A big cheer for the media

Winston did a speech on Friday, where he attached the media endlessly. This is a deliberate tactic to try and go up in the polls as journalists are not much more popular than politicians. Winston’s entire career has been built on attacking unpopular groups.

Now I have been known to criticise the media from time to time myself.  And when it is justified I’ll keep doing that. But for today I want us to reflect on the debt of gratitude we owe the media for letting the public learn the truth. Without the media, we would probably never know:

• That the Vela Family have donated $230,000 to NZ First
• That Owen Glenn donated $100,000 to cover Winston Peters legal costs
• That the Spencer Trust even existed
• That Winston’s parliamentary staff solicit money for him/NZ First
• That Owen Glenn says Winston solicited the $100,000 from him and asked for it to be kept confidential
• That NZ First has filed false donation returns to the Electoral Commission
• That NZ First has received many donations from big business, contrary to their claims
• That NZ First uses a trust to hide the identity of donors – a practice it criticises other parties for doing

Winston said in his speech:

Except in rare and exceptional circumstances, or a ratings war, there is one group who will not be the subject of a concerted campaign of vilification and disparagement by the media.

That group is the media itself.

They are like a school of piranhas circling society, seeking to slash, tear, maim and destroy anything that shows any signs of weakness, non-conformity or heaven forbid – criticises the media.

This is all a cover. What Winston is really angry about is the fact the the public now know the truth about how NZ First is funded. Without the media Owen Glenn’s donation would never have been made public. Without the media, NZ First would still be filing false donation returns to the Electoral Commission. We owe the media thanks for being willing to endure abuse and threats from Peters, so the truth will emerge.