminals who are illegally in the country to go free to commit more serious crimes.
And a lot of people are fed up with the concept of political correctness. Although it may have served a purpose at one time, what the left considers cannot be said gets more and more ridiculous every day. Trump is a straight shooter and says what he believes, political correctness be damned.
It would be surprising if Trump remained in the race if he dropped significantly in the polls, indicating he had little or no chance to win. But if he is still in the race by the time the primary voting begins, will these supporters actually vote for him? He is doing a tremendous job in not only reflecting what a lot of Americans feel and addressing issues too politically incorrect for the Washington establishment to touch. But when it comes down to the crunch do the majority of his supporters actually want to see a President Trump? Do they think he is qualified to be president?
If the Donald remains in the race until the end, it is possible he could be subjected the Flora Syndrome; a novelty who people agree with but really do not want to see him win when the voting begins. It is certainly a possibility.
Time will tell.
