Fildebrandt accepts responsibility
Re: MLA quits UCP amid controversy; and Fildebrandt’s political stock takes a beating, Opinion, Aug. 16
I want to congratulate Derek Fildebrandt who, like an adult — scarce in our progressive times — accepted responsibility for his transgressions, apologized in simple language without the usual equivocations endemic in our current virtue-signalling culture and then resigned from the UCP to not tarnish our conservative cause. Bravo!
We conservatives are held to a higher standard than our progressive opponents by the mainstream media, but I guess that means that we are considered the more moral, more honourable part of the political family.
Bevelyn MacLise Park, Calgary
Past actions speak louder than his words
Derek Fildebrandt’s long slide from grace has been characterized as a lack of judgment by columnist Don Braid. It’s so much more than that. A lack of judgment, certainly, however, at its core is a basic lack of honesty and morals. As Greg Clark, leader of the Alberta Party, has said, integrity is what you do when no one is looking. Quite right.
Backing into someone’s car and leaving because you think you weren’t seen, double dipping and feigning innocence — these are the actions of someone who lacks moral fibre. His self-righteous preaching only makes it more galling. He has demonstrated that he does not have the necessary integrity for this job.
It’s right that he has stepped down and he should not return to politics in any form.
Jo-Ann Mason, Calgary
Is Fildebrandt the only one to skirt the rules?
How the mighty have fallen. Derek Fildebrandt is the man in the glass house and other MLAs are tossing stones whilst forgetting the adage, “He who cast the first stone …”
The NDP announces that none of their members rent their apartments out on Airbnb, but there other ways of doing the same thing without being caught. For example, allow your children to use the apartment while they go to university while other students have to pay for their room and board. And politicians wonder why the general population is turned off politics.
J.D. Round, Brooks
