How indeed? The current uproar was sparked by the carefully balanced response from party leader Paul to last month’s eruption of deadly violence in the Middle East.
But the Green party’s woes didn’t end with her crossing the floor.
A more experienced politician than Paul, who was elected party leader just eight months ago, would have intervened, made it clear Zatzman’s remarks were totally beyond the pale, and then disciplined him.
Even if the Green party can glue itself together again and paper over its fractured pieces, it will remain damaged goods in many voters’ eyes.
If Paul is correct that racist, sexist accusations were made against her, at least some Greens are guilty of two of today’s most egregious sins.
Not only will they enter the election with one more MP, they can stake their ground as the champion of the fight against climate change now that the Greens, who claim to own environmental issues, have neutralized themselves over the Middle East.
In light of this, it’s tempting to conclude the Liberals’ courtship of Atwin was nothing more than a cynical, Machiavellian manoeuvre.