Not a week goes by it seems, without Toronto Mayor Rob Ford generating the kind of headlines that would devastate most politicians.
He鈥檚 faced down conflict of interest charges and a lawsuit for defamation; he鈥檚 been accused of groping a colleague at a public function and he鈥檚 been photographed reading while driving.
Most recently, the Toronto Star reported that Ford had a drinking problem and was asked to leave a public function. His response was typical Ford bluster.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just lies after lies after lies. I鈥檝e called you pathological liars and you are so why don鈥檛 you take me to court,鈥� Ford said.
鈥淵ou can cover politics a long time and never encounter somebody who is so genuinely so unsmooth, so guileless,鈥� said Ed Keenan, a city hall reporter and author of 鈥楽ome Great Idea: Good Neighbourhoods, Crazy Politics and the Invention of Toronto.鈥�
鈥淚 think that part of why he got put into power is because that to a certain degree, [he] appealed to a lot of people. That guilelessness, that lack of polish. There鈥檚 an appearance of authenticity there. It鈥檚 not just an appearance that is the authentic Rob Ford.鈥�
John Parker can vouch for that authenticity. As a Toronto city councillor, he鈥檚 worked alongside Rob Ford since 2006.
Prior to that, he was an Ontario Progressive Conservative backbencher in the Mike Harris government where he served alongside Rob Ford鈥檚 father, Doug Ford Sr.
鈥淩ob Ford struck me as a younger version of his father. Built the same way, with the same common sense, straightforward, homespun sense of good and bad, right and wrong,鈥� said Parker.
But even political allies like Parker have grown weary of Ford鈥檚 propensity to bring unwanted attention to himself.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e all disappointed that when the mayor鈥檚 profile rises, it鈥檚 usually for all the wrong reasons. And it鈥檚 for reasons that we wouldn鈥檛 want either, so that can鈥檛 be good for any of us.鈥�
Whether Rob Ford is good for Toronto is debateable, but he is indisputably good for one group of people, comedians.
Ford鈥檚 foibles have been a fodder for political cartoonists and political satirists. He鈥檚 been parodied in online music videos, on stage in 鈥業t鈥檚 a Wonderful Toronto: The Rob Ford Holiday Spectacular!鈥� and perhaps, most memorably, he was a target of Mary Walsh鈥檚 Princess Warrior persona on the CBC program 鈥楾his Hour Has 22 Minutes鈥�.
While other politicians and celebrities generally play along during encounters with Walsh鈥檚 Princess Warrior character, Ford took offence.
鈥淗e called 911,鈥� recalled Walsh. 鈥淗e has 911 on speed dial.鈥� As for his value to comedians, 鈥渉e鈥檚 the gift that keeps on giving,鈥� said Walsh.
Nevertheless, according to veteran campaign organizer John Laschinger it is unclear whether the negative public attention will do Ford any harm when he faces Toronto voters during the next municipal election in October 2014.
鈥淎 populist can get away with a lot of things,鈥� Laschinger told W5.
Laschinger maintained that Ford鈥檚 common touch has an enduring appeal to a significant part of the electorate.
鈥淭hey say, 鈥榊ou know what, he鈥檚 a real guy, just like me. You know he鈥檚 a real guy, he鈥檚 sincere, he鈥檚 trying. He鈥檚 trying to do his best. He鈥檚 not the smartest guy in the world but he cares, you know, and he鈥檚 cut some gravy.鈥� So I mean, I never underestimate a conservative populist to get elected.鈥�
Watch W5's 'Ford Tough' tonight on CTV. Check local listings for show times.
