A hilariously amazing blog post announces the Liberal Party of Canada’s newest rivalry: a rift between the precociously political sons of TVO's Steve Paikin and U of T president David Naylor.
UPDATE: Dec. 14, 6:03 p.m.: Zach Paikin’s director of communications also tells The Grid that the blog comment in question is not from Paikin’s mom.
UPDATE: Dec. 14, 1:40 p.m.: Zach Paikin’s director of communications has issued a statement regarding Paikin’s “campaign to rebuild and strengthen the Liberal Party.” Scroll to the bottom of the story to read it.
For years, we’ve been reading about the political and personal competition between life-long frenemies Bob Rae and Michael Ignatieff, but with those titans of Canadian politics now very much over the hill, there’s a hot new Liberal Party rivalry about to boil over—and this time it’s between Naylor and Paikin.
No, not U of T president David Naylor and TVO host Steve Paikin, but their university-aged sons, Max and Zach.
Both Max and Zach are informed, upstanding and engaged citizens who began their political lives volunteering for the Young Liberals of Canada here in the local riding of Toronto-Centre. But now, Zach is attempting to make the big leap into federal politics by running for National Policy Chair of the Liberal Party of Canada. Zach appears to be a smooth self-promoter who’s scored himself some choice press in the National Post and as a guest on The Michael Coren Show, but in amping up his media visibility, he’s also raised the ire of his old Young Liberal pal.
Max Naylor looks to have created his own blog purely for the chance to post this scathing take-down of Paikin’s political aspirations, notable both for the way Naylor condemns Paikin’s allegedly right-shifting views, and the way he employs a tone so high and mighty he effectively condemns his own legitimacy in the process. Regardless of what it all means for the future of the badly wounded Grits, it’s just an extremely entertaining read.
Take, for example, the way Naylor begins by elegantly weaving the friendship-gone-sour narrative:
We worked very closely in an organization called the Canadian Youth Assembly, travelling together to promote it. He will likely deny it, but we were exceptionally close friends.
…and then his transition into a stern condemnation of Paikin’s true motives and how they might affect the party going forward, leading to this supremely memorable quip:
Mr Paikin is as naturally skilled an operator as I have ever seen. I’ve witnessed many good people hoodwinked by this. It is usually Mr Paikin who cuts ties as he continues to waltz further right.
Naylor then breaks out the weapons of mass-reputation-destruction:
If Zach Paikin is a progressive, then Rick Perry is an atheist.
BOOM—right?!
What effect the blog post will have on Paikin’s candidacy remains to be seen, but it’s intriguing as an impartial reader to see the world of Canadian federal politics dialed down to such a collegiate micro-level. It’s not unfair to assume Rae and Ignatieff would have waded into the same territory, if only they had the chance to come of age in the Facebook era.
But that’s not even the best part! The blog post’s sober political themes morph into high comedy when Paikin’s mom (or at least someone claiming to be her) jumps onto the comment board!
Max, You know me. I am Zach’s mom. You have been in my home. You and I both know that you have felt rivalrous with Zach. That’s all well and good. But this is beyond the beyond. You need to give a good, hard look at yourself in the mirror and ask if this is really about Zach, or it is about you and your own feelings of insecurity. I am deeply disappointed in you, Max. I hope you have a chance for some reflection on this and choose the way of the adult, where some things are best left unsaid.
Take care of yourself, Max.
Nancy
Further proof that nobody in-fights like the Liberals (and their moms). Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.
Statement from Zach Paikin:
Zach Paikin is dedicated to a positive and progressive campaign to rebuild and strengthen the Liberal Party through his run for National Policy Chair. One must only look at his proposals for an independent think tank and regular, accessible and affordable conventions as evidence that Paikin truly welcomes and encourages all ideas for the future. Zach’s thirst for collaboration is further evidenced by his many campaign stops across the country, where he listens to those who want to build a strong Liberal Party. That’s just one of many reasons Paikin has secured the endorsement of MPs and MPPs from coast to coast.
