John Key says the election is in danger of being stolen by a hacker and some left wing activists. What he is afraid of is that the election is going to be “stolen” by the truth. Nothing will be actually stolen, we all still get to vote, and if Key loses it’s not the hacker or anyone on the left he should blame.
Last election surveys showed that Labour’s policies were more popular than National’s. Asset Sales were their main policy and were particularly unpopular – as the referendum showed us (but it’s alright, a couple of the energy companies have been returning ‘excess’ capital to the 2%…).
But elections aren’t just about policy – as much as geeks like me might like them to be.
I may not agree, but apparently as a whole the electorate decided they found National more competent and likeable than the alternatives, even if they weren’t as keen on the policies.
But above even competence and likeability is integrity. And that’s what the hacker and Hager show is sorely lacking.
Key may claim it’s nothing to do with him as he – like Colonel Klink Sergeant Schultz – ‘knew nothink’. But he’s accountable for what his office does, and who it chooses to consort with.
He can’t say “you go over and do what’s necessary and I’ll stand over here and smile and wave” and not bear responsibility for what his minions do in his name because he refuses to listen to details. That’s not what leadership is about.
He can’t mutter “will no one rid me of this meddlesome priest” and claim innocence because he didn’t do the act.
So the election has come to be about Trust, as Key used to like it to be about, but now that he’s lost that he wants different grounds.
But it’s hardly unfair if we want to vote for a party with an honest leader and someone’s given the electorate a glimpse of his party’s soul.
[Update: fixed for Sergeant Schultz reference and grammatical errors]
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