"I think when ordinary people come home, turn on the TV and see a gala of a bunch of people at, you know, a rich gala all subsidized by taxpayers claiming their subsidies aren't high enough, when they know those subsidies have actually gone up. I'm not sure that's something that resonates with ordinary people."

Neither the arts gaffe nor the economic gaffe on their own would of themselves threaten to deprive Mr. [Stephen Harper] of a majority. But together they are very damaging indeed. Voters' concerns about Mr. Harper are that he is dictatorial, controlling and has a "hidden agenda." They think he is a strong leader, but they worry where that leadership will take them.

Mr. Harper's missteps may prove a very hard lesson. Until this week it looked like the country was ready for a majority Conservative government. If Mr. Harper fails to get what he so badly wants, he will only have himself to blame.