Written By: - Date published: 1:46 pm, December 19th, 2007 - 57 comments
Categories: same old national -
Tags: same old national
The National Party have reverted to type.
They’re back to stoking the politics of fear and division.
Anyone who thought that things might be different under Key were today proved wrong when David Farrar, Kiwiblog author and National Party HQ staffer, launched a billboard campaign attacking Helen Clark, Winston Peters and Peter Dunne – likening them to a number of infamous dictators.
The tasteless billboards are reminiscent of the Iwi/Kiwi ones run by Brash and National at the last election.
The Free Speech Coalition is little more than a National Party front, and it’s well known that Farrar has been working on this project during his employment at National Party HQ.
John Key’s been keen to try to keep himself clean. I wonder how he feels about all the mud now being thrown by Farrar. I wouldn’t be surprised if this comes back to bite National.
UPDATE: In fact one of the billboards has already been pulled. It was erected on a school, who demanded that it be removed.
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If it wasn’t so amateur in its execution I’d say it had John Ansell written all over it. He’s been a regular over at Farrar’s blog lately and it seems to suit his style.
Watch as Farrar tries to distance his little front group from the National Party, but he’s not fooling anyone. This is a guy who did ten years for the party in Parliament and had Bill English as a guest at his recent birthday bash. He’s the insider’s insider and this would not have been done without National’s backing or at least approval.
Not to mention money.
The Free Speech Coalition hasn’t raised any serious amount of money from the public, tha’ts obvious from their site.
The ‘public donations’ is just a cover for large secet doantions to the FPC from the same people who secretly back National.
Tane,
Might be time for one of your famous “DPF, what’s your game…” conspiracy comments at Kiwiblog.
Billy – its not conspiracy theory – its true that Farrar is a national party activist and he works in their HQ. Now, he’s putting up billboards – where do you think the idea, the money, and the production assistance came from?
Do you think a National party operative just starts a major campaign without talking to the party? No.
This is a National Party campaign… Farrar’s sticky fingers are all over it, most notably in the fact that the concept of the billboards is childish and unclever… but it is a National campaign none the less.
So you got anything better than an ad hominum attack on the FSC because ONE of their members is involved with the National Party?
I suppose Hone Hariwara is a National Party stooge too with tht reasoning.
Go on, shoot the messenger, rather than debating the argument, the standard seems to excell at that
Good to see schools in the local mangere area are so well funded as a result of the efforst of taito philip field, that they have seell billboard space…..
because ONE of their members is involved with the National Party?
Actually, the two main people in the FSC are National Party operatives – David Farrar and Cameron Slater. It’s pretty clearly a National Party front. And as I see it, the ads are being attacked on their own merits – they’re filthy, disgraceful and offensive – but we should also not ignore where they’ve come from.
I suppose Hone Hariwara is a National Party stooge too with tht reasoning.
Hone Harawira had nothing to do with these tasteless billboards or National’s Free Speech Coalition. He’s far too smart an operator for that.
I just had a look at KB on this issue. These hysterical fools sound like they’re gonna be dragged outta their beds in the middle of the night, bound and gagged and disappeared into a state run interrogation centre. Come to think of it maybe that’s not such a bad idea… Except for the interrogation part of course – these fuckers don’t need any more excuses to blurt their vile thoughts.
Seriously are you guys running a comedy club or a political blog? At times like these, it is hard to tell.
And while the school did ask for it to be removed, the were acting on behalf of the Ministry of Education = fair enough. But what about the political billboard that was there last election and wasn’t asked to be removed.
Serious question now. Do you want to see billboards like this banned?
Tin foil hats in place! Regular transmission will now resume!
SMM – what political billboard? The one Davey said “someone” told him about?
I can’t wait for Tui to get invloved in this…
Robinsod,
I am sure if digging is required, a smart investigate reporter might do some asking at the billboard agency. Which is proably what David did, if he had to answer a question such as that. You don’t go out on a public, political limb like that without have done your research.
I thought the virgin Mary episode on Southpark was just a bit beyond the pale. It was called satire apparently.
I wasn’t thrilled when Labour issued those fake eviction notices last campaign either. Pretty low really.
And now we have this. And the “billboards” on your previous post. This is the society Labour is helping to build. One where we have to tolerate anything in the name of satire. Well, fair enough I suppose.
Although this paranoia that it is a “National Party” campaign is equally amusing. Fighting Labour’s more stupid policies is just a week-end hobby. Exploiting workers is a full time job, there aint much time left over for political activism unless it is a hobby.
On another matter, a bit ironic that now there is a spending cap on third party spending of $120,000 that Labour launch a 5 million dollar billboard campaign. Puts the FSC effort of $7,000 to shame. Just not sure they’ve picked the right slogans: Labour’s 5 million dollar billboard campaign
Tane: according to the article (read the headline guys) the billboard was pulled for “political reasons” not because of the content.
Also, does anyone actually have some sort of proof that the Free Speech Coalition is a front for National or are we just resorting to rumor and hearsay?
You don’t go out on a public, political limb like that without have done your research.
SMM – I’m not sure David would have done any research into this claim. As I’m banned from KB I can’t ask him if he did. Perhaps you could do so?
Labour launch a 5 million dollar billboard campaign.
The original post is obviously satire, but not as Zen reproduces it. I wonder how long before this now stray meme shows up as “fact” on Kiwiblog?
Also, does anyone actually have some sort of proof that the Free Speech Coalition is a front for National
djp – see Tane’s post above. You might just as well ask if anyone has any sort of proof that the CTU is allied with Labour.
I’m sure David can read The Standard and answer this question for himself.
Meanwhile, can all_your_base answer djp’s question: Also, does anyone actually have some sort of proof that the Free Speech Coalition is a front for National or are we just resorting to rumor and hearsay?
DPF has a clear statement of disclosure on his site, in a prominent position. Read it.
Can anyone answer my question I posed before please – should billboards like this be banned?
(Captcha = triple official. A good description of Labour beuracracy if ever there was one!)
New Definition Alert:
Any third party that opposes any party is from now on refered to as a “front” for any party they have had any relation with.
As such, Greenpeace is now a Green Party “Front”, same for PETA and the wild greens.
By calling something a “Front” you can conveniently ignore anything they have to say. It has been tainted by the assumed relationship.
I am very sure bernard darnton would take offense at being called a national party front.
djp – its being pulled because its political – that’s just a poor headline – clue: read the article, don’t make conclusions from headlines
imagine the worldview you would have if you jsut read the headlines! oh, djp, I, I think I understand you now.
its well-documented that the leaders of the FSC are national operatives, that makes it a national operation.
DPF/Kiwblog/CFS = National operative/front
∆The Standard/KBB = Labour operatives/front?
Can anyone answer my question I posed before please – should billboards like this be banned?
Of course not, but they should be held up for criticism, and in some cases ridicule, and the people behind them should be held to account for their contents. And of course, there should be limits on how much any one group can spend so as to keep our electoral system a reasonably level playing field. It’s democracy in action my friend.
I see they are planning a billboard featuring Chairman Mao.
Did DPF run this by his old boss Jenny Shipley, who is prominently involved in developing business relationships with China? I wonder how this will go down with the Beijing dictatorship, for whom Mao is still a revered figure?
Of course offending China shouldn’t matter when there’s a principle at stake (except, um … protestors … buses … free trade agreement … Dalai Lama … Jiang Zemin … etc)
Expect the Mao one to be pulled. Orders from above?
They are running OTT attack ads, how silly can they get? The fools use their free speech in the worst possible manner free speech can be used to drive up hatred and expect ordinary people to say “We need more of this.” It is stupid.
unaha – agreed (for a change!).
∆The Standard/KBB = Labour operatives/front?
As far as I know I’m the only one “out” on this blog as an active member of the Labour Party. And I’m just a random poster, not management.
I notice that Sam Dixon has been quiet in his condemnation of comparison of Labour to dictators. Given his vandalising of DPF’s wiki entry and linking him to Nazi parties, I guess he has to be a bit quiet.
At least Tane, Robinsod and all condemned Sam…oh, hang on…
its well-documented that the leaders of the FSC are national operatives, that makes it a national operation.
It’s well documented that if witches float, they are made of wood, and therefore can be burned at the stake.
Although I don’t think that logic has stood the test of time Sam.
Actually, I think the Automobile Association are behind this. Their membership reach is staggering. And when I posted my concerns about the EFB, I received in the mail the very next day a “suggestion” from AA Life that I better take out “life insurance”. The threat was clear, and they KNEW WHERE I LIVED. Chilling stuff. Sam would know what I mean.
Billy – if Sam was the “wiki vandal” then good on him. Gave me a laugh and considering the man tolerates comments like this on his blog:
“Jill Pettis is the sort of bitch domestic violence arose to counter..shes mad!”
Nice bloke that DPF…
So the unions run by Jill Ovens and Andrew Little are by Tane’s definition Labour fronts? Is that what you are saying Tane or is it one rule for fronts on the left and another for fronts on the right?
Isn’t Irish Bill a Labour man? He is certainly close to the Dunedin branches from his own writing.
Don’t think it was tolerated at all. The person got demerits.
Robinsod, you are going to have to explain to me why comparison of DPF to Nazis is fair enough, but comparison of the Labour party (who, like it or not, have just passed a law seen by many people of doverse political leanings to be undemoctratic) with Bainimaramara is not. Because I just do not understand that.
Billy – I’m not offended by the billboards. Oh and the person got 20 demerits. I got banned for life with no warning and no prior demerits for taking the piss out of DPF over the KtB campaign. In my book 20 demerit points is toleration.
“I’m not offended by the billboards.”
That is fine then. You think it is OK acceptable to compare people to dictators.
Tane obviously feels differently:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/12/some_billboards_to_enjoy.html#comment-384778
I look forward to Tane’s condemnation of Sam’s vandalism.
Your future news headlines, January 2008: “Key slams billboard, sacks Farrar”.
Far-fetched? Here’s something that really did happen:
From Stuff.co.nz, May 2006 (no longer online) …
“A mob of angry Chinese students protested at Massey University yesterday after Chairman Mao was lampooned on the cover of the student newspaper.
Students likened the cover of Chaff, which this week satirises women’s magazine Cosmopolitan, to the anti-Muslim cartoons circulated around the world in February.
Tempers flared outside Massey’s library as about 50 Chinese Massey and UCOL students and a Chinese lecturer confronted Chaff staff.
Students said the issue is racist and the last straw, as many have also suffered verbal abuse on the streets of Palmerston North.
Tianxiang Mao said it was common for Asian students to be lambasted with racial slurs when driving.
“People yell `F-ing Asians’ when we are in the car driving down the road. I don’t say anything. What can I do?”
UCOL student Xing Tang said Chaff staff are ignorant of Chinese culture.
“Chairman Mao is like Jesus to us,” he said on the verge of tears.”
ENDS
Yep, those Mao billboards are definitely up for a re-think! (once Key’s strategists have worked out how many Chinese voters there are out there …)
And this:
http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2007/12/some_billboards_to_enjoy.html#comment-384785