If he had any political capital left, James Lunney spent it Thursday.
The MP for Nanaimo-Alberni, who left the Conservative Party about 10 days ago, left his own news conference Thursday with reporters still hoping to ask questions about his statement asserting that Christian politicians are under attack.
This was a local news conference, with mostly Nanaimo media outlets represented, along with The NEWS. To watch Lunney and a couple of reporters point fingers at each other and basically engage in a high-volume argument was not a high point for the media or Lunney.
Why some reporters believe what they have to say during a news conference is so very important is disturbing, but that’s a different piece for a different day.
As you’re likely aware, Lunney resigned from the Conservative caucus following an uproar caused by him posting to social media “Stop calling evolution fact.” He went on the attack Thursday on his home turf. He talked about what he believed the media’s role should be, but as soon as it became uncomfortable, he bolted to the back rooms of his constituency office.
Before he stopped participating in a news conference that he called, Lunney wasn’t exactly answering the questions he was asked.
As far as we can determine, both Stephen Harper and Justin Trudeau are Christians. Are they under attack too, or are there different classes of Christians? We asked Lunney that. He refused to answer the question.
We had one more question to ask, but Lunney split the scene before we could pose the query. Our question was this:
While this all seems to be good sport on Parliament Hill, Mr. Lunney, what do you believe it says about your job description and job performance to the senior in Bowser who is looking for housing to age in place, or the Parksville/Nanoose Bay taxpayer wondering if the federal government is going to offset some of the costs of a new $37 million water treatment and storage facility?
There are many other questions that are actually relevant and important to the people of his riding (B.C. Ferries, medical marijuana facilities, etc), but Lunney doesn’t seem to care about those things. The rights and freedoms of Christian politicians and the evolution/creation debate — this is what drives our MP for the last six months on the job.
— Editorial by John Harding
