Pundits and politicians have been tripping over themselves in recent weeks to point out the apparently delicious irony that a Conservative government working hard to criminalize bullying among schoolkids has been incessantly bullying Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau via particularly venomous attack ads.
The point has been made ad nauseam. But the point is a dubious one.
Trudeau is a 41-year-old man. He seems relatively well-adjusted, wealthy, privileged, articulate and educated. He’s quite popular in his riding of Papineau, and he’s wildly popular within his party. He enjoys the love, affection and support of — among others — his wife, two children, and mother, who reportedly told a crowd in North Bay, Ont. earlier this week that: “Someone is bullying my Justin and that makes me mad.”
Trudeau is not a shy, stuttering, insecure, lonely 14-year-old kid cowering in the corner or hiding in the washroom. Sen. Patrick Brazeau isn’t likely to waylay and pummel him behind a school somewhere. Trudeau has given no impression that he’s suffered from abuse, deep depression or suicidal thoughts.
The question is not whether Trudeau can handle the latest round of Conservative attack ads. He can. He’s a big boy. The question is whether Canadians can stomach them. And there’s increasing evidence that a growing segment of the voting population is being turned off by such ads, with support for the Liberals outstripping support for the Conservatives, according to recent polls.
But what’s the definition of an “attack ad” anyway? It’s all very subjective. Arguably, any ad that contradicts the competition is an attack ad on some level.
The trouble for the Conservatives with their latest round of anti-Trudeau ads is, as columnist Michael Den Tandt recently wrote, that “they’re almost a caricature of themselves.” The over-the-top spots naively take easily checked Trudeau quotes out of context and poke fun at him for taking his shirt off at a charity event.
They evoke images of fresh-faced, overzealous young Conservatives — a band of mini Pierre Poilievres perhaps — sniggering behind the scenes over their sophomoric audiovisual coup.
“The doldrums in which the Conservatives now languish are, if not deliberate, then certainly not unexpected,” Den Tandt wrote recently. “Obviously, (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper will need to make corrections and adjustments to meet the Trudeau threat. But these are not major, nor are they difficult. Can anyone seriously imagine he won’t make them?”
No. He’ll make them.
Harper and company will continue churning out political ads up until the next federal election, likely in 2015. But, because of the backlash to the most recent anti-Trudeau spots, the next round of Conservative ads will likely be much more subtle. However, the intent will remain the same — gaining the political advantage.
Bullies and those who craft political advertising may employ some of the same tactics. But equating political attack ads to bullying is a stretch.
Original Article
Source: capebretonpost.com
Author: Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post
The point has been made ad nauseam. But the point is a dubious one.
Trudeau is a 41-year-old man. He seems relatively well-adjusted, wealthy, privileged, articulate and educated. He’s quite popular in his riding of Papineau, and he’s wildly popular within his party. He enjoys the love, affection and support of — among others — his wife, two children, and mother, who reportedly told a crowd in North Bay, Ont. earlier this week that: “Someone is bullying my Justin and that makes me mad.”
Trudeau is not a shy, stuttering, insecure, lonely 14-year-old kid cowering in the corner or hiding in the washroom. Sen. Patrick Brazeau isn’t likely to waylay and pummel him behind a school somewhere. Trudeau has given no impression that he’s suffered from abuse, deep depression or suicidal thoughts.
The question is not whether Trudeau can handle the latest round of Conservative attack ads. He can. He’s a big boy. The question is whether Canadians can stomach them. And there’s increasing evidence that a growing segment of the voting population is being turned off by such ads, with support for the Liberals outstripping support for the Conservatives, according to recent polls.
But what’s the definition of an “attack ad” anyway? It’s all very subjective. Arguably, any ad that contradicts the competition is an attack ad on some level.
The trouble for the Conservatives with their latest round of anti-Trudeau ads is, as columnist Michael Den Tandt recently wrote, that “they’re almost a caricature of themselves.” The over-the-top spots naively take easily checked Trudeau quotes out of context and poke fun at him for taking his shirt off at a charity event.
They evoke images of fresh-faced, overzealous young Conservatives — a band of mini Pierre Poilievres perhaps — sniggering behind the scenes over their sophomoric audiovisual coup.
“The doldrums in which the Conservatives now languish are, if not deliberate, then certainly not unexpected,” Den Tandt wrote recently. “Obviously, (Prime Minister Stephen) Harper will need to make corrections and adjustments to meet the Trudeau threat. But these are not major, nor are they difficult. Can anyone seriously imagine he won’t make them?”
No. He’ll make them.
Harper and company will continue churning out political ads up until the next federal election, likely in 2015. But, because of the backlash to the most recent anti-Trudeau spots, the next round of Conservative ads will likely be much more subtle. However, the intent will remain the same — gaining the political advantage.
Bullies and those who craft political advertising may employ some of the same tactics. But equating political attack ads to bullying is a stretch.
Original Article
Source: capebretonpost.com
Author: Staff ~ The Cape Breton Post
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