ONE thing which everybody on the non-Labor side can agree with Scott Morrison about is that the Voices For movement is a total scam. In Queensland on Wednesday, the Prime Minister dismissed it as “the voices of Labor.” The odd thing about wealthy climateer Simon Holmes a Court’s election stalking horse is that it isn’t striking others as odd. Woke, shallow and cynical, yes – these features are acknowledged – but the oddness, not so much. The gatekeepers of mockery are eager for seats like Wentworth, North Sydney and Mackellar to be snatched from the Liberals. They’re willing to overlook Holmes a Court’s privilege and weird star turn as the Auric Goldfinger of politics – an all-women Flying Circus harrying all before them on his behalf.
If the exploitation of fashionable gender panic isn’t cynical enough, the brown paper Louis Vuitton bags of cash being given to potential MPs in the name of the Climate 200 agenda indubitably is. In any other campaign, the bankrolling of fake independents on this scale – eight wannabes are being funded so far – would be condemned as unconscionable. These aren’t quirky triers with a bullhorn and a boot full of yard signs.
For Scott Morrison, the most optimistic possibility is that the brazenness of this velvet thuggery will backfire and work to his advantage. Slammed for giving in to Net Zero extremists by what the media calls the ‘right wing’ of his own party, the PM has been trying to re-badge himself as sensible man in the middle. If Mr Holmes a Court’s expensive and la-di-da ‘voices’ are loud enough in denouncing the stinginess of the government’s emissions plan, they might actually reinforce that makeover and bring base believers back to the fold. Mr Morrison’s sell-out makes him an undeserving beneficiary of a fluke but another election day miracle originating in the irrationality of his enemies cannot be ruled out. How good is Simon?
The conventional thinking about big money in rich electorates is that well-heeled burghers are less likely than average Joes to raise their eyebrows at the amounts being spent to secure their votes. If $20 million overall will be spent on Voices For ‘independents’ (reportedly, it will), if retailer Naomi Milgrom kicks in $500,000 and Nick Fairfax a further $100,000 (as they have), it only affirms the hyphenated set’s view of themselves as important and socially a cut above.
But even if I could afford to, I’m not buying that. Just as there are ambitious, religiously-motivated and conservative voters in poor electorates who are indifferent to welfare pledges, there are voters in privileged ones who will not be moved by self-righteous soliciting. Some of them may also ask if getting Scott Morrison isn’t a vulgar sort of philanthropy to be practicing in the midst of economic crisis. Twenty million dollars would buy a lot of opportunities for African girls. Were the VF ladies given proper journalistic scrutiny on this – and every other topic on which, if successful, they will be required to vote in Parliament – gaffes would mount up even faster than money. That’s why Mr Holmes a Court prefers women: he knows they won’t be treated equally.
I live in Wentworth and so I have a legitimate interest in this “Voices For” rubbish. As far as I’m concerned “Voices For’ stands for….
Hypocrisy
Entitlement
Inherited Wealth
Elitism
Smugness
Do as I say, not as a do
The whole “Voices of” is a fraudulent movement initiated by a class of D-grade venal parasites such as Holmes a Court (the son of a dubious and unsavoury man), Spender and others….many of whom are grifters with oodles of money invested in renewables…….oh and I can bet your bottom dollar that the Turnbull family are also behind this movement.
However, the Liberal party have only themselves to blame for this….for years they’ve refused to come out and verbally denounce this climate hysteria and the con that is renewables. For years they’ve sat in the middle….too scared of their own shadow. For over a decade now the Liberal party have been appeasers feeding a crocodile, hoping it will eat them last. The crocodile is hungry…..very hungry.
And look where that has got him; despised (if not hated) by nearly everyone, including very disenchanted Liberal supporters.
As the saying goes, if you try to please everyone you end up pleasing no one.
The Voices For movement is nothing less than a front for those of Labor/Green ilk, like so many so-called “independents” these days (e.g. Zali Steggall).
Good on him.
That’s LBJ style politics though on a very restrained scale
As you will recall, LBJ was managing the Campaign for some Democrat in rural Texas back in the Forties:
LBJ says ” My pals in the Newspaper biz will spread the rumor that your opponent enjoys congress with his Farm Animals.”:
“B-b-but, you can’t call him a PigFucker,” says the puzzled Candidate.
“Let him deny it” replies the wily Texan.
Zali Steggall defeated Abbott by 4,000 Primary votes, she deserved her win.
Has she played the game and done the right thing by Warringah?
I haven’t heard or seen any criticism of her performance.
Because there’s no performance to analyse. Done nothing, largely absent from the media, and a complete waste of a parliamentary seat.
Perhaps the Godd Burghers of Warringah remember the 25 years of Media Stunts by the previous Member, Julia Gillard in Red Speedos and a Blue Tie?
Are you serious, Grigory?
Only because all and sundry from the left poured enormous resources and money (which were used nowhere else) just into defeating Abbott in his own electorate.
She deserves no credit whatsoever.
Correct.
Labor and the Greens knew they couldn’t unseat Abbott so the so-called “independent” Chicken Lady was parachuted into to topple him.
40,000 of 97,000 Good Burghers in Warringah put a 1 next to Steggall’s name.
Do they have Free Will and the Right To Vote as they please in their own area, or not?
Mr Ed
40,000 of 97,000 Good Burghers in Warringah
You spelled “inner city urban bugmen” wrongly. Those areas are overrun with wealthy fools feeling guilty about being wealthy, and buying indulgences by pushing Slime causes (but not with their own money).
Idiot O’clock is early tonight!
Mr Ed
Idiot O’clock is early tonight!
Indeed, started at 1803.
And so the decades-long emasculation of the West continues.
Well, Allegra Spender is probably a snappier dresser than Dave Sharma, that’s about the only difference.
I wouldn’t expect much chance of either of them BreastFeeding in the Chamber, for instance.