Return of the Hollow Men

Written By: karol - Date published: 10:16 am, September 26th, 2013 - 48 comments
Categories: accountability, brand key, david cunliffe, don brash, election 2014, Ethics, john key, Judith Collins, news, same old national, slippery, spin - Tags: matthew hooton

John Key and his handlers have tried so hard to distance himself from the underhand dirty tricks employed by National Party people to undermine opposition parties. They were used relentlessly to undermine Helen Clark, but, once in power and having achieved dominance in the popularity polls, the government has focused more on it’s positive public image. Now that Cunliffe’s Labour is in the ascendance, and a Labour-Green government is a real possibility next year, once more we are seeing the NAct and/supporters pull out their bag of dirty tricks.

The kinds of strategies used, with significant input from expensive political advisers like those at Crosby Textor, are exposed exposed in Nicky Hagar’s book The Hollow Men (2006).

In his review of the book, Wayne Hope, associate professor in communication studies at Auckland University of Technology, said this:

Hager’s general thesis can be outlined as follows: With the replacement of Bill English by Don Brash, National became an anti-democratic political party which set out to deceive the voting public. Wealthy corporate elites associated with the Business Round Table, the far right ACT party, the Centre for Independent Studies and various public relations ﬁrms supported Brash’s seizure of power and anonymously donated substantial sums to National’s campaign war chest. They wanted a new government with the power to institute market driven policies in the areas of labour relations, state owned enterprises, education, transport, accident compensation and local body government tax cut package.

Throughout 2004 and 2005, Brash’s strategists (Murray McCully, Gerry Brownlee, Steven Joyce, Richard Long, Matthew Hooton, Peter Keenan and Bryan Sinclair) employed market research companies, advertising specialists, public relations ﬁrms, media managers and television trainers to sell the National brand.

My bold: Scarily, while John Key was not centrally implicated in the underhand tactics of the Hollow Men, the pro-corporate, anti-democratic, market-driven policies favoured by the Hollow Men’s backers have steadily been brought in by Key’s government.

Now we have a new smear campaign launched against Cunliffe, lead pretty clumsily by Hollowman Matthew Hooton, with Judith Collins joining forces with a dodgy right wing blogger to cheer-lead Hooton’s efforts. Collins has previously been implicated with Brash’s Hollow Men, as indicated in Danyl Mclauchlan’s post about the book, and in a Fran O’Sullivan article of 2009, about Brash’s attempts to get the police to pursue enquiries into how Hagar got access to his emails:

Collins was Brash’s close political chum during the dying days of his leadership when it seemed as if he might just survive.

For an outsider like myself, it’s hard to know who is involved in the latest dirty tactics in which Hooton has been involved. But there are some intriguing connections on the public record.

In the Hollow Men, Hagar pointed to Crosby Textor as being the main overseas consultants used by Brash, and later it became known that John Key was also using this company for strategic advice. Wayne Hope again:

… Hager details compellingly how the Australian based market researchers Lynton Crosby and Mark Textor translated the insecurities of uncommitted voters into loaded messages; politically correct Labour—mainstream National.

In a 2008 blog post, Hagar identifies Mark Textor as being John Key’s main CT adviser. Curiously, this post is also pretty damning about Hollow Man Matthew Hooton:

Anyone who wonders what to make of Matthew Hooton’s public contributions to New Zealand politics really should read what he writes in private. His advice is sometimes clever, but it is also cynical. It is very revealing.

[…]

For this sort of PR person, the answer when faced with a crisis is to attack the messenger, deny everything and claim that they themselves are the victims in the affair. Like an octopus squirting ink into the water, the hope is that these diversions will allow them to escape unscathed. In this world of spin, words, arguments and personal attacks are all just means to an end, tools to advance their and their clients’ objectives.

A Stuff, Fairfax news article of 2008, also outlines some of the strategies of Crosby Textor (and there are probably more that we have yet to see in the lead up to NZ’s 2014 elections). It claims Key has continued to use the same adviser as Brash, Mark Textor., but that it has been kept secret from the public. The reason for secrecy is that, if their tactics and manipulations become widely known, they will be less effective.

It also shows how the NAct parties aim to benefit from having access to wealthier backers than is the case for more left leaning parties.

Specialised Crosby/Textor researchers visit New Zealand to conduct the research (costing about $10,000 per visit) and Textor flies to New Zealand, as required, to provide “high-level strategic advice” to Key and his staff on what Key should be saying and doing in public (also about $10,000 per visit). He also advises by phone and email. Key’s parliamentary staff saw Textor visiting his office around April 27, 2007, for instance, and it has all continued up to the present, including a visit in recent weeks.

The article points to ways that Crosby-Textors’ dirty, “and ruthless attack politics” tactics, “using subtle appeals to fear and prejudice” have been controversial in Australia. This includes push polling, and the kind of tactics used when working for the UK Conservative Party and for the London mayoral campaigns of Boris Johnson.

Awareness of the kinds of strategies used by Crosby-Textor will be helpful in countering Nact’s dirty tricks in the run up to next year’s NZ election. The 2008, Stuff article point to 3 main ones used in Boris Johnson’s campaigns.

First, Crosby and Textor realised there was a high risk of Johnson tripping up and making mistakes compared with his experienced opponent. Their answer was to tightly control and script all Johnson’s public appearances

[..]

The second strand of the London mayoralty strategy was relentlessly attacking Livingstone’s reputation. He had introduced some innovative and popular policies, so they concentrated on personal attacks.

[…]

The third strand was “issue management”. They found Livingstone had support on environment, social services and other issues. So instead they ran a narrowly focussed campaign on the rising cost of living and public safety even where these were the result of forces beyond Livingstone’s control.

The indications are that John Key will be getting advice from Mark Textor in the run up to the 2014 elections. Intriguing that Key was cosily photo oped with Textor’s high profile client in his recent visit to England.

Knowledge is power.

48 comments on “Return of the Hollow Men ”

Comments are now closed

Tracey 1

26 September 2013 at 10:52 am

Crosby’s connected to… Cameron, Abbott, Key.

I do wonder why political strategeists were at a function for Key to meet British MPs.

The Nats have more money (together with ACT) to polish up their poo. It’s hard to see through the shine.
- Tiger Mountain 1.1
  
  26 September 2013 at 11:57 am
  
  And the Exclusive Brethren connection too, lest we forget, an organisation that eschews voting for adherents but ponied up significant funds during Brashes time and were outed, and the 2007 Australian elections too attempting to secretly fund John Howards re-election campaign.
Bill 2

26 September 2013 at 11:27 am

Nice piece (again) Karol. On a positive note, if the idea is to carbon copy the strategy employed in Boris Johnson’s campaign, then there is deep shit rising up around the neck of the right.

True, they can tightly script and manage. But then, that should be expected to some degree or other for any politician depending on the caliber of the person behind the political facade.

On the second point, since Cunliffe hasn’t been in any position to have policies sniped at, then that only leaves them ‘reputation’. And vitriol at spelling mistake level inconsistencies in a CV just ain’t gonna go very far.

And the third point of small issue focus – that they have used previously – just doesn’t appear to be an option since it it they who are in power and when they have created are so many big issues they can be buried under.

There’s also the potential for scrutiny and successful counter argument being quick off the blocks as illustrated by commenters and authors on ‘the standard’ delivering Hooten his bloody nose 😉
- just saying 2.1
  
  26 September 2013 at 11:45 am
  
  There’s also the potential for scrutiny and successful counter argument being quick off the blocks as illustrated by commenters and authors on ‘the standard’ delivering Hooten his bloody nose 😉
  
  Ah people power. Warms the cockles of my heart.
  
  Great work everyone:-)
blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 3

26 September 2013 at 12:04 pm

Excellent article Karol.

The photo – op with Boris Johnson can be viewed as product placement.

This is a technique that works on an subconscious level, giving viewers little option of free choice.

This article lists some of the effects of product placement: [click link for full list]

Key findings from this research show that Product Placement:

~Can dramatically shift TV viewers perception of a brand
~Implicitly forges brand association with TV content on a subconscious level, unlike more explicit forms of advertising
~Normalises brands through association with trusted TV content
~Produces a halo effect with brands associated with popular TV shows
~Can significantly increase consumer purchase intent and behaviour in terms of brand knowledge, likeability, talkability and advocacy in viewers exposed to the placement

And this article concludes

“Embedded marketing today is no longer an innovation – it has already proven to be arguably the most powerful marketing tool existing today that is not only practically 100% efficient, but also often works as a hidden, espionage tool of which the consumers become victims. When properly launched, such product placement campaigns are even hard to prove to be real, since any association and word-game usually tend to be considered critically subjective. No law and no act can prohibit embedded marketing since it is so difficult to identify and even harder to prove. This, and the fact that embedded marketing mainly affects the consumers’ brains on the subconscious level, makes it both an unethical and extremely dangerous marketing tool.”
- Rodel 3.1
  
  28 September 2013 at 10:34 am
  
  I’m waiting to see photo ops of the PM with the Emirates Team New Zealand crew.
  Somehow I don’t think it will happen.
marsman 4

26 September 2013 at 12:08 pm

Great work once again Karol! As you say ‘knowledge is power’. I’ll share your Post on Facebook.
Athena 5

26 September 2013 at 12:57 pm

The exclusive brethren are about to get 9 million to integrate their schools, is someone trying to sweeten them up again?
- Delia 5.1
  
  26 September 2013 at 1:38 pm
  
  Exclusive about other New Zealanders, except when it comes to tax payer dollars which are not exclusive. They should fund themselves, anti social outfit, that claims only they are the special ones.
  - mike e 5.1.1
    
    26 September 2013 at 10:46 pm
    
    exclusive bretheren have high alcoholism and pedophelia rate more than double the general population rates.
    They are also connected to extreme far right birther gun lobby and neo nazi’s etc etc !
- Jenny Kirk 5.2
  
  26 September 2013 at 6:52 pm
  
  Where is this information, please, Athena – that Exclusive Breth are to get $9m for their schools ?
  - karol 5.2.1
    
    26 September 2013 at 7:05 pm
    
    It referred to here in this post by bsprout, which links to this RNZ article last updated this morning:
    
    A private school run by the Brethren religious group has become the largest to apply to join the state sector as an integrated school.
    
    Westmount School has 1600 students scattered across 24 sites from Northland to Southland. The Education Ministry says it is preparing a report on the application for the Education Minister.
    
    The Westmount Education Trust says integration has worked well for Catholic, Jewish and Islamic schools and would be good for Westmount School.
    
    It says it would give the school greater opportunities to share its teaching methods and allow its students to benefit from increased resources.
    
    However, the Post Primary Teachers Association and the Educational Institute oppose the application.
    
    They say government funding for the school will leap from $2.3 million a year to more than $9 million, and that money would be better spent elsewhere.
    
    More at the links.
    - Daveosaurus 5.2.1.1
      
      26 September 2013 at 7:52 pm
      
      There’s nothing in the RNZ article stating that it’s the Exclusive Brethren, though. The EBs are a (batshit insane) splinter group of the Plymouth Brethren movement, the same way that the Phelpsites are a (batshit insane) splinter group of the Baptists.
      - Pascal's bookie 5.2.1.1.1
        
        26 September 2013 at 8:04 pm
        
        http://www.westmount.school.nz/about/our-beliefs
        
        which directs you to here
        
        http://www.plymouthbrethrenchristianchurch.org/
        
        which says:
        
        In some countries we have been known as Exclusive Brethren, Plymouth Brethren IV or simply just Brethren.
        
        Open Brethren usually identify themselves as such, in my experience of them.
        
        Murray Olsen 5.2.1.1.1.1
        
        26 September 2013 at 8:58 pm
        
        My father was Open Brethren and as far as I know, they had no private schools. Unless something has changed, this lot are Exclusive.
      - karol 5.2.1.1.2
        
        26 September 2013 at 8:11 pm
        
        Good point. The school mentioned is Westmount., which calls itself Plymouth Brethren.
        
        But I see that this can also be the same church that is called Exclusive Brethren.
        
        Plymouth Brethren website.
        
        In some countries we have been known as Exclusive Brethren, Plymouth Brethren IV or simply just Brethren.
        
        So Plymouth’s split into exclusive and open Brethren in the 19th century.
        
        But Exclusives often just call themselves Brethren.
        
        Hard to differentiate.
        
        But this 2008 article identifies Westmount schools as being Exclusive Brethren.
        
        And this 2009 article.
        
        mike e 5.2.1.1.2.1
        
        26 September 2013 at 10:54 pm
        
        Bruce Hales from Tasmania is their leader he has had close ties to little johnny Howard, they were caught out illegally wiring laundered money to Australia $85 million US to undermine the left and promote the right, I haven,t seen if they have been prosecuted yet!
        Thats probably where the $500,000 donation came from illegal extreme far right fundamentalists
    - Rogue Trooper 5.2.1.2
      
      26 September 2013 at 8:00 pm
      
      always remember the emphasis I place upon Religion in the coming eschatology karol; of no faith some may be, but hey, let’s have some critical realism for His sake. 😉
Rogue Trooper 6

26 September 2013 at 1:18 pm

“The Great Way is quite even,
yet people prefer byways.
When courts are extremely fastidious
the fields are seriously neglected
and the granaries are very empty.
They wear colourful clothing
and carry sharp swords,
eat and drink to their fill
and possess more than enough.
This is called the vanity of thieves.”
gobsmacked 7

26 September 2013 at 1:29 pm

On his recent trip to the UK (when he was supposed to be working for us, the NZ public, not the National party) John Key attended a caucus retreat for British Conservative MPs, in rural Oxfordshire.

The guest speaker was one Lynton Crosby.

The NZ media have largely ignored this, although it was reported in Britain.
- karol 7.1
  
  26 September 2013 at 1:42 pm
  
  Useful information, gs.
  - gobsmacked 7.1.1
    
    26 September 2013 at 2:01 pm
    
    Google “Chipping Norton” along with “John Key” or similar.
    
    Plenty of info, e.g.
    
    http://blogs.ft.com/westminster/2013/09/lynton-crosby-lectures-tory-mps-on-immigration-at-secret-hotel-event/
    - blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 7.1.1.1
      
      26 September 2013 at 3:37 pm
      
      @ gobsmacked,
      
      That makes me really furious. Just imagine the frothing and spewing forth that would occur in the media if it were a gathering for left wing politicians!
      
      And all they are really doing is grouping together to work out how best to fool people into voting against their best interests.
- Dumrse 7.2
  
  26 September 2013 at 8:26 pm
  
  Big deal. Was he supposed to be working for you 24/7 with no time to himself ???????
wyndham 8

26 September 2013 at 1:31 pm

Nobody has yet mentioned the evil machinations of one Simon Lusk ! My understanding is that he still moves about in the shadowy world of NAct propaganda.

Great article karol. TS is indeed fortunate to have your expertise in ferreting out some great exposes of NAct.
- karol 8.1
  
  26 September 2013 at 1:42 pm
  
  Yes, I came across mention of Lusk in my research for this post. It’ll keep. The post is long enough.
red blooded 9

26 September 2013 at 3:20 pm

If Exclusive Bretheren folk want to exclude their kids from a balanced, open education; exclude aspects of the NZ curriculum they don’t like (bye bye Darwin);exclude girls from freedom of choice and equality within their church and their relationships and exclude people whose sexuality they don’t approve of then they can damn well exclude themselves from the receipt of public funding. My tax dollars should be going to State schools (and while the EB might be an extreme example, I don’t actually believe that state funds should go to any religious school – teaching religious belief as revealed fact does kids a disservice).
- Chooky 9.1
  
  26 September 2013 at 4:32 pm
  
  The New Zealand education system was set up as on the principles of a high quality, egalitarian, secular state run education, with equality of opportunity for all children
  ( see: Colin McGeorge, “Schools and socialisation in New Zealand 1890-1914′
  
  ….it has been eroded in recent years and State Schools have been run down, class sizes increased, and school fees expected
  
  …. private and charter schools should NOT be receiving any New Zealanders’ tax dollars.
  
  …..if special interest groups want to indoctrinate their kids into religious beliefs (and often sexist, homophobic, racist , anti – science and anti equality of opportunity for girls…values ) as in religious, special character or charter schools …..they should pay for them themselves ….and preferably after normal school hours.
  
  ….any special privileges/finance/buildings /small class sizes/special tuition must go to the Public State Schools first….
  
  I also strongly object to propping up the Exclusive Brethren…especially as they are already fat from lack of taxation for their businesses and they denied a friend of mine a university education because she was an Exclusive Brethren girl….She would have loved to have studied science.
  - Rogue Trooper 9.1.1
    
    26 September 2013 at 7:19 pm
    
    nooooooooooo, not science. 😉
    - Chooky 9.1.1.1
      
      26 September 2013 at 7:49 pm
      
      @RT…she was very good at biology and chemistry in the large state secondary school I attended ….but she was not allowed to eat ( with us sinners) …let alone go to university. I guess she was destined for Exclusive Brethren motherhood….
      - Rogue Trooper 9.1.1.1.1
        
        26 September 2013 at 7:56 pm
        
        I understand sects Very well Chooky; studied with at least four in the last eight years. Christ wept.
Skinny 10

26 September 2013 at 7:09 pm

What Labour doesn’t need is the loss of support through a private members Bill intended to lower the drink limit in half. It will have a backlash effect on Labour. It will be a huge resentful turn off to hundreds of thousands of responsible drinkers who enjoy a few drinks at pubs & clubs around the Country. I’ve had a number of mates that say if Labour get this Bill approved they will not get their vote. Campaigning for Labour will be tougher having to defend this Bill should it pass.
- McFlock 10.1
  
  26 September 2013 at 7:11 pm
  
  Nah.
  If you’re going to drive, don’t drink.
- karol 10.2
  
  26 September 2013 at 7:16 pm
  
  Amazing to see what some people’s priorities are. Being a danger on the roads? Wanting life easier no matter the risks to others? Voting out a government that is damaging lives and the country’s future?
  - Skinny 10.2.1
    
    26 September 2013 at 8:49 pm
    
    The point is if Labour want to win in 2014 trying to push this bill will only succeed in allowing Key to trot out a line something like “responsible Kiwis in general behave sensibly drinking and we are not going to punish them with ‘nanny state’ laws, this is what your voting for if you vote Labour.”
    Hmm a fair few of those 800,000 previous non voters are hardly going to be infused with a Bill like this, a vote attracting policy I think not.
    - McFlock 10.2.1.1
      
      26 September 2013 at 10:01 pm
      
      I dunno.
      
      Just point to the latest case of rural kids being killed in a single-vehicle-involved alcohol+speed crash on an empty road. There’s not too much gap between events.
      
      Hence the ads.
    - QoT 10.2.1.2
      
      26 September 2013 at 10:30 pm
      
      And then Labour respond “Well it was good enough for John Key when his government banned talking on your cellphone while driving.”
- Rogue Trooper 10.3
  
  26 September 2013 at 7:25 pm
  
  Mate, I was a mechanic for a Southland rural trucking company (towards the end of a 23-year career working with machinery and it’s operators). The amount of intoxicated driving and subsequent domestic unrest that arises from your anecdotal reality is beyond a couple of pale ales. Time for a change! F#ck The Piss! The level of booze consumption in NZ is one of a number of structural realities holding the nation back.
  - RedLogix 10.3.1
    
    26 September 2013 at 8:18 pm
    
    According to Berl it’s around $4b pa.
    
    And that’s probably a low-ball.
    
    And before you try and measure alcohols monstrous legacy of sheer misery and heartache. Yeah I know it’s the ‘drug that makes capitalism bearable’ … but fuck it. Time we grew out of it.
    - Rogue Trooper 10.3.1.1
      
      26 September 2013 at 8:21 pm
      
      Great to see you round these parts. (moderation :-D, along with those other tWo taoist gems).
  - vto 10.3.2
    
    26 September 2013 at 8:21 pm
    
    .
    aint that a roguelement
    
    as a southland elefant
    
    dances holdbacks
    - Rogue Trooper 10.3.2.1
      
      26 September 2013 at 8:29 pm
      
      trying to get a dvd to play on the CD player.sigh Transsiberian , looks good (Ben Kingsly) if I can get it to play. (new DVD player next week). 🙂
      - vto 10.3.2.1.1
        
        26 September 2013 at 8:41 pm
        
        .
        north to south
        
        gold to gold
        
        Rogue Trooper 10.3.2.1.1.1
        
        26 September 2013 at 8:58 pm
        
        Oh well, thank the Lord for good music, friends, the aroma of an evening meal and a good book or two. Been improving the soil and placing some perennials along with summer flowers.
        
        vto …
        
        26 September 2013 at 9:00 pm
        
        and a new round of kauri sprout
        
        Rogue Trooper …
        
        26 September 2013 at 9:05 pm
        
        ae
irascible 11

27 September 2013 at 7:11 pm

http://theirasciblecurmudgeon.blogspot.co.nz/2013/07/the-links-between-key-cameron-and.html
- blue leopard (Get Lost GCSB Bill) 11.1
  
  27 September 2013 at 7:18 pm
  
  Great article, thanks Irascible