Elbowgate: How the Haters Failed to Hurt Justin Trudeau

In my last post I ran a video by John Oliver, where he strongly suggested that Justin Trudeau had apologized enough for elbowgate.

And that it was all just a tempest in a very Canadian teapot.

Now it seems that's also what most Canadians believe.

As a new poll suggests. 

A new online poll of 2,000 adults by Abacus Data suggests that Justin Trudeau has survived elbowgate largely unscathed.

"The broad majority of those surveyed (71%) said it had no impact on their view of Mr. Trudeau, 23% said it made them feel worse about him, 6% better," wrote Abacus Data's Bruce Anderson and David Coletto in a statement distributed to the media.

Prior to elbowgate, 81 percent agreed with the statement that Trudeau "genuinely cares about other people". That rose to 82 percent after the incident.

Of those who registered a negative opinion, nearly half voted Conservative in the last election.

Almost nobody followed elbowgate closely, despite the frantic efforts of the Con media to try to portray it as a major scandal.

Postmedia national-affairs columnist Andrew Coyne repeatedly used the word "erratic" on the CBC At Issue panel to describe Trudeau's conduct. CBC Radio's The House put elbowgate at the top of its agenda. And national newscasts hosted by Peter Mansbridge, Lisa LaFlamme, and other broadcasters repeatedly led with this story.

Only to fail miserably...



"The reaction inside the 'Ottawa bubble' was disproportionate to the reaction in the country at large," Anderson and Coletto concluded. "It was not, so far anyway, a moment that transfixed voters and shifted the political landscape."

And be left looking like idiots. Again. 

But at least now I think most of us can agree on some things. Justin was wrong to lose his cool with the shenanigans of Tom Mulcair and his gang.

There were too many dives.

All you need to know about #elbowgate...#Trudeau pic.twitter.com/vTaApWFi5P

— Riley (@apollorising) May 19, 2016

There was far too much loose talk about gender based violence, which is a real problem in this country. And by trying to associate elbowgate with violence against women the Cons and the NDP only insulted its real victims. 

And also disgraced themselves.

While poor angry Tom Mulcair had to be carried away on a stretcher.



Trudeau has now hit a new personal best since Nanos started tracking on who Canadians prefer as Prime Minister. Conversely, Mulcair has hit a new personal historic low. Asked who they would prefer as PM, Trudeau was the choice of 53.8% of Canadians while Ambrose came in at 15.6%, Mulcair at 9.0%, May at 3.6% and 16.7% were unsure.

Along with all those other Trudeau haters...



Who must be soooooo disappointed.

But at least now hopefully we can move on.

Recognize that there were mistakes made on both sides, but there is no room for haters in Canada. 

And whether those haters like it or not.

Justin Trudeau, human flaws and all, is still a great and incredibly popular Prime Minister....



Trudeau is going to take the day off tomorrow to celebrate his 11th wedding anniversary.

And after the way him, Sophie, and their children have been attacked in recent weeks.

Who would dare say he doesn't deserve it?

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