Sarnia Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu’s appearance as The Grim Reaper drew online scorn but she says it a humorous attempt to get members of her party to get past the “gloom and doom” of the election.
During a forum billed as a time for new MPs to outline their new ideas, Gladu came out on the dark stage dressed as The Grim Reaper saying “Gloom and doom…you lost the election, the Liberals are in for four years…the media hates you…but it’s not over yet. Death is not ready for you.”
She then threw off the garb and talked for just under two minutes about five things the party needed to focus on; fiscal responsibility, respect, the environment, social responsibility and health care. She called it the FRESH perspective.
Gladu also got Conservatives to shake off the last election results and negativity by briefly dancing to Taylor Swift’s song of the same name.
Social media had little to say about the FRESH perspective but was confused and amazed by The Grim Reaper.
“This can’t be real,” tweeted Jeremy Elliott after Gladu’s Grim Reaper appearance topped Buzzfeed article called “S— got weird at the Conservative Convention.”
Chris Hannay pointed out on Twitter that the MP who had dressed as the Grim Reaper was about to make an announcement on palliative care..
Gladu says people who didn’t get past the Grim Reaper missed the point of her talk; “I wanted to contrast the doom and gloom one might feel after an election… People aren’t used to the Conservative Party having fun…I think it is a testament to the new tone taken by Rona Ambrose,” Gladu told The Independent.
The people who only saw the Grim Reaper …”took the part of the message they want to, (and put it on Twitter.” She added the negative reaction “is what the media does to sell papers.”
Gladu says within the party there was a very positive response. “They thought it was hilarious and right on point.”
She added many people liked the policy points she focused on saying they were the ones the Conservatives need to work on.
To see Gladu’s speech find CPAC Tory Talks and go to the sixth minute.