Ignatieff And Rae Have Harsh Words For Each Other At Debate

Ignatieff and Rae, considered the two main contenders for the top Grit job, took aim at each other during a series of mini-debates.

Rae criticized Ignatieff’s stand on the summer confrontation between Israel and the Hezbollah in Lebanon, accusing him of flip-flopping. The former Harvard professor, who initially said he wasn’t “losing sleep” over the civilian deaths in Lebanon, then accused Israel last week of having committed a war crime in the month-long conflict.

“We have to choose our words carefully when we talk about foreign policy,” Rae said, slamming Ignatieff’s comments.

Ignatieff shot back by saying Rae’s position on Canada’s mission in Afghanistan is murky.

“I actually don’t know where you stand on this issue,” he said.

“You certainly do,” Rae fired back. “For a guy who’s changed his mind three times in a week with respect to the Middle East . . . “

That barb seemed to personally offend Ignatieff, who responded, “Absolutely untrue. You know that’s untrue. You’ve known me for 40 years.”

Ignatieff also had sharp words for former environment minister Stephane Dion, who’s battling with Gerard Kennedy for third place in the race.

“Stephane. We didn’t get it done. We didn’t get it done and we have to get it done,” Ignatieff said, accusing the former Liberal government of failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

“We have our differences, Stephane, but we will be at the cabinet table fighting for exactly the same objectives and you know it.”

But Dion was having none of Ignatieff’s argument.

“This is unfair,” he said. “You don’t know what you speak about. Do you think it’s easy to make priorities?”

Meanwhile, Kennedy managed to escape much of the heat in the final debate and tried to portray himself as a unifier for the party.

“There are still some old battles being fought on this stage and that’s harmful to the party,” he told the media following the debate.

The former Ontario education minister instead attacked the minority Conservative government, accusing Prime Minister Stephen Harper of making “mischief” in re-opening the same-sex marriage debate.

“I say to Mr. Harper, how dare you? How dare you try and take away (rights) and sow divisions about an issue . . . for which there have already been votes, discussion and debate,” he said.

The event was the final national party-sponsored debate, but there’s expected to be another next weekend in Montreal sponsored by the party’s Quebec wing.

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