The EB need a campaign manager
September 28th, 2006 at 1:50 pm by David FarrarThe things that strikes me with the EB’s foray into politics is how damn awful they are at it. Seriously any conspiracy theory that National is pulling their strings dies on the basis that they wouldn’t make such basic mistakes if they had decent competent advice.
The Press notes in its editorial that the EEB have become their own worst enemies. Not quite true as no-one knocks Helen off her perch, but basically correct.
Almost all of the activities – pamphlets, detectives, letters to the editor have caused them more harm than anyone else.
So my advice to the EB (if they were allowed to use the Internet and could read this) is to go and hire a good campaign manager. Hell think what some smart political nous could do with a few million dollars and 3,000+ volunteers. You could hand deliver targetted direct mail, swamp the letters to the editors sections of newspapers, phone canvass hundreds of thousands of households etc etc. I almost could be tempted to apply for the job 
Personally I’ll be quuite happy if they leave politics to God and us sinners again. But if they do insist on staying involved, please go get some help!!
No tag for this post.
September 28th, 2006 at 2:19 pm
Having worked with members of the EB in the past they are very naive when it comes to things political and in fact other areas of life.The twisted thinking that passes for so called good politics is way above their heads.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 2:21 pm
Having worked with members of the EB in the past they are very naive when it comes to things political and in fact other areas of life.The twisted thinking that passes for so called good politics is way above their heads.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 2:23 pm
Agreed. If one is get involved do it properly.
And don’t interact too intimately with those who are contesting elections and get legal advice from other than the bureaucrats who administer that area of the law.
I suspect that by the next election there will be a mood for changing the government anyway and the Exclusive Brethren might well be wasting their money.
They should also probably incorporate a group or groups to ensure it remains distinct from their Church. This would require legal disclosure of their income and expenditure – but I don’t think that should worry them. The Brethren should be Exclusive but open – if ya get me
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
Perhaps, if they are serious about politics, they could join a political party or even vote.
However as they know what they believe would alienate 99% of New Zealanders they prefer to hide in the shadowsm
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 2:28 pm
Not sure you are right about hiding in the shadows sonic. They did go on TV. No shadows there. As to what they beleive. Putting aside religious belief, their moral values seem to extoll honesty, fairness,mutual respect, hardwork etc. That would only alienate Labour MPs.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
Well i have to say they have never really hid in the shadows since it was discovered they were the writers of the pamphlets at the last election since then they have been out in the open and as such are not hiding.
I also agree with David it is only Labour MPs that will be alienated
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 2:32 pm
Well i have to say they have never really hid in the shadows since it was discovered they were the writers of the pamphlets at the last election since then they have been out in the open and as such are not hiding.
I also agree with David it is only Labour MPs that will be alienated
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 2:45 pm
They went on TV after their secret pamphlet was exposed.
I also do not recall them mentioning the private detective they had following Labour party members.
They are, of course, entitled to the same rights of free speech as anyone else. However I do think they should be honest about what they really believe.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
The pamphlet wasnt a “secret” I got one in my mailbox.Didnt you get yours? (yes, I realise you are referring to the address of one of them being wrong)
Vote:sonic, Its a bit rich you go on about “secret this and secret that” when you hide behind a non de plume…..
September 28th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
“The pamphlet wasnt a “secret” I got one in my mailbox”
I should have said:
Who was behind it was a secret
Still it’s interesting to think what issues the EB would campaign on.
Shutdown TV 1 (and indeed 2, 3, Prime and Sky)?
Say no to the Internet?
Fax machines, the devil’s tools!
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
I think they would get about as many votes as Christian Heritage. Sweet FA, and for all the same reasons. What they believe is very unpopular. It actually is that simple.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 3:44 pm
…if they were allowed to use the Internet and could read this…
So then we can assume they’re not trying to influence politics by leaving pseudonymous comments supporting National or incompetently defending Labour on major political weblogs?
Right?
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 4:47 pm
Lyndon – I’d be most surprised if they were, but hey put me in charge of them and it could be arranged
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 4:51 pm
They could steal the National parties billboard idea.
You could have Helen Clark on one side saying “equality for women” and an EB member pictured saying “yea right”
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 5:08 pm
Monday’s ’4 Corners’ on the EB in Aust.and NZ was a cracker.
They’re one nasty bit of work it seems.
Suggests the spin machine to improve the smell has not yet been made.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 5:19 pm
I agree with Ben. It’s not that there is anything wrong with the EB’s, it’s just that they represent minority interests and religious ones at that. By avoiding TV, the internet and so on they are going to remain politically naive and inept. If they ever succeed in politics they will have to forego most of what they believe in or employ DPF, whichever is worse.
If they carry on making expenditures like they did before the election, then they are soon going to be parted with their hard earned cash.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
David here is a job for you. Is this post your job application.
Vote:September 28th, 2006 at 8:44 pm
Sonic wrote:
Perhaps, if they are serious about politics, they could join a political party or even vote.
Yeah, and the next time anyone wants to bitch about the next round of rates hikes in my hearing they better be among the 49% of qualified electors who bothered to vote last time out. Ay, Sonic?
Vote:September 30th, 2006 at 11:38 am
Craig, totally agree with you on that one. Voter apathy in local bodies is an indictment both on the system and the national character.
Then again, when it comes to having to cast dozens of votes for dozens of people you’ve never even heard of, apathy is pretty easy to understand. But it does take away the right to complain.
Vote:September 30th, 2006 at 11:48 am
Voter apathy is one way of looking at local body elections, but the way I see it, NZ has one of the (if not the) highest voter turnouts for local body elections in the western world.
Vote:September 30th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
Ben:
Oh, every citizen of this country has the perfect right to bitch their elected representatives to anyone who cares to listen. I just don’t feel under any obligation to take them seriously: casting a reasonably well-informed vote every three years hardly strikes me as an onerous or unreasonable duty of citizenship. To the contrary, I think there may be more than a few immigrants here who find it a delightful change that they have any voice in electing their government at all.
Vote:September 30th, 2006 at 3:06 pm
Yup, and even people who don’t vote have a right to complain. I just find their complaints less compelling, since they haven’t taken the most basic step to rectify.
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