Throughout my day I have observed that the "right" ,for the most part, has been very kind and gracious in their comments regarding the passing of Mr Layton. I cant help wonder however if these same kind comments would be extended to Mr Harper if the situation was different. Sadly this is a rhetorical question.
Jack was seen more as a man of the people.
Harper - while I'm sure everyone would be gracious, he (Harper) is not a man of the people. He just isn't. Kim Campbell once was supposed to tour some auto plant. Can't remember if it was Oshawa, or Oakville, whatever. When her handlers told her that she was going to tour the plant and meet with the workers, her response was, "what could I possibly have in common with them" Unfortuntately for Kim, word got out. But she was being honest. She has nothing in common with a guy who wields and impact wrench. Harper, pretty much the same. But Jack, you could see Jack sitting down for lunch with a bunch of guys cleaning out sewers and being ok with it.
Even Trudeau, as much as an intellectual as he was - he seemed to transcend the socio econic boundries in our country that guys like Harper just don't and never will.
Something about Conservatives - they're always seen as "the money party" The party of big business and old boy connections and doing things to help the rich. (Whether this is right or wrong is irrelevant - it just is the popular perception.) Hence they (Conservatives) don't enjoy the same popularity of those in the centre / centre-left. I'm wracking my brain trying to think of a Conservative politician who would be loved as a man of the people and I can't. Maybe Churchill, if that counts. And that would be about they only one I could think of. Reagan. Reagan was loved by those on the left and the right.
Case in point...I'm almost tempted to buy one.
http://www.zazzle.ca/ronald+reagan+ties