I admit to leaning somewhat left politically. When I was younger I was a card carrying member of the NDP.  Even worked for Dan Heap and Barbara Beardsley. Since moving to Kitchener, I have voted Liberal more than once; the last time voting strategically to stop a Harper majority. So I have more than a passing interest in the NDP leadership race.

I listened to some of the NDP leadership candidates’ speeches Saturday night and Broadbent’s commentary after on CBC’s Politics & Power and TVO’s Agenda. Last night, I lost all respect I ever had for former party leader Ed Broadbent, who had been credited with the most successful election result before Layton led the party to 103 seats in the House last May. No Mulcair’s speech didn’t bomb.

I agree with former party leader Alexa McDonough when she said that she didn’t think any former party leader should take “a sledgehammer” to any of the contestants, considering how it could be used against them by political opponents back in the House of Commons. I also agree with Former MP Lorne Nystrom when he called Broadbent’s comments unbecoming of a former leader.

Broadbent is too vocal a supporter of candidate Brian Topp. Broadbent should never have been so critical of Mulcair in interviews last Saturday. Leave the attack ads to the Harper Conservatives. They have no place in the NDP!