by frog
One thing that has surprised me in this campaign is the utter hatred of, and disdain for, Helen Clark among the most fervent National supporters. Some of the banners we have seen being waved by National and Act supporters on our TV screens in the last few days at Clark’s campus rallies have been seriously scary. While the public at large respect Helen Clark as a clearly superior leader, National seems to have instilled in its core supporters an unhealthy obsession with tearing Clark down. As RedGreen comments in an earlier thread:
I think that when one focuses more efforts on deriding her opponent rather than making constructive statements, it says something about her beliefs and those of whom she may represent. Why have National supporters concentrated their efforts on mocking Helen Clark that saying what the Nats stand for? I was in the Auckland Uni Quad yesterday afternoon when Helen Clark spoke and noticed that out of the 12 or so Nat signs/placards I could see, 8-9 of them contained written disparaging remarks about Ms Clark, such as ‘Helen – go brush your teeth with Botox’ and ‘Ugly bitches like Helen are lesbos since they can’t get guys’. How very constructive and informative. I have yet to see a Labour, Greens or Progressives supporter hold up a sign saying ‘Don you bald piece of shit’ or anything of this nature.’
I wonder if Don Brash condones these kind of signs? If not, has he sent the message to young Nats groups – the young Nats, remember, referred to Clark as a lesbian on their website – that he finds such antics distasteful and inappropriate?
UPDATE: I’m advised that some Labour supporters spitted at some National supporters at Clark’s election rally at Victoria University on Wednesday. Obviously, this is equally as disgraceful as the conduct described above. Apparently, there are people in all parties’ ranks who need to take a deep breath and remember not to get so damn personal. We are lucky to live in a great country, and that will be true whoever wins tomorrow.
Published in Campaign by frog on Fri, September 16th, 2005
Tags: environment
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
What makes this even more disturbing and disconcerting is that when Pansy Wong last spoke in the Quad, she reassured a concerned student – who is gay – that National if in power would “respect and protect the rights and freedoms of ALL Kiwis – including gays and lesbians” because “National believes in personal freedom, including your right to choose your sexual orientation and the freedom to practice it free from discrimination”.
I gleaned two things from this:
1) That National is once again flip-flopping. I am willing to be magnanimous enough to believe the sincerity of Pansy’s assertions. But do her fellow colleagues share her same stance? How can the gay and lesbian community ever be confident of non-discrimination under a National-led government when it sends out such mixed messages?
2) The assertion that being gay or lesbian is once choice indicates an underlying misunderstanding and even prejudice on the matter of one’s sexual orientation. One does not choose to be gay any more than he chooses to be Caucasian.
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I listen out on the bus for political commentary. Usually I find people agreeing for the most part that the left is the naturally better choice this time, and arguing National’s strategy, how to overcome it, etc. I don’t think this is representative, it’s just the kind of people that catch the bus.
But a couple of nights ago I came across my first National supporter, openly arguing with a girl (his girlfriend?) behind me. I did my best to listen in as she slowly pointed out to him that a National government would be a disaster this year. His final point, as they got off the bus was
“Well I’m still voting National.”
“Why?”
“Because Labour is… lesbian.”
Incredible.
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I’m dubious about these allegations that Labour supporters spat on the Nats at VUW. DPF made this claim on his blog, but I was standing about eighteen inches behind him for most of the event and didn’t see any of the aggrevation that he witnessed. The Nats, Labour and Green supporters all seemed rather good natured and well behaved.
Afterwards I wandered over to a couple of the journos who’d been standing next to the Prime Minister. None of ‘em mentioned spitting and they all seemed rather bored. Total fabrication if you ask me.
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I was there too, and can confirm with 95 per cent certainty that spitting allegation is a fabrication. There were a few heated exchanges, but the Nats, like at AU and Chch, were scarily aggressive. Thuggish behaviour that is not my definition of mainstream.
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“Oh and big cheers to the Young Nats and Young ACT guys and gals for their willingness to spoil photo opportunities for the Prime Minister. Great stuff”. So DFF, like Brash, condones this outrageous thuggery. Awesome.
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I find the hypocrisy on display here amusing rather than offensive, because (to paraphrase Frog) the utter hatred of, and disdain for, Don Brash among the most fervent Labour/Green supporters surprising.
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I never claimed to have witnessed it. I said “Three Young Nats reported they got spat on by unhappy Labour supporters.”
As for calling Young Nats thugs after Paul Tolich’s behaviour. Well well – imagine the outrage if it was the other way around – a national party staffer grabbing a protester on campus.
As for the signs, I disapprove of the ones which comment on Clark’s looks etc and have said so on my blog. I did enjoy the one about Gerry Brownlee eating everyone, as would Gerry probably.
People may note that at Victoria, none of the signs were personal on Clark in terms of looks, sexuality or that crap. THat is because I made it strongly known that such signs would be a bad thing. My influence is less at other campuses.
But even though one or two signs were inappropriate, my comment stands that it is great to see young nats and act people prepared to protest.
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Craig,
Hey, not true.
We don’t make snide and inaccurate comments about Don’s sexual preferences. Not for lack of a target, either: this is a guy whose marriage broke up because of adultery, but I haven’t seen people waving placards about that or making great political hay about how Exclusive Brethren is backing an adulterer.
We also don’t hassle Don for his looks. He’s a middle-aged guy – they’re just not very pretty as a rule. But have you seen people holding up placards complaining that Don is ugly.
I’m not claiming level-headed calm policy debate is all that occurs on the left: but the personal nastiness to Helen really is much more than I’ve seen aimed at Don.
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Hi all
I am not flavour of the month at one of our local dairies. The notice board outside clear for all to see, including children from the school opposite, had prominently displayed a photo of Helen’s head with a scantily dressed woman in a suggestive pose and the words – “This is what Helen does with our taxes”. Apparently it had been there for some time and needless to say it isn’t there now. For me it is about respect for women and the message we give to our children. However because of my prominent position in the Green Party everyone thought it was an anti right act. Even quoting that no other Greenie had complained. This act was mine alone….
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Icehawk:
Way true – but I guess it’s easy to stay in denial when you won’t open both your eyes.
I’ll at least acknowledge that I don’t like some of the vitriol directed at Helen Clark personally over the years, but it would help if a lot of folks on both sides of the political spectrum stopping pointing at others and put their own houses in order. I quite honestly haven’t like the ugly and vindictive tone of this campaign, but please don’t pretend the left isn’t a big part of the problem.
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BTW. Frog, you’re quite right about one thing: The sun will come up on Monday morning, regardless of who won the election.
Also worth remembering that we’re going to hold a free and fair election where the worse things being thrown around is harsh words, rather than bombs, bullets etc.
I’d like to offer my kudos to EVERY candidate and campaign volunteer, regardless of party. Even if I think your politics are a couple of kumara short of a hangi ;P, at least you get involved and stood up for what you believed.
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thanks Craig
for that thought, haven’t been keeping up with the blog very well ‘cos I haven’t spent much time indoors for a day or two…
katie
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Craig, it seemed to me that apart from Millsy the left half of the blogosphere was reasonably well behaved. I was about as confrontational as anyone (other than Millsy) on our side and I mostly restricted myself to attacking the real wingnuts (in somewhat lengthy prose that few were reading I’m sure) .
But some of those wingnuts were completely out of control. I still think there’s a pretty strong libel case to be had against Adolf F (see my blog) and probably some of the others. But who can really be bothered? Hopefully no one – last thing the blogosphere needs IMO.
For the record, regardless of my dire predictions for what happens if he gets in, I don’t hate Brash, nor have I ever claimed to. I actually like him a lot more than most of the rest of the national party, but he’s still going to lead NZ down a very dangerous path should he win tomorrow.
Anyway, kudos to you, Frog, Icehawk, David, and everyone else in the NZ blogosphere apart from the wingnuts.
Now let’s see what happens tomorrow.
Tiberias out.
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