Vaughn Palmer: Internet trolls get vicious for and against Kerry-Lynne Findlay

Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay, right, is running for a legislative seat in the riding vacated by Reann Gasper, left, who is now Findlay's chief of staff. Photo by Arlen Redekop /PNG

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VICTORIA — B.C. Conservative leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay took her byelection campaign in Abbotsford-Mission to a Sikh community event this week and later posted a picture of herself in a head scarf and other traditional garb.

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“It was wonderful to see families, neighbours and friends come together in a spirit of faith, service and community,” wrote Findlay on social media.

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“Abbotsford’s strength comes from the people who call it home, and I’m grateful for every opportunity to listen, learn and spend time with the communities that make this such a special place.”

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Standard fare for politicians campaigning in a province as diverse as this one, and Findlay is an experienced hand at running for office in B.C.

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Still, you have to wonder if she expected the abusive response from self-styled Conservatives on the internet.

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“You’re not in India,” wrote one. “You represent Canada. This is yet another reason they think they don’t have to assimilate. They keep getting their asses pandered to! … Stop subjugating women!”

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“Nobody is buying your charade, Kerry,” wrote another. “You are a Christian nationalist — which is just a white nationalist dressed up in Bible drag. You’re finished, and good riddance.

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And so on through “treasonous scum” and “why would you sell yourself?” and “I would have voted for you, but you’re practising cultural appropriation by wearing East Indian cultural clothing and covering your hair.”

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A few postings came to the leader’s defence. “She was invited by the leaders of the Sikh community and was probably asked to wear the traditional dress. If they ask, then out of respect you agree. “

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But there was also this: “This comment section is why no self-respecting Sikh should ever vote Conservative. Let these inbred hillbillies cope and seethe, they will never win an election again until the racism is cleansed from them.”

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Depressing stuff, and I gave up after reviewing a few dozen postings. Yet I couldn’t shake the suspicion that KLF was being stalked by her own internet trolls.

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The week also saw a couple of Conservatives come forward to celebrate the departure of nine MLAs as a necessary purification of the party ranks.

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A former B.C. Conservative candidate, Tim Thielmann, says the departures free Findlay from “disloyal and untrustworthy” individuals, who have been trying to sabotage her from the moment she got elected in May.

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Findlay will now be able to challenge Premier David Eby “without one arm tied behind her back” on reconciliation, gender and other issues,” the former caucus research director for the Conservatives told Wolfgang Depner of The Canadian Press.

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“So, that’s a huge win for her to have relieved herself of those individuals,” said Thielmann. “Obviously, they were disloyal. They were plotting from the earliest weeks to sabotage her by recording meetings and so on.”