So Kim Dotcom has a copy of Mein Kampf signed by Adolf Hitler.
I am not so sure how relevant this is. I recall having a copy of this book when I was at university. I never read it but I have always taken the view that exposure to all ideas, no matter how vile, is important. Although my possession was totally academic the tenor of the TV3 story and Slater’s shock and awe post are that Kim is sympathetic to Nazi ideas. There is also the question of a Nazi flag that he was given for his birthday which he still has.
Dotcom has denied having any Nazi sympathies. He mentioned that he had a Churchill cigar holder and was a collector of World War 2 paraphernalia so obviously he is an equal opportunity collector. His commitment to online freedom and his complete lack of any racist tendencies would back this up. But the right are obviously hoping that the mud sticks.
It feels like a double team effort. TV3 ran the story tonight and shortly after Slater had a detailed post up. And the timing is extraordinarily bad for the Internet Party. Tomorrow is the day of their formal launch.
The disclosure will make Mana think twice about any sort of accommodation with the Internet Party. To be associated with someone with alleged Nazi sympathies will enrage at least some of their members.
And no doubt this debate will distract from Parata’s problems.
Don’t get me wrong. Although I think that Dotcom’s charges have been overstated and that he has been mistreated by the authorities, and although I support fully his opposition to the behaviour of US and NZ intelligence agencies in collecting information about all of us I am worried that he has become a political distraction during an election campaign that is vital for New Zealand’s future. And I prefer that activists put their efforts into progressive parties, rather than a party which seems to have as an underlying goal the affecting of our justice system so that Dotcom does not get extradited.
But I can’t help but think that our main stream media and blogosphere are being manipulated by some pretty skilled operatives.
If Kim wants to respond perhaps now is a good time for him to release details of any pre raid meetings he may have had with John Key.
Powered by WPtouch Mobile Suite for WordPress