Iggy’s former chief calls Sun readers “illiterate,” hilarity ensues

When Michael Ignatieff was languishing at Harvard in 2004, wondering what to do with himself now that he’d shown impeccable good sense by supporting the Iraq War, he was visited by several Canadians who urged him to come back to Canada and run for parliament. One of those urging him to run was Ian Davey, who went on to become Ignatieff’s chief of staff during a year when the Leader of the Opposition had a pretty dismal showing. Davey has since been replaced but is still available for interviews. And what is Davey saying these days?  Well, this, according to the Toronto Sun:

Asked Sunday during CTV’s Question Period about Bob Rae’s potential support of federal bucks for a possible NHL arena in Quebec City, the lesser Davey sloughed off the question with this high-brow insult.

“It was once said about the Toronto Sun that it’s a newspaper for people who can’t read,” he said. “And I think that probably applies to the whole chain.”

The Sun has reacted with its legendary editorial restraint and moderation, calling Davey a horse’s ass and worse. The Sun‘s reaction is so extreme it makes us think it has only just discovered that high-ranking Liberals have a low opinion of its newspaper. If that’s true, the chain hoping to shepherd Fox News North to Canadian dials should really work on its investigative skills. (Those of us who have no strong opinion about the Sun or former Liberals with middling records nevertheless enjoy the fireworks when the two are put together.)

The Conservatives are working mightily to connect Davey with Ignatieff, with spokesperson Dimitri Soudas implying that this proves Liberals are all latte-sipping elitists etc., etc. More than anything, though, this incident suggests that Davey is a former chief of staff for a reason.
• Sounding it out at the ballot box [Toronto Sun]
• Iggy’s former mouthpiece takes ‘cheap shot’ at Sun readers [Toronto Sun]
• The Ian Davey precedent [Globe and Mail]