Stephen Harper has received some flack for his decision to skip Barack Obama’s address to the UN on climate change, in favour of a photo op at the Tim Hortons Innovation Centre.

I know, I know. Donuts over diplomacy. It doesn’t look good. It makes Harper look like a leader who doesn’t give a rats ass about climate change. But when you examine the issue closely, Harper’s decision was clearly a difficult one. Let’s compare:

Prominent Event Speaker
UN: Barack Obama
Tims: Stephen Harper
Edge: UN

Food Served at Event
UN: A selection of hors d’oeuvre prepared by the world’s best international chefs
Tims: Double-double and a Boston Cream donut
Edge: Tims

A Chance to get the Votes of…
UN: Environmentalists
Tims: Tim Hortons crowd
Edge: Tims

Major Accomplishment
UN: Deployed 35 peace keeping missions
Tims: The triple chocolate donut
Edge: UN…barely

Shameful Moment
UN: Oil for food scandal and inability to prevent Rwandan genocide
Tims: Firing that single mom for giving a free timbit to a baby
Edge: Tie

Feel Good Moment
UN: Raising billions for UNICEF
Tims: When the kid realizes his dad secretly came to watch his hockey practices when he was younger
Edge: Tims. Hands down. Who didn’t cry a little bit?

Charitable Cause
UN: World peace and averting a global warming catastrophe
Tims: Youth hockey
Edge: UN

So, it’s 3-3 between the two events. Still, I think we all know roughly what Obama will say (“global warming is a threat…we should reduce our carbon footprint…blah blah blah…hope and change…blah blah blah“). Whereas, who on earth has any idea what actually happens at a donut innovation centre? Seriously.

Out of sheer curiosity alone, I think I’d make the same decision as Harper.