#ThankYouStephenHarper: Tories' hashtag tribute to former PM goes awry
Defeated prime minister's opponents flood CPC hashtag with criticism and insults
It was meant to be a tribute to the former prime minister and soon-to-retire MP, but the Conservative Party's #ThankYouStephenHarper hashtag took on a sarcastic and sometimes nasty turn overnight.
The hashtag was featured as part of a video tribute to Harper presented at the party's annual policy convention in Vancouver.
Conservatives are watching a video tribute to Harper. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpc16?src=hash">#cpc16</a> <a href="https://t.co/6WxkOcBIeL">pic.twitter.com/6WxkOcBIeL</a>
—@cath_cullen<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpc16?src=hash">#cpc16</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a> <a href="https://t.co/k8FUCdcLvi">pic.twitter.com/k8FUCdcLvi</a>
—@CPC_HQ<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#Thankyoustephenharper</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpc16?src=hash">#cpc16</a> <a href="https://t.co/QWXDLia5eZ">pic.twitter.com/QWXDLia5eZ</a>
—@_ltheannaRight away, some people predicted that the campaign would go sideways.
An official <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> hashtag? This won't end well... <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpc16?src=hash">#cpc16</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@stephenlautensso who thought <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> was a good idea?
—@vmochamaI predict <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> may not provide the tributes CPC were hoping for <a href="https://t.co/UWY2FTWTaN">https://t.co/UWY2FTWTaN</a>
—@AndrewTumiltyInitially, the hashtag was used as intended — earnestly by those who wanted to acknowledge his leadership and wish him well as he leaves politics.
.<a href="https://twitter.com/stephenharper">@stephenharper</a> just walked onstage to <a href="https://twitter.com/acdc">@acdc</a>'s "Thunderstruck" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/bestPMever?src=hash">#bestPMever</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpc16?src=hash">#cpc16</a> <a href="https://t.co/TnuNaowSIB">pic.twitter.com/TnuNaowSIB</a>
—@MMcSw13<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankyouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankyouStephenHarper</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPC16?src=hash">#CPC16</a> Created a Strong Canada. Made us proud to be Canadian.
—@WVSCSTSConserv<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankyouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankyouStephenHarper</a> A great party leader and great PM, now its time for the party to reform and move forward.
—@jpime<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> for your leadership and inspiration over the last 10 years. I am a conservative today because of you. <a href="https://twitter.com/stephenharper">@stephenharper</a>
—@louisv713<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> it was nice having a grownup run the country for a decade. Cleanest federal government in Canadian history.
—@NeilJEdmondsonWe miss you! Thanks for all the hard work! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a>
—@ilikeroxI'm proud to be a Stephen Harper conservative <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a>
—@fparker7And there you have it. Canada was lucky to have him at the helm during some tough times. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/cdnpoli?src=hash">#cdnpoli</a>
—@JacquiDelaneyHowever, as the night went on, most of the tweets were sarcastic in nature, pointing to what his opponents see as his failings in office.
<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for that 2% GST cut. Sure, it robbed Canada of vital infrastructure funds, but I saved 87 cents at Swiss Chalet.
—@asifintoronto<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for inspiring a new line of bumper stickers. Job creation! <a href="https://t.co/teeP3jidcM">pic.twitter.com/teeP3jidcM</a>
—@HaikuVikingGal<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for inadvertently motivating our First Peoples to vote<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CdnPoli?src=hash">#CdnPoli</a>
—@calmecam<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> For all the partisan ads that we paid for. Swearing at the TV whenever one aired provided family bonding moments.
—@RebeccaO1340<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/thankyoustephenharper?src=hash">#thankyoustephenharper</a> for holding Canada back 10 years on climate change.
—@DaveSimmsRallying Canadians against you with your racist snitch line. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a>
—@daibyday<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for your great judgement call with appointments. Duffy, Wallin, Brazeau, Porter, DelMastro, Carson, Penashue, Wright
—@FuzzyWuzzyTO<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for doing to the federal Tories what Mike Harris did to the Ontario PCs.
—@august_mk<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankyouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankyouStephenHarper</a> for inspiring me to become involved in politics. Your secretive, anti-democratic, ideology based style woke me up.
—@LauraE303B<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for making us all so excited about the Census! It's true - you really don't know what you've got 'til it's gone.
—@PunnedIt55<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> for that debt of yours <a href="https://t.co/pur1Yo3GAu">pic.twitter.com/pur1Yo3GAu</a>
—@MuskokaMoneybag90% of these <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> tweets are negative and sarcastic. <a href="https://t.co/qsXfRfJSXP">pic.twitter.com/qsXfRfJSXP</a>
—@BradyStrachanHow much you will be missed <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ThankYouStephenHarper?src=hash">#ThankYouStephenHarper</a> <a href="https://t.co/gpx6PQFDpU">pic.twitter.com/gpx6PQFDpU</a>
—@laurby