Nick Whalen's 'fuddle duddle' comment rooted in Trudeau-ism

MP-elect Nick Whalenreferenced one of the most famous quotes in Canadian political history Monday night after defeating the former favourite in the riding of St. John's Eastbut not everyone caught on.

Whalen, a lawyer and engineer, beat out incumbent Jack Harrisby fewer than 700 votes.

• 1971: Trudeau's'fuddle duddle' incident

The win was a surprise for some including Harris himselfmainly because, going into the campaign,insiders in both parties expected anNDP win.

Even more of a surprise (for those not around in 1971) was the comment made by Whalenhot off the heels of his win.

"I'm so fuddle duddle happy, I could fuddle duddle cry," Whalen told reporters following his big win.

If your reaction to that was a resounding, "Huh?" you're not alone.

And despite what some people on social media believe, Whalen wasn't channeling hyper-religious fictionalSimpsons' character Ned Flanders.

Whalenwas referencing comments made by the other famousTrudeauPierre Elliotin 1971.

For those not around for Trudeaumania round one, the term came from a 1971 interview with the then-prime minister.

Trudeau muttered the now iconic phraseafter Newfoundland and Labrador MP John Lundriganclaimed Trudeau uttered a two-letter word that started with F in the House of Commons. And Lundrigan wasn't referring to fuddle duddle.