Barry
entered the race with gusto, announcing his intention within days of Premier
Dunderdale’s departure. When this Blogger wrote that Danny Williams had arranged
a “fix” for Frank Coleman, Barry called up to confirm he was in the race “to
the end”.
Of course,
candidates change their minds all the time, as is their right. The oddity is
that Barry invested so little effort in an enterprise about which he first
seemed so passionate.
It is fine
to be critical of a Party’s policies, as Barry was; but renewal and change is
created when energetic, creative and interesting people employ well-honed talents
to climb to the top of the political ladder. Quitters rarely get to convince
a large public of the value of their ideas.
Then, too,
it is fine for Bill Barry to criticize the P.C. Party’s system of delegated leadership
conventions. He knew, from
the beginning, that it was constitutionally inscribed and, therefore, the only one
legally permissible right now.
For that
reason he had an obligation, if his formal candidacy was a serious
manifestation of intent, to play within the current rules and to seek change
later, win or lose.
