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DPP members slam secretary-general over poll comments

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-General Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) drew criticism yesterday from several DPP members after comments attributed to him on Sunday suggested those who lost in the party's recent legislative primary did so because they were controversial.

DPP Legislator Cheng Yun-peng (鄭運鵬), who lost the legislative primary in Taipei City's first district, lashed out at Lin.

"If Lin's logic held true, then the three DPP heavyweights [Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) and DPP Chairman Yu Shyi-kun] who lost in the party's presidential primary were also controversial," he said.

"Lin does not have enough campaigning experience and therefore is less considerate of others' feelings," Cheng said.

Lin became the target of criticism because of comments he made to the press after giving a talk to the Ketagalan Institute on Sunday night.

A story by the Central News Agency and another in the Chinese-language China Times yesterday quoted Lin as saying that some members lost the primary not because they were reformists, but because they were controversial.

These members did not support the DPP's core values and instead became opportunists, the reports quoted him as saying.

Several members affiliated to or close to the party's disbanded New Tide faction fared poorly in the DPP's legislative primary or legislator-at-large nominations, including five-term Legislator Hong Chi-chang (洪奇昌), four-term former legislator Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄) and two-term Legislator Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴).

Shen yesterday criticized Lin, saying that Lin's actions would have unfavorable consequences for the presidential bid of the party's defacto presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷).

Hong refused to comment when approached by reporters, but said "everyone knows very well who the opportunist is."

DPP caucus whip Ker Chien-ming (柯建銘) said that Lin's comments were "inappropriate."

In his defense, Lin told reporters that the China Times story, which bore the headline "Lin: `Those who lost the primary were opportunists and we look down on them,'" was misleading.

He said as the DPP's secretary-general, he had to defend the party's system and its values, adding that the results of the legislative primary showed that talent could stand out.

When approached for comments, Hsieh said although the primary was somewhat emotional, he believed that "DPP members' love for Taiwan would transcend their emotions."

Yu refused to comment on Lin's remarks, but said those who lost the primary were also talented individuals the party needed for the presidential campaign.

In related developments, Hsieh finalized many of the main staffers for his presidential campaign.

Hsieh said that Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) will be campaign director, Yu will be the chief commanding officer, former Council of Labor Affairs chairman Lee Ying-yuan (李應元) will be the chief executive officer while Vice Premier Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) will be responsible for campaign strategy.
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