I came across this button, which I have since discovered was from the Liberal Party Leadership race. I'm too young to have remembered this, but old enough to remember the 1993 election, especially the famous attack ad.
I have never thought Chrétien presented himself as the 'nice guy'. This isn't a critical statement, I'm just really surprised to see this!
I'd love to hear from people who know more. Personally I think it's fascinating to revisit our perception of the past when we get more information.
Yeah Chrétien had a real nice handshake
This is the obvious example but people lose their temper and that doesn't mean this is his first strategy when something upsetting happens.
(Anyone who wants to read this as me saying it's okay to put your hands on people: Stop it. Get some help.)
My perception of him has always been that he presented himself as someone who values being direct over conforming to the (decidedly anglo) norms of parliamentary language, which was carried on outside of parliament sessions more commonly in that era than we see today, I think. There, the "nice" isn't actually nice, it's just shady and smarmy. That's why the language on the button surprises me.
"I took him out!"