Nick Whalen's 'fuddle duddle' comment rooted in Trudeau-ism

MP-elect Nick Whalen referenced one of the most famous quotes in Canadian political history Monday night after defeating the former favourite in the riding of St. John's East — but not everyone caught on.

Whalen, a lawyer and engineer, beat out incumbent Jack Harris by fewer than 700 votes.

• 1971: Trudeau's 'fuddle duddle' incident

The win was a surprise for some — including Harris himself — mainly because, going into the campaign, insiders in both parties expected an NDP win.

Even more of a surprise (for those not around in 1971) was the comment made by Whalen hot off the heels of his win.

"I'm so fuddle duddle happy, I could fuddle duddle cry," Whalen told reporters following his big win.

If your reaction to that was a resounding, "Huh?" you're not alone.

And despite what some people on social media believe, Whalen wasn't channeling hyper-religious fictional Simpsons' character Ned Flanders. 

Whalen was referencing comments made by the other famous Trudeau — Pierre Elliot — in 1971.

For those not around for Trudeaumania round one, the term came from a 1971 interview with the then-prime minister.

Trudeau muttered the now iconic phrase after Newfoundland and Labrador MP John Lundrigan claimed Trudeau uttered a two-letter word that started with F in the House of Commons. And Lundrigan wasn't referring to fuddle duddle.