The Press on Labour
Today’s Press editorial is unimpressed with Labour
Labour’s efforts to demonise National leader John Key are a measure of its own desperation and panic
These shrill attacks have thus far failed to dent Key’s credibility and each time the National leader bats away an allegation it is the Government which looks ridiculous and rattled.
The political acumen Labour exhibited on taking office eight years ago has been replaced by the tired misjudgments of a third-term administration, including its Key-bashing.
Bereft of fresh faces and ideas to address the real issues of concern to New Zealanders, Labour has instead rounded on Key personally. There is a strong sense of political reversal in this, as an attack strategy is normally the weapon of an Opposition, not a Government. Most members of the public will see through and disdain this negative brand of politics. They will regard it as an admission by Labour that it can not handle Key and is desperate to destroy him by any means before the next election campaign. Far from doing this, all the attacks have achieved is to give Key even more publicity and possibly public sympathy.
Key does have question marks over his leadership strength. He is still politically inexperienced, as shown by his occasional gaffes and hints of flip-flops, and he has yet to show that he has the policy substance to go with his undoubted personal style. Ministers can legitimately scrutinise Key on these grounds, but its smear campaign belongs in the rubbish bin, not in the political arena.
Exactly. The attacks on him over the lack of clarity on the Complementary Medicines Bill were valid and what one expects. Likewise contrasting his views on Iraq five years ago and today is valid (if overdone and not the killer blow Labour thinks it is). But trying to smear him not on the basis of what he has done, but what some people he knows did four years before he went into business with them is not valid. Likewise in the House suggesting he is of bad or malign character because he helped the SFO with an inquiry into a business he once worked at, is also not valid.
But the smears will not stop. Helen Clark, who is normally the first to whine loudly whenever anything negative is said about her, says on NZPA this morning that “personal scrutiny is part of politics and National’s leader John Key should stop “bleating” about Labour’s attacks on him”.
Now one could say the PM is being a hypocrite, but really her position is consistent and clear. Do as she says, not as she does.
August 27th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
DPF. You must be starting to get worried, either that or National has increased your renumeration. You don’t seem to get of the defence of JK.
If one didn’t know better, one would think that JK actually has something to hide and you are just trying to blow smoke up our ass.
[DPF: Yes I am worried about Labour dropping to under 30% in the polls. And snide suggestions that I am paid to blog just make you look ridicolous. I have no idea what JK has done in his past. Neither do I know what HC has done in her past.
August 27th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Its nothing new. She’s just another of socialism’s long line of Intellectual Whores.
August 27th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Getting worried? Yes I’m concerned that my democratic rights are about to be stripped away. Fortunately loads of other NZers are also concerned.
August 27th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
There seems to be quite a great deal of muttering from the Labour Party about the “dirt” on John Key. I would suggest that confirmation that the Labour Party skeletons are well under lock and key is required before they undertake any more sojourns down that particular road.
I submit as evidence:
Paintergate
Motorcade
Setchell
Ruth Dyson’s DIC
Marian Hobbs confusion over place of residence
Prima Facie case for David Benson-Pope
Prima Facie case for Pledge Card
Who’s got any more?
August 27th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
“contrasting his views on Iraq five years ago and today is valid”
Er, which at the time you said was a desperate measure and more proof that Labour was running scared.
” trying to smear him not on the basis of what he has done, but what some people he knows did four years before he went into business with them is not valid”
And who released the information. step forward that evil Labour hack, John Key!
A bit weird to cry “smear” when it was you who brought it out in the first place.
[DPF: The contrast is valid, it was just overdone to the point of hysteria, as we saw with Air NZ. And you know full well Hodgson, Cosgrove and Mallard are the ones raising it in Parliament.]
August 27th, 2007 at 12:25 pm
one thing about the fuhrer, she can wind me up like no one else!!!
in future i need to change station when she comes on on a monday morning!!
“bleating” wtf?? her hypocrisy knows no bounds!!
the media in NZ makes me sick! no one tackles this woman about her lies. the only journo that comes close is wishart (i was a fan of his til i read his weird ass book recently).
how can any of them call themselves journalists when they wont ask questions?
bring me bob woodward!
August 27th, 2007 at 12:26 pm
I love this comment from The Press “Bereft of fresh faces and ideas to address the real issues of concern to New Zealanders”
You see John Dalley these are the real issues not some imaginary conspiracy theory that you seem to have conjured up in attempt to divert attention away from a failing party. Smoke up our ass? How about you try removing your head from ass.
August 27th, 2007 at 12:28 pm
sonic – i think dave was referring to the leaky homes thing.. im sure labour got that gem from the Truth? ya know the Truth – the paper guys buy for hooker ads!
Key spoke about the FX fraud that had nothing to do with him
August 27th, 2007 at 12:31 pm
John Dalley, are you for real? “If one didn’t know better, one would think that JD actually has something to hide and you are just trying to blow smoke up our ass.” See how infantile a groundless smear appears? All you have to do is change the name and it can be used for anyone or anything. Here’s another: “If one didn’t know better, one would think that Helen Clark actually has something to hide and you are just trying to blow smoke up our ass.” Gosh. It works every time. And another: “If one didn’t know better, one would think that Trevor Mallard actually has something to hide and you are just trying to blow smoke up our ass.” or: If one didn’t know better, one would think that Phil Goff actually has something to hide and you are just trying to blow smoke up our ass.”
You see, it is just a smokescreen, being blown out by the Labour party drones. If Key has something to hide, let’s in the interests of the democratic process, hear it. Otherwise stop this nonsense.
August 27th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
Oh bring it on, every half arsed attempt at smearing John Key has backfired spectacutularly on the Labour Party.
How dare John Key say he would send troops in to Iraq, when Labour has had militray personnel in Basra for years!
August 27th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I say quite clearly and without fear of contradiction that Helen Clark is the worst hypocrite in Parliamentary History.
On April 10 2003 she told the House that all or any allegations of corruption
would be investigated.
All or any allegations of corruption lodged with the Police, and of which she has copies – have been buried.
The worst case scenario, was the allegation 10 February 2006 lodged with the Police, of the misappropriation of her Leader’s funds.
It was buried by Police with the full knowledge of Members of Parliament, and assisted by the Police Complaints Authority
Members of Parliament Have copy of The Hon Justice Goddard’s report of 27 February 2007
August 27th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
‘….. including its Key-bashing.’
This is priceless. I had not before seen Clark and Hodgkin as a pair of old and decrepit honky-tonk piano players – always out of tune.
August 27th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Sonic,
Just because you are spinning the lies of the Prime Minister doesn’t magically give your claims any more validity.
Trevor Mallard has been talking about the “H Fee” in Parliament for the last two weeks. It is simply dishonest for the PM to claim that Key raised the issue. Mallard did. It is also simply dishonest for the PM to claim that there is no concerted strategy from the Labour Party to smear John Key. Pete Hodgson has been spending more time personally attacking John Key than he has on his own portfolio. Hodgson is the official Labour Party strategist.
This is the same tactic that Mallard, Hodgson, and Benson-Pope used to smear Don Brash with allegations he was having an affair. Rather ironic of Mallard, given recent events.
August 27th, 2007 at 1:04 pm
“personal scrutiny is part of politics ” WTF is this cow on? She and her party would not bear scrutiny – she has proven to be the most corrupt and blatantly lied time and time again.
Field, Pope, Speeding, art fraud, sexuality, covered up ‘husband’s’ activites, stolen taxpayer’s money, states that she has nothing personal on Brash in one breath and in the next calls him ‘corrosive and cancerous’
I thnik it’s time we has some successful businessmen elected into a committed to a better NZ party with no political agenda – just a shedload of KPI’s and thought through strategies to achieve them, supported by a bloody good team. Enough of these political wankers who have never had to be accountable in their lives
August 27th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
John Dalley
As far as I know, DPF has commented on every editorial in a major NZ paper over the past couple of years that directly deals with the performance of National or Labour . For him to suddenly cease this coverage might indicate he was trying to ‘blow smoke up our ass’, whatever the hell that means. This blog hasn’t changed, but the mood of the editorial-writers has.
August 27th, 2007 at 1:20 pm
“Most members of the public will see through and disdain this negative brand of politics.”
Yes they will. Except for a huge number of labour-base supporters who have never read a major daily, don’t keep up with current events and only pay attention to the bribes offered them at election time, or the fear-mongering they hear from Labour that National will take away their lollies if elected.
To be brutally honest, Labours largest support base resides amongst our poorest, least educated and most government dependant members of society. They will believe whatever “labour” says, because Labour is the poor peoples party and National supports the enemy, being big business.
National need to reach these poor deluded souls, least they be blind forever.
August 27th, 2007 at 1:27 pm
agreed that labour rely on the poor getting poorer and becoming reliant on nanny state. I can’t help thinking though that most benefiaries can’t be bothered getting off their arse to vote
August 27th, 2007 at 1:35 pm
CraigM Says:
“To be brutally honest, Labours largest support base resides amongst our poorest, least educated and most government dependant members of society. They will believe whatever “labour” says, because Labour is the poor peoples party and National supports the enemy, being big business.
National need to reach these poor deluded souls, least they be blind forever.”
Born to rule, eh, CraigM. And you wonder why national has been sitting on the wrong side of the house for the past nine years.
August 27th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
cha, it is only a narrow viewpoint that will read the negative in such a comment. People with a more expansive view will see that is a comment directed at truth, informing people of their choices and the platform for a policy that focuses on raising people out of the state of poverty and state dependance that Labour has been pushing them into for the last nine years.
August 27th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Helen will keep attacking in this desperate fashion as long as she sees her job under threat. She knows that when the percentage in support falls into the 20′s that those rallying around Goff will be even more eager to move on her ahead of the election. Unless they do something pretty radical Labour is facing a minimum of two and probably three terms in opposition, and many in the caucus are facing unemployment post 15 November 2008.
August 27th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
So Hodgson is the Official Labour Strategist? This could be one reason for the surge in National support in the recent poll.
Sorry, I’m being unkind. But it would seem that the recent rantings by this government show they are too concerned about continuing to govern to actually govern, which at the end of the day is what we expect from them.
The crisis within our health system is only exacerbated in the eyes of the voting public when the publically elected official charged with fixing it seems more concerned with self preservation than the welfare of those disadvantaged by this crisis.
August 27th, 2007 at 2:25 pm
The only smoke being blown is by Labour to promote this bill and then suddenly tell us that state funding of parties will be a much better solution and nzers will suck it up as being the lesser of two evils
August 27th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
i’m with bwakile here. we need to be ready to respond to that threat which is every bit as insideous, if a bit more subtle, than the EFB
August 27th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
There’s two options here:
1) Clark doesn’t know about the smear attacks against John Key – if that is the case, she has become a useless and incompetent Leader, and has no control over her Cabinet & Caucus. She should resign forthwith.
2) Clark does know about the smear attacks against John Key – if that is the case, she is not only an arrogant bully, a fool, and a very frightened, paranoid leader, but also a blatant liar. She should resign forthwith.
August 27th, 2007 at 3:02 pm
Inventory2 ; Don’t know about you, but I think she should resign
Pascal, thank you for taking my earlier post the way it was intended. I knew someone would cry foul over it, but I notice there was no actual arguement about it’s accuracy.
What is it about the PM that makes reporters/radio hosts shake in their boots? She would be the easiest target in the country to tackle on honesty & hypocrisy issues.
Are RNZ concerned that she will boycott them if someone challenges her? Let her. That would be a major headline story.
Given her desperate need to stay in the public eye, she would never walk away from them, so FFS, someone grow a pair.
August 27th, 2007 at 3:30 pm
CraigM said “Given her desperate need to stay in the public eye, she would never walk away from them, so FFS, someone grow a pair.”
Craig, the worm does seem to be stirring, if not quite turning yet. Dear Leader won’t be at all happy that there have been several features, opinion pieces and editorials having a crack at her and her colleagues over the last week. I’m sure she won’t have enjoyed Nicky Hagar telly Mikey Havoc that the EFB was like something you’d expect from the Nazis, , and she defintely won’t be inviting John Armstrong, Audrey Young and Fran O’Sullivan to her Christmas drinkies. Give it a couple more bad polls for Labour, and the radio & TV guys will realise that the love affair with Labour is over – then it could get VERY interesting!
August 27th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
Clark was on Breakfast this morning denying, denying, denying when Paul Henry asked her about Key. She claimed she didn’t know anything about any planned attacks and that she can’t be held responsible for any stories the media print. She also denied that the story in Truth was a Labour plant.
Helen, I think you’ve gone past the point now where anyone believes a single thing you say.
August 27th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Clark’s blatant lies on TV (and to Holmes this morning) are a disgrace. Her poodles do not do anything without her specific approval.
At present I am just happy to put the champagne on ice pending the imploding of this desperate and angry bunch of worn out socialists.
August 27th, 2007 at 5:37 pm
Yes amazing how Clark can deny knowledge when she almost sits next to Mallard in the House and when her own chief press secretary is pushing the stuff around the gallery. Is she really saying she does not know what her chief press secretary is doing?
August 27th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Almost as unbeleivable as
“I didn’t know how fat we were going, I was doing paperwork”
“Signing the painting doesn’t mean I painted it!”
“It is the convention in this house that we accept a minister at his word!”
August 27th, 2007 at 8:15 pm
Or whenever asked about whether she has confidence in a particular Minister, the standard “I’m bored of this shit from you” reply of “Yeeeeesss, because (s)he is a hard-working and conscientious Minister”. She even said that about Benson-Pope no less than three days before she asked for his balls on a platter”
“Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Questions for Oral Answer
Questions to Ministers
Environment, Minister—Confidence
2. JOHN KEY (Leader of the Opposition) to the Prime Minister: Does she have confidence in the Minister for the Environment; if so, why?
Rt Hon HELEN CLARK (Prime Minister): Yes; because he is a hard-working and conscientious Minister.”
August 27th, 2007 at 8:42 pm
Labour’s ‘spin’ today re Key has been nothing but a pack of lies………….
August 27th, 2007 at 8:45 pm
and over 50% on voters know it, based on recent polls.
August 27th, 2007 at 8:54 pm
Back in March 2006, when the David Parker issue was live, the prime minister said: “I suggest that the Leader of the Opposition take advice about what “prima facie” actually means. It does not mean that there is evidence that would stand up in court.”
Today, the prime minister says that. “prima facie” there is something to the allegations about John Key’s housing arrangements that he should be required to answer – so the press gallery should take them seriously.
So which is it, prime minister? Or are you just a pathological liar who will say anything on the day?
And, also, she has tried to make something of the links between the sacking of Philida Bunkle and John Key’s situation. She forgets to mention that Bunkle was fired FOR STEALING MONEY THROUGH FALSE DECLARATIONS FOR HIGHER ALLOWANCES.
Again, Clark will know this – she sacked her after all. She will just be lying to make a point.
August 27th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Even lefty Laila Harre talking with Kathryn Ryan and Mathew Hooton this morning was very critical of Labour’s tactics.
August 27th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
‘Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely’ is the old saying. It’s gone way beyond which part of the political spectrum one inhabits. If any party was doing what the the present Labour Government is doing, I susupect the responses would be the same from most reasonable people. Their actions are turning Laila Harre into an advocate for John Key! Says it all doesn’t it?