Thread by @JeffRybak

When the Ontario Liberal Party chooses a new leader, we choose more than just our standard bearer - we choose the vision we offer this province as an alternative to Doug Ford. We want to win, no question, but we also want to win for the right reasons. #onpoli #olp #olpldr 1/10

We have serious problems - growing divisions in wealth and inequality in our society - and we need to speak to these issues. We cannot be afraid of taking risks and adopting bold policies. Voters want more than that from us. Our province needs more than that. 2/10

Talking about inequality, economic class, and entrenched privilege makes people uncomfortable. It makes people especially uncomfortable in politics when it gets so blatant. You shouldn't need to be born into a powerful family, or inherit wealth, to aspire to office. 3/10

I grew up working class, raised by a single mother, and put myself through university and eventually law school. I didn't even start until I was 27. But I know I still have considerable privilege - white male, physically able, etc. Many face far more hurdles than I did. 4/10

Not everyone can pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Not without help. It takes someone who's been there, who gets it, to know what's needed. I'm so damn sick of Doug Ford. Born into every advantage and talking about "common people." All he's ever done is fail up. 5/10

We have a choice now between mushy centrism and principled, activist Liberalism. We have to choose a leader who offers more than the same privileged perspective, only less mean and less stupid than Doug Ford. Less awful than Ford just isn't good enough. We can do better. 6/10

I'm supporting Michael @coteau not only because he can win - though he can, even with every current against him last election - but because he's lived this story. He made it against the odds, from public housing to public office. And he doesn't get enough credit for it. 7/10

There's a reason @coteau relates to people who need government most - immigrants, parents of children who need services, folks who just need a break - and why he gets so much support from them. For him it's more than theory. It's where he comes from. Me too, a little bit. 8/10

I'm saying all this because someone has to. We can't be the party that doesn't talk about privilege because it's awkward. We can't ignore what money and opportunity and the right connections can mean, even in this leadership race. We need to face this head on. 9/10

Take a look at @coteau and imagine what his story means to those we are leaving behind. Imagine what his leadership would mean to them. Imagine going into the next election contrasting that against Ford. Sometimes the right thing can also be good politics. Peace out #OLP. 10/10