Two leading figures on the left have given Judith
Collins the most ringing endorsement imaginable.
Matt McCarten and Nicky Hager have paid the new
National Party leader a generous compliment by unleashing hyperbolic attacks on
her. They wouldn’t have bothered to do this unless they were worried about the threat she poses to Labour and the Greens.
McCarten, purportedly one of the left’s
smartest strategists, acknowledges that
Collins has been one of National’s most effective MPs and warns that Labour
shouldn’t under-estimate her. But though he says the vote gap between Labour
and National will narrow, he baldly asserts that Collins will fail. He doesn’t
mount a very convincing case for this other than to insist that voters will
reject her supposedly divisive style of politics, preferring the “near flawless”
leadership of Jacinda Ardern (whom most New Zealanders, according to McCarten,
love and respect).
McCarten’s tone suggests he’s writing more out of
hope than conviction. But if there’s a faint whiff of fear in McCarten’s piece,
it’s even more palpable in Hager’s polemic. He purports to come up with five
reasons why Collins won’t be prime minister, most of them based around rehashed
claims made in his book Dirty Politics
six years ago. Six years is a very long time in politics and Hager may be
making a big mistake assuming that the Judith Collins of 2020 didn’t learn
anything from the lessons of 2014. Like McCarten, he sounds as if he’s desperately
trying to convince himself of her unelectability.
Another leftist commentator showing signs of alarm
is Gordon Campbell, who complains bitterly about the commentariat’s “love affair”
with Collins. Campbell apparently thinks it outrageous that the media, having
been infatuated with Ardern since 2017, is suddenly paying attention to another
formidable female politician. But the reason Collins excites interest is that she’s
not just another bland, risk-averse National Party leader seeking the safety of
the middle ground and pointlessly trying to court the left-leaning
media.
She’s a natural disrupter, which is why the left is so
vehemently gunning for her. They would have been comfortable with a colourless consensus
politician in the mould of Todd Muller, Nikki Kaye and Amy Adams, none of whom would
have been subjected to the furious attacks now being directed at Collins.
That’s all the vindication she needs. She must be
well pleased.
9 comments:
Karl,
The one thing our political landscape has lacked in recent years is a breed of conviction politicians who, love them or otherwise, hold firmly held opinions and refuse to resile from them come what may. Furthermore, they are able to forthrightly defend them against all comers in the pubic square.
Think Helen Clarke, John Banks, Jim Anderton, well, even Rob Muldoon for those of us who can remember back that far. At least you knew where you stood with these politicians. These days it seems we are subjected to an insipid, focus grouped, opinion polled, media advised, consultant reviewed spineless breed of politician who appear to lack any moral compass or bedrock values of their own beyond political power and self interest.
Now Judith is a social liberal. She voted in favour of the most liberal abortion laws in the world today, allowing for full term abortions under some circumstances, and to make it illegal to provide care to any aborted baby that survives the procedure. They are destined to die upon a stainless bench, uncomforted and unloved - such is the depth of our unrelenting kindness.
She is also in favour of euthanasia. A superficially 'kind' death that denies the dignity of human life from the perspective of the divine, and reduces us to mere utilitarian status. We can see where this kindness leads in Scandinavia where children and those suffering from depression now qualify for 'termination' under certain circumstances.
Clearly I am no social liberal, however I do prefer to engage with politicians who hold personal convictions because there is at least a worldview, and ideology, an understanding of what it means to be human that you can engage with. The alternative is to push against the ethereal.
To that end I welcome Judith's elevation to leadership and the departure of those social liberals in the National Party whose careers have come to a premature end. The challenge for me is this. Do I vote pragmatically for National, to remove a government that is even further out to the left on social and economic issues, and whose talent pool is at best ankle deep, or do I vote with my convictions which would land me closer to the New Conservative party, but in the end may be a wasted vote?
It's a dilemma that will affect many across the political spectrum.
The Great Unwashed love Collins because she is from the same drawer as Boris Johnson and Donald Trump. She is a natural disrupter – as you say, Karl. The mealy-mouthed ideologues (viz. most of her caucus) dislike her for the same reasons. No wonder she was reported to have a twinkle in her eye as she appeared for the first time as the leader of the national party. She was feeling great.
She never even put her hat in the ring for the job - she was simply appointed! Good on her.
Thank goodness for an alternative. A choice. Another path. An escape from the kindy mat. And a Nat who doesn't make me cringe or roll my eyes. She's getting nobbled by all & sundry on own side though...crikey, who needs enemies with friends like these. Go that woman.
Another difference... she is not young, white and male. Think Aaron Gilmore, Hamish Walker, Todd Barclay, Jami Lee Ross ... where do they get these guys? Is there some secret late night high class strip and poker club where entitled and privileged white boys play spoof and the loser has to parachute into the next available National seat?
It has always struck me that the National Party is truly catholic in its range of members. From the used car salesman wing through liars anonymous, sex addicts and creepy predators to high church intellectuals, dry as biscuit monetarists, alpha business redeemers and oleaginous career steppers, there has been a place for everyone.
Judith Collins perhaps inhabits her own space.
Well, Ricardo, the National Party also has a lot of ordinary, working, educated, contributing NZers in its ranks as well as the less desirable categories you list. Unlike its major opponent which largely contains people who have never had a real job.
Quite agree Max. There have always been sinners and saints, it's just more fun to watch the sinners.
Neale Jones on RNZ Nine to Noon is another one desperate to tell us Collins has no chance, apparently because of some 2017 survey Labour ran.
All these 'commentators' basing their views on old vendettas.
I don't know if Collins can bridge the gap in the time she has been given. I do know that if National can summon the collective discipline to keep her for three years she would win in 2023.
Has anyone noticed something odd about this blog? It's arse-about-face, if you'll pardon the expression. The pithiest, most astute observations are made not in the main posts, but in the comments. Thank you all.
@Hilary Taylor - brilliantly stated ... "An escape from the kindy mat".
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