EDITORIAL: Premier Clark plays politics of the fearful

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We’ve heard of the politics of fear, but Premier Christy Clark is quickly defining the politics of the fearful.

The politician-turned-talk-show-host-turned-politician continues to avoid defending her political beliefs in public with yet another refusal to debate her opponent.

NDP Leader Adrian Dix challenged Clark to a debate on the HST, a verbal tussle that would have been aired on Vancouver’s CKNW radio station.

Not surprisingly, Clark declined the invitation.

The premier’s decision to avoid debating Dix follows her avoidance of speaking to the HST in the legislature when she invoked closure when it was her turn to speak to the issue.

And, of course, Clark refused to attend all-candidates meetings during the Vancouver-Point Grey byelection campaign that saw her barely defeat NDP candidate David Eby.

It is clear Clark is afraid to back up her style with substance, but why?

If Clark truly believes the HST is good for B.C. and crucial to the future of this province’s economy, wouldn’t she be salivating at the opportunity to discredit HST opponents like Dix?

In a statement in response to Dix’s challenge, Clark said the NDP is trying to politicize the issue — presumably unlike Clark and the B.C. Liberals politicizing the issue by running information ads that look and sound suspiciously like rabidly pro-HST promotional commercials.

Instead of debating her opponents during the byelection, Clark held telephone town hall meetings with no opponent. Instead of speaking to voters in the legislature on the HST issue, Clark closed debate. Instead of accepting Dix’s challenge, Clark sent Finance Minister Kevin Falcon throughout B.C. to bang the pro-HST drum, while choosing herself to discuss the controversial matter in forums that present no danger of debate, such as Facebook.

Critics have long accused Clark of oozing style and possessing little substance.

The fact she appears to be running from every challenge does nothing to counter that criticism.