Former FNM Cabinet Minister Bran McCartney looked confused as he mingled among the small crowd that came out to RM Bailey park on Monday night in support of the union’s fight to prevent the sale of BTC to Cable & Wireless.
McCartney, the MP for Bamboo Town, said he was there to hear “both sides” of the argument. But others say the young MP was merely driven by blind political ambition.
Straddling the fence, McCartney appears to be intent on keeping his political options open.
Rumours have surfaced that Mr McCartney may not be given the FNM’s nomination for Bamboo Town after quitting Hubert Ingraham’s Cabinet in a huff. He quit after allegedly being called out for showboating, although McCartney says he quit because he felt “stagnated” politically.
Unlike Darren Cash, an FNM politician who recently published a lengthy diatribe on his reasoning for not supporting the sale, Mr McCartney appears to be more interested in going in whatever direction the wind blows, rather than following his true convictions.
The Tribune newspaper quotes Mr McCartney justifying his appearance at the rally in politically confrontational terms.
“Mr McCartney said if he was ‘punished’ by his party for his stance on any issue, and therefore denied a nomination, he would have to think about the direction he would take as an FNM MP going forward,” Paul Turnquest wrote.
The comment appears to be a challenge to Mr Ingraham and the FNM to react unfavourably towards McCartney’s presence at the rally, specifically so Mr McCartney can use that to his political advantage.
“But this being dangerous for me politically, that did not cross my mind. If that is dangerous for me politically, are you telling me that persons in my party would be very vindictive?
“Are you saying that they would, as I heard, chop my head off like I hear constantly? I would hate to believe that we have such a leader that would take such an approach,” the young MP told Mr Turnquest in a direct challenge to Mr Ingraham.
Mr McCartney seems to be confused politically and wandering in the wilderness, hoping to latch onto something he can ride into the next general election.
What he may discover is that voters do not appreciate insincerity, disloyalty or wishy-washy politics.
In going whichever way the wind blows, rather than committing to doing what’s best for The Bahamas, Mr McCartney may find himself “gone with the wind”.
