You would be safe to assume that there are many people in our country who look at Liberal leader Stéphane Dion and liken him to the class geek from high school. He is studious, mild-mannered and soft spoken for the most part. There’s no bluster to his mannerisms, no bravado. He’s no Danny Williams, no Stephen Harper, nor is he Michael Ignatieff or Bob Rae.

Given the slate of leaders we’ve had in this country of late — Trudeau, Mulroney, Chrétien, Martin and now Harper — you would need a fleet of dump trucks to haul around their combined egos. Dion is a different duck, but certainly not the weakling we see portrayed in the media. Regardless of your political stripes, Dion was impressive during his visit to Huntsville on Saturday.

While he can throw partisan jabs, you can tell by the way he talks that party-bashing isn’t his cup of tea. He’d rather talk about issues. He’ll take the odd swipe at Harper, but not in the malicious manner that he himself has been subjected to since becoming leader.

We have become so mired in spin-doctoring, message control and political jockeying that sometimes we lose touch with what is most exciting about democracies. Ideas that can inspire, and meaningful, attainable visions for the future are what we should value ahead of the attack ad world politics has become.

Of course the Liberals are not worthy of being propped on a pedestal. The bloated, arrogant and misguided final days of the Chretien-Martin era carry a lingering stench. Some may suggest making Dion leader was a ridiculous move. But what if it’s the stench from too many backroom deals and encroaching American-style politics that the Liberals hope to clear out? To put it plainly, Dion’s style could be akin to a powerful dose of Lysol.

When Harper was last in Huntsville, a quick stop during the January 2006 campaign, he landed at Deerhurst Resort. He wasn’t yet the prime minister, but the place was crawling with security. A room of party faithful was assembled. Harper took the stage and worked the troops into a frenzy.

Dion came to town last week and invited the public to a local church. People, no matter their political persuasion, were allowed to ask questions. There wasn’t a goony security type in sight, and there were no pre-determined photo ops either. After seeing him here on Saturday, maybe the best way to describe Dion is vulnerable. Not a place most people, particularly politicians, like to place themselves.

Would Harper ever consider doing the same, being so vulnerable? Even with granting the PM a security detail, the likelihood seems slim. It’s a long shot, but here goes. . . . Mr. Harper, would you visit Huntsville and host a town hall forum too, please?

B.H.