sign up log in
Want to go ad-free? Find out how, here.

Opinion: National's candidates claim they have exactly the same 'sense' of their community's views

Opinion: National's candidates claim they have exactly the same 'sense' of their community's views

By John Pagani

It's a bit of a laugh that National candidates have been caught out making cookie cutter statements about their selections, but there's something a bit worse going on in this example:

The similarities started in March when Leonie Hapete was chosen to stand in Palmerston North and Jonathan Fletcher was picked for National in Rimutaka.
 
In separate statements, both said they got ''the sense'' from their community that people welcomed the Government's ''comprehensive plan to grow the economy, to start living within our means, deliver enduring jobs, and build the critical infrastructure to future proof New Zealand and our region.''
 
...
 
When she won selection in May, [Maggie Barry] also noted a ''sense the community understands National's plan to grow the economy, to start living within our means as a country, deliver enduring jobs, and build the critical infrastructure to future proof New Zealand and our region.''
 
When you claim you have a 'sense' from the region, you are making a specific, refutable claim that you had a specific feeling derived from things that a particular group of people said to you.
 
You cannot gain a sense of the community from a head office cookie cutter press release. To claim you have a sense  you have to have actually sensed the particular thing you are claiming to have sensed.
 
This is different from a customary cookie cutter release. A local candidate might put out a release claiming that a government policy will create xyz jobs in their electorate. They might say that the government policy of building more widgets will be specially suitable for their electorate. All run of the mill. It is ok for everyone in National to think tax cuts are great for everyone in New Zealand, and everyone in Labour to think higher wages are good for everyone. Nothing exceptional, and campaigns wouldn't be doing their jobs if they didn't send those lines to the candidates. 
 
It is different to claim you have a feeling from the community when you have no such thing - you are fabricating emotions, and attributing your confection to the people you are asking to trust you.
 
You can't say you saw a pig flying if there was no pig.
 
You can't claim you heard a tree fall in the forest if a tree hasn't fallen in the forest.
 
You can't claim you have a sense there will be an earthquake on a particular date if you have no such sense, but someone has told you to say it.
 
We further know the claims are nonsense because:
* The government does not have a comprehensive plan to grow the economy; or if they do 'the community' has never heard it.
* The government does not have a comprehensive plan to deliver enduring jobs.
 
But we don't need to prove those points. Even if they were conceded, the claim National candidates are making is that they personally understood these talking points were in fact sensed by each of them, independently and without modification. And that plainly hasn't happened.

We welcome your comments below. If you are not already registered, please register to comment.

Remember we welcome robust, respectful and insightful debate. We don't welcome abusive or defamatory comments and will de-register those repeatedly making such comments. Our current comment policy is here.

8 Comments

Nats 55% Labour 30% in recent polls,John -  do try and keep up with the community sense

Up
0

Bernard, you are degrading your site with this nonsense..

Up
0

Oops , sorry, was that a bit too strong? No offense eh comrade.

 

Up
0

Yellow card for you.

Up
0

Yes, I had to do a quick edit there before I got banished.

Up
0

With so many issues for the left to raise is this really the only thing that John Pagani can come up with - the semantics of which National candidate said what and why they said it?

I thought the first column was muddled - this one is so off the wall as to be parody.

Up
0

This is pure drivel from a failed Labour strategist...but then who gives a shite. Labour's entire front bench and most of the next row back need to go. Goofy knows this. They also know it. Trouble is they would not be employable. What skills do they really have!

Up
0

Would you lend money to these guys?

Up
0