Bob Rae was often accused of being a traitor to progressive ideas long before he walked away from the NDP to run for the Liberal leadership. Here’s a short Wikipedia-derived history of his career in presenting finger-pointing opportunities to the social democratic base:

DECEMBER 1979: As the federal NDP finance critic, Rae moved a motion of non-confidence in Joe Clark’s Progressive Conservative government, forcing the election that returned Pierre Trudeau’s Liberals to power.

JUNE 1985: As NDP leader in Ontario, Rae moves a non-confidence motion in Frank Miller’s newly elected Progressive Conservative government, causing the elevation of Liberal leader David Peterson to the premier’s chair in a semi-coalition with Rae’s NDP. Some party activists disapprove of the “Liberal-NDP Accord” and Ian Orenstein challenges Rae for the leadership, claiming Rae is taking the party too far to the centre.

OCTOBER 1990: Rae is elected Premier of Ontario just as the economy slips into the worst recession since the 1930s. During his tenure, the federal Liberals win all but one seat in Ontario in the 1993 election.

1991: As the recession worsened, Rae backed away from his election pledge to introduce public auto insurance, angering members of his own cabinet, including Peter Kormos, who had been in charge of the file.

1993: When public sector unions refuse to negotiate wage rollbacks, Premier Rae unilaterally reopens collective bargaining agreements to impose unpaid days off nicknamed “Rae Days.” The initiative saves money without laying off any employees, but manages to alienate the NDP’s union base, who campaign against the NDP in the 1995 election (which elects Mike Harris, who lays off 16,000 unionized public-sector employees).

APRIL 2002: Rae publishes an op-ed piece in the National Post titled “Parting company with the NDP,” in which he said the NDP’s policies were outdated.

2005: After studying post-secondary education at the behest of Liberal Premier Dalton McGuinty, Rae issues the “Rae Report,” in which he advocates allowing unlimited raises in tuition fees coupled with increased government funding.

APRIL 2006: Rae joins the Liberal Party and announces he will run for the federal leadership.