the blog quebecois

National Post:

Mr. Dion also challenged reporters to give him a reason to renounce his French citizenship.

During the Liberal leadership campaign, Mr. Dion told CanWest News Service he would deal with his citizenship if it became an issue.

"I think it is part of who I am -- my loyalty for Canada is 100%. I have proven it, I don't need to prove it even more. People know how much I am committed for my country," Mr. Dion said at the time.

The issue appears to be an emotional one for Mr. Dion, who cut off further questions about the matter by repeating the phrase "end of the story" several times. During the media scrum yesterday, he told reporters to "move on" to other questions when it was repeatedly raised.

You wanted a reason? There you have it.

To be sure, the media will lose interest in a few days, like a hyperactive kid wandering away from his new toys on Christmas Day, spotting a shiny new example of Conservative perfidy. Our elites and the opinionators are assuring us that this is a trivial matter, unworthy of further comment.

Which is precisely why it will linger on.

Unlike the things that they think we should be exercised about -- the spat between the PM and the Parliamentary Press Gallery, for example -- this will have a resonance with voters, especially in the West. If it truly is such a non-issue, a trifle, then why won't Dion make the whole thing disappear? What is so precious about his French citizenship that he's not prepared to cast it aside for his bid to run this country?

A more pragmatic politician would have realized this and dealt with it from the start; certainly after the Governor-General's similar problems.

As it is, Dion seems to be burdened with a mulish stubbornness, and a tin ear to boot. If the MSM is inclined to overlook it, and the Tories are too polite (or scared) to bring it up; why, that's where we uncouth bloggers step in to hang it around his neck like the Croix de Guerre.

And contrary to the usual Liberal talking points: "Harper is scary! Bush Bush Bush!" -- this will carry the indisputable sting of truth.