The Attack

Written By: - Date published: 9:04 am, September 15th, 2015 - 52 comments
Categories: Dirty Politics, International, Jeremy Corbyn, labour, Left, making shit up, uk politics - Tags: , , ,

Nicholas Watt in The Guardian

The strategy will involve a twin-track approach in which the Tories will speak about Corbyn personally in respectful terms as they pay tribute to his success in securing such an emphatic victory.

(…)

At the same time as speaking about Corbyn’s mandate in reverential terms, the Tories are wasting no time in pushing a brutal portrayal of the new Labour leader as a terrorist sympathiser who poses a threat to the security of the nation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hgJokgNJHo

A more focused analysis by Jonathan Jones.

52 comments on “The Attack ”

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  1. Tracey 1
    15 September 2015 at 9:25 am

    BUT compare to here, note how the media in the UK is actually aware of and widely reporting the tactic. Here they just perpetuate it with cut and paste press releases.

    • Bill 1.1
      15 September 2015 at 9:50 am

      Well, there’s the Guardian analysis, but I very much doubt it’s being covered by other major outlets (and The Guardian doesn’t have the largest of circulations)

      • Tracey 1.1.1
        15 September 2015 at 10:03 am

        fair comment. and Murdoch’s publications in Oz will be worth a close watch now that he has tweeted about the demise of that poor decent guy, Abbott?

        • tc 1.1.1.1
          15 September 2015 at 10:10 am

          Pure sarcasm from wupert who was pushing for Abbott to go as they faced a likely election defeat with the unhinged one fronting the show.

          Malcolm can advance the murdoch agenda alot more covertly starting with allowing him to take channel 10 over.

  2. Anno1701 2
    15 September 2015 at 9:50 am

    Fear is a powerful motivator !

    • AmaKiwi 2.1
      15 September 2015 at 10:54 am

      +1

      And they are scared.

      Neo-lib pro-austerity governments are dropping like flies the world over. Not reported here but on Saturday 1.4 million demonstrated in for Catalonian independence in Barcelona, a city of 1.7 million. Wow! That must have been a sight.

  3. lucy 3
    15 September 2015 at 9:59 am

    In the latest Private Eye there was a section devoted to what Corbyn said against the screaming headline above definitely worth a look. Am starting to think he is what used to be a moderate in the 70’s and 80’s went on demos and had white middle class views on being nice to everyone. It is amazing how far we have come that he is now classed as stridently socialist!

  4. Bill 4
    15 September 2015 at 9:59 am

    So, I just had an, admittedly quick, look across major UK newspapers. Nothing.

    My guess is that the vid is meant to be an internet only thing that will hit peoples’ inboxes or facebook feeds over time. That essentially means that people will be left reacting in isolation.

    If it ever does surface on the mainstream, it will be way too late to counter. The damage will have been done.

  5. Anne 5
    15 September 2015 at 10:17 am

    Corbyn and his political strategists must counter every attempt immediately before these videos etc. hit the the mainstream and the internet. Don’t wait for it to happen before they respond. Everyone is listening to Corbyn’s every word at the moment. He will never have a better chance to ridicule the lies and distorted crap before they become effective propaganda.

    • Olwyn 5.1
      15 September 2015 at 10:35 am

      Smart thinking Anne – get in ahead of them.

    • swordfish 5.2
      15 September 2015 at 10:57 am

      Yep, the Tories understand the importance of shaping the image early on.

      As Owen Jones has said “Crucial the Labour leadership go on a media offensive, with clear messages aimed at majority, or opponents will define them instead.”
      and
      “The Tories are trying to define Jeremy Corbyn early on, so a first impression will stick no matter what. Needs quick countering……..a bad image of a new politician at an early stage is tough to shift.”

    • Bill 5.3
      15 September 2015 at 1:33 pm

      They can’t counter every attempt. If they did, their entire time would be taken up ‘putting out bush fires’ while Cameron et al got on with burning the world.

      I think that the second linked article almost hits it where it says

      Over the coming months and maybe years he will give Labour a bounce, make it talked about, make it cool. Everyone on Twitter will be talking about his coming victory. He will not be unseated, he will build up his movement.

      And then Labour will be wiped out at the next general election.

      I believe the last line to be overly, or even stupidly pessimistic. If a movement is built, a proper movement and not a twitter or internet based piece of nonsense; a movement that gets expressed in pub conversations and comments at bus stops or in the grocery queues etc, then the press and all the spin in the world can go hang – no-one will be listening to any of it.

      Naive? Happened beyond England’s northern border.

      • Macro 5.3.1
        15 September 2015 at 2:09 pm

        Exactly Bill. It has been going on for years. This is the reincarnation of the movement for an egalitarian society begun 3000 years ago in Israel that will never die out. (From the time of the Exodus to the first king (David) – about 200 years Israel was a truly egalitarian society and many of the “laws” of that time which have subsequently been incorporated into the mores of modern culture about what is fair and just, were developed at that time.) With the election of a King – it all went pear shaped! Would that we could learn from the past. Greed always seems to get in the way. Social Justice, equality, and fair dealing for all people is a concept and ideal that can never be defeated. It may take a back seat as it has over the past 3 decades but people slowly come to the realisation that the freedoms talked about by the right wing and the elite, are not equal freedoms. What we are seeing now on each side of the Atlantic is an awakening of the this movement for Social justice for all. It never went away. Corbyn and others have kept the flame alive and now it is about to re-ignite. The elite and the Right wing have ever reason to be scared.

        • Draco T Bastard 5.3.1.1
          15 September 2015 at 7:25 pm

          Greed always seems to get in the way.

          Yep and then destroys society.

          It may take a back seat as it has over the past 3 decades but people slowly come to the realisation that the freedoms talked about by the right wing and the elite, are not equal freedoms.

          The only freedoms that the Right-wing and the rich are in favour of is their freedom to exploit and enslave everyone else.

  6. Draco T Bastard 6
    15 September 2015 at 10:21 am

    Ah, so the RWNJs are engaged in Dirty Politics – as usual.

    • tc 6.1
      15 September 2015 at 10:29 am

      They no longer make any distinction as it’s all part of the game to them now.

      The left need to get clear short sharp slogans out there and all stick with them along with clearing out the decks of the paganis/quinns etc still within the ranks.

  7. swordfish 7
    15 September 2015 at 10:27 am

    Bin Laden
    Corbyn, of course, was suggesting the US should have followed international law, arrested him and put him on trial, arguing that the assassination would engender deeper unrest.

    His key quote here: “This was an assassination attempt, and is yet another tragedy, upon a tragedy, upon a tragedy. The World Trade Center was a tragedy, the attack on Afghanistan was a tragedy, the war in Iraq was a tragedy. Tens of thousands of people have died. Torture has come back on to the world stage……..Can’t we learn some lessons from this ? Are we just going to sink deeper and deeper ? This will just make the world more dangerous….”

    The “tragedy”, Corbyn’s referring to, is hence the probable consequences of this assassination.

    Hamas and Hezbollah

    Right, so let’s get this straight, it’s apparently of no concern that both the British Labour and Tory parties have very active Friends of Israel lobbies. Indeed, under Blair and Brown membership of Labour Friends of Israel was virtually mandatory for any ambitious backbench MP aspiring to high office.

    In other words, quite OK to cuddle up to State Terrorism, an Israeli State that regularly massacres, carpet bombs and wreaks massive destruction on Palestinian and Lebanese civilians in order to achieve its political goals of regional dominance, ethnic cleansing, territorial acquisition and the prevention at all costs of an independent Palestinian State.

    Underlying all, of course, a very brutal 48-year Occupation (better described as a long-term “annexation”) of Palestinian land. But, no, it’s apparently all down to the evil, bearded, muslim bogeymen, Hamas and Hezbollah (you know, the 2 groups that emerged as a response to that brutal occupation and annexation many years after it had begun – Hamas initially financed and nurtured by Israel as a means of quenching Palestinian national sentiment).

    Once again, it’s not just the Tories pushing this attack, the Blairites and their cheerleaders are right on board.

    • kenny 7.1
      15 September 2015 at 11:40 am

      Spot on Swordfish – needs to be said over and over.

    • Bill 7.2
      15 September 2015 at 1:38 pm

      Or just countered by highlighting his moral rectitude and the correct predictions associated with the bigger picture that the smears are wrenched from. (eg – Libya)

      And to the smears themselves a simple “Bollocks” will then suffice.

    • Anne 7.3
      15 September 2015 at 7:44 pm

      Once again, it’s not just the Tories pushing this attack, the Blairites and their cheerleaders are right on board.

      As we speak the Blairites will be trolling through all the UK Labour archives looking for anything that can be misconstrued as dirt on Corbyn and lo and behold… it will find it’s way into Conservative hands or the anti-Labour tabloids rags. In fact it started before he was elected but it will be ramped up a notch or two now.

      • Bill 7.3.1
        15 September 2015 at 8:06 pm

        I really doubt that they’re going to emulate the NZ Labour Party on that front. Corbyn has such an overwhelming mandate and the PLP is nowhere near as powerful in the UK as it is here. (one person= one vote whether an MP or a supporter or member)

        Also, the Tory’s will have well and truly upended and dredged any bins looking for garbage on Corbyn already.

        John McDonnell will have the privilege of joining Corbyn in the firing line pretty soon. The line will be the old chestnut of him being an IRA sympathiser. Tie that in with claims of Corbyn’s allegiance to terrorists, and yeah…pretty sure you can see how that’s meant to play.

        • Anne 7.3.1.1
          15 September 2015 at 9:18 pm

          … the PLP is nowhere near as powerful in the UK as it is here.

          Not as powerful as it used to be Bill. The membership took a lot of that power back. It was a long and torturous battle with a few setbacks along the way, but we finally achieved it with the election of Andrew Little.

          Btw, my 7.3 comment: should be ‘trawling’ not trolling. 🙄

        • greywarshark 7.3.1.2
          15 September 2015 at 9:31 pm

          I think Hooton was having a snigger at somebody in Corbyn’s line-up on Monday.
          I think he was on the financials and had something to do with advising Greece. Hooton managed to put him down and get a rise at the same time. A neat trick.

  8. The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 8
    15 September 2015 at 10:34 am

    Oh noes! They are going to attack their political opponents! Are there no depths to which they will not sink?

    • swordfish 8.1
      15 September 2015 at 10:59 am

      The stand-up routine’s coming along nicely.

    • Naturesong 8.2
      15 September 2015 at 11:41 am

      It’d be better if they dispensed with the lies and smears and limited their attacks to his actual views and policies don’t you think?

      • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 8.2.1
        15 September 2015 at 11:42 am

        Like the left does, you mean?

        • Tracey 8.2.1.1
          15 September 2015 at 11:49 am

          can you outline the lies and smears that have been used by the left, just to clarify your good point?

          • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell 8.2.1.1.1
            15 September 2015 at 2:40 pm

            We’re going to have different definitions of smears, I suspect. Whether pointing out Corbyn’s cosiness with terrorists is a smear or the truth kind of depends on your perspective. Same with talk of Key’s former career, or holidays, or houses, or kids.

            I liked this from a commenter on Ev’s website:

            Well jews designed the debt banking system we operate under for a start. They are predominant in world banking to this day and are renowned for looking after their own. Take the fact John Key was an adviser to the US federal reserve, the institution at the heart of the corporate New World Order, you might conclude he has been planted here by them to advance their agenda. Add to that he is a serial liar and by any analysis a psychopath into the bargain, my esteemed countrymen have elected a traitor to his nation.

            Is that a smear?

            Or this from earnest commentator save NZ on the Andrew Little – Our values and interests on the world stage thread here a couple of days ago.

            John Key is really just a stepford wife of the US & banking neoliberal interests.

            He or she has lots in this vein:

            Key is a Neoliberal Loonie.

            Commenter Smilin was demonstrating he or she had not chosen his or her name well a couple of days earlier on the Warner Bros thread when he or she wittily observed:

            And fuck you KEY you prick

            Smilin also alleged on the Those who Would Sensor thread that Mein Kampf was John Key’s bible.

            North, on the Warner Bros thread, thought our Prime Minister was an homosexual. Of course, he or she may not have thought that was a smear:

            …the Ponce Key…

            He or she may have been using “ponce” in one of its positive senses.

            Actually, there seems to quite an interest in what the PM does with his bottom. LPrent on the The left like Red Peak flag coz Nazis:

            Basically John Key and his arse masters shouldn’t get away with this PR crap.

            Sorry I couldn’t put in links (the system doesn’t like more than two, I think) or go back more than a couple of days (going to multiple pages makes it think I am a bot).

            • the pigman 8.2.1.1.1.1
              15 September 2015 at 5:46 pm

              For someone who apparently chose his handle as a tribute to Monty Python, you seem to have very little self-awareness of how ridiculous you are.

              North hurt your feelings with The Ponce Key to describe out catwalk-mincing Pruhminster? It was you who imported homosexuality into the discussion.

              As your mate David Seymour would say, harden up.

              • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                15 September 2015 at 5:49 pm

                How did you choose your handle, the pigman? And what does it say about you?

                • the pigman …
                  15 September 2015 at 6:27 pm

                  Probably that I like absurd/surrealist comedy? He’s a character portrayed (terribly) by Tommy Wiseau in Tim and Eric: Awesome Show, Great Job! season 4: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392881/?ref_=ttep_ep5

                  But we’re straying quite far Jeremy Corbyn, and your attempted derail about the grievous smears that standard commentators have indulged in by insinuating that John Key is a “ponce”.

                  Look over there… lprent used the word arse… must be an obsession with… John Keys’ bottom? Projection, much?

                  • The Gormless Fool formerly known as Oleolebiscuitbarrell …
                    15 September 2015 at 6:37 pm

                    Projection? Are you saying that because I am gay? It’s nothing to be ashamed of in 2015. Or hasn’t that news reached the pig country?

                    I was derailing nothing. Just answering Trace’s question.

                    • the pigman …
                      15 September 2015 at 6:54 pm

                      Oh christ, I think we’ve reached the bottom of the biscuitbarrell.

                      Do we need to revisit your comments on this thread one at a time? CBF, sorry chap.

                    • ropata …
                      15 September 2015 at 11:08 pm

                      They are random comments on a blog not part of Labour’s campaign. Hence, not dirty politics.

                      The benchmark has been set by WhaleOil, Donghua Liu, Jason Ede, Odgers, Hooten, and disgusting suckups like Hosking and Henry and their co-ordinated smear campaigns.

                      Labour is nowhere near lowering itself to that muck.

                    • North …
                      16 September 2015 at 2:00 pm

                      If I’m reading you right Gormless AND we lived in a world where everybody knew everything about everybody…….man, you’d giggle !……oooh sorry…….belly laugh – like Liberace’s manly cousin – at your own stupidity that is.

                      Suggest you take the advice of “Harden Up !” Seymour and “Man-Up !” Key…….Oh God fevered pearl-clutching breaking out. Try not to reflect (historic) 1. Gorm’. You could’ve had (modern) 2. but it’s taken.

                      “Ponce Key Jockularity Compendium” –
                      MUNTER (n.) – 1. illiterate believer in own power to read others’ minds, shortcut – fuckwit (historic). 2. Radio Live talk-show guest seeking unconvincingly to affect machisimo by use of wince-inducing talk (modern).

            • North 8.2.1.1.1.2
              16 September 2015 at 12:38 pm

              Your infacility with the language is not my problem Gormless.

        • Naturesong 8.2.1.2
          15 September 2015 at 11:51 am

          Your response to my question is to reflexively lie and smear?

          Wow, just wow!!

    • Draco T Bastard 8.3
      15 September 2015 at 3:40 pm

      Are there no depths to which they will not sink?

      No, there isn’t as shown by the lies of our present government and their use of Dirty Politics to attack, defame and denigrate the Left.

      And here you are participating in that uncouth, unscrupulous and sociopathic behaviour.

  9. rhinocrates 9
    15 September 2015 at 11:11 am

    Camerons OTT tweet was received in typical British fashion:

    http://www.scriptonitedaily.com/2015/09/14/the-very-best-responses-to-david-camerons-ridiculous-anti-corbyn-tweet/

    My favourite is the woman hiding in her garden shed with a colander on her head.

  10. DLANZ Disabled Liberation Aotearoa NZ 10
    15 September 2015 at 11:42 am

    Interesting if we see the same tactic used in Australia with Tony Abbott’s replacement. The tactics described here apply across the whole gamut of social interactions around the World.

    I’ve seen too many instances of its application within Maori, Women, Workers and Disabled. The Media has the responsibility to ensure tactics like this are rigorously debated. Thanks for this mate.

    Regards and keep smiling
    Doug Hay
    Cordinator DLANZ

  11. Detrie 11
    15 September 2015 at 12:18 pm

    Yes, it must be hard for the Tories to accept that many of the voters would prefer to have someone who is more a pacifist at the helm, preferring negotiating with terrorist groups than bombing them, thereby ignoring the collateral damage done at the time and years later to innocent civilians, as we see in Syria today The military option has never worked well before, yet many like Cameron and the right wing still think it can. Do we learn nothing from history? Violence breeds more violence. At least that’s what I’ve been told…

    • Draco T Bastard 11.1
      15 September 2015 at 4:12 pm

      +1

      The US/UK is still trying to maintain its hegemony/empire and the only way they know how is through violence.

  12. Brian 12
    15 September 2015 at 2:22 pm

    I see comments on the vid on youtube are disabled. How very surprising!

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