Fingering the Vandals

Someone is trying to "intimidate" Liberals by slashing their tires--but, fortunately, no one is "pointing the finger" at poll-leading Conservatives. From the National Post:

OTTAWA — A recent string of vandalism in the Toronto area, believed to be politically motivated, is “a disgrace,” Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff said Sunday during a campaign stop in Toronto.

Liberal candidate Bob Rae became one of the latest targets when his tires were slashed Saturday — but he’s not pointing the finger at Conservative leader Stephen Harper.

“I have a lot of thoughts on Mr. Harper, but I don’t think for a moment that he slashed the tires of my car,” Mr. Rae said with a smile, eliciting laughter from the crowd at a Toronto event with Ignatieff Sunday afternoon.

But the Liberal leader had stronger words for the vandalism, which has seen campaign signs torn down and defaced and tires slashed in several Toronto-area riding.

“I was shocked by the incidents that have been reported. … They’re serious ones,” he said. “This is not our Canada. This is not my Canada, and I’m sure this is not the Canada of any of the political parties. We find it a disgrace and we hope it stops.”

Tire slashing in the Toronto area reportedly started Thursday, with cars parked at homes with Liberal lawn signs appearing to be the main targets.

Between 10 and 11 p.m. that night, 16 vehicles had their tires slashed in the Trinity-Spadina area, according to Toronto police.

But it seems candidates are becoming targets, as well.

“Our front left tire slashed this morning … not nice,” Mr. Rae tweeted Saturday night.

Christine Innes, the Liberal candidate in the NDP-held Trinity-Spadina riding, said a number of Liberal supporters in her constituency had their tires slashed.

She said the vandals are trying to intimidate voters.

“I am appalled at the increasing level of intimidation I have seen in this campaign,” Innes said in a statement issued Saturday. “This is an attack on democracy.”...

Indeed. But who is attacking it? Conservative operatives? Apolitical vandals? Why, it could even be Liberal supporters trying to drum up sympathy and support for their faltering campaign.

Not pointing any fingers, mind you.