Defending Ingraham against McCartney

Mon, Feb 17th 2014, 08:58 AM

The political wilderness can be a dark and lonely place.It is tough enough being in opposition.

In a new third party without a strong team to help hold him up, Branville McCartney continues to throw blows in the air.

McCartney, leader of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), triggered the ire of Prime Minister Perry Christie when he stepped into the ongoing leadership debate and accused Christie and former Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham of playing a "childish game".

McCartney also continued a theme he adopted on the 2012 campaign trail when he accused Christie and Ingraham of collaborating.

In a statement last week, he said, "There seems to be a collaboration between these two men -- political opponents, business partners and friends -- to continue to stagnate the progress and growth of our beloved Bahamaland.

"He said, "They are two sides of the same coin and we cannot afford their back and forth games. It's embarrassing to our country."

Christie shot back, suggesting that McCartney was seeking to diminish the accomplishments both he and Ingraham have made to national development.And he suggested that McCartney is not worthy to stand in his shoes.

The prime minister also said the DNA leader lacks the good sense to lead.

What is particularly interesting about the prime minister's response to McCartney is that he not only defends himself and the legacy he is shaping, but he also defends Ingraham and his legacy.

This statement might be playing into McCartney's claim on Ingraham and Christie.Ingraham of course has been quiet for some time, staying awaying from headlines and public light.

But he has a friend in Christie still. And Christie is not prepared to allow McCartney to step on him or on Ingraham.

It is true that the accomplishments of these two national leaders should not be disrespected or brushed aside.But it is also true that the country should be preparing for life beyond a Christie or Ingraham leadership.

While Christie has said he is "keeping his options open" and has said he might not leave political life if Ingraham returns, there have been no signals from Ingraham that he is interested in coming back.Seemingly outraged at the prospect at another term with Christie or Ingraham, McCartney said in his statement last week, "Under their leadership we have seen a rise of crime and the fear of crime, we have seen the unfettered influx of illegal immigrants and the proliferation of illegal shanty towns, we have an economy in peril and are locked into a recession that they have been unable to see a way out of."

Quite frankly they have failed. The only thing they can offer now is the same song and dance that has us in this mess we are in today.

"There seems to be agreement in many circles that Ingraham should remain in retirement and Christie should go into retirement after this term in office.While there is not yet a spotlight on a successor in the PLP or the FNM, this should not be reason enough for us to fall in love with the idea of another term of Christie or Ingraham.Both men have accomplished much in public office and we should be a proud and grateful nation.

As McCartney, like many of us, scoffs at the thought of a continued Christie-Ingraham era, he should start to think more seriously about his own political future.While no one doubts that he is courageous and likeable, his third party could continue to drag on any future prospects he might have.

The DNA is to be commended for a strong showing at the polls in 2012 -- having secured about 13,000 votes. Some observers say it contributed in a major way to the FNM's loss.But McCartney has not been able to attract a strong team to his fold.

And while many of us love a strong leader, his call for public whippings for criminals and castration for sex offenders showed a certain side that seems far from what some want in a national leader.

We do not, like Christie, suggest that McCartney is not worthy to lead.Whether he would be more convincing in any future bid, of course, remains to be seen.

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