The ads are exposing the contrast between the two parties and underscoring the weakness of the Liberal leader.
And as Gerry Nicolls of National Citizens Coalition points out on his blog, the Liberals have used these tactics themselves in the past:
Yeah right, Stephane it’s terrible.
But wasn’t it your party that set new lows for nasty attack ads in the past two federal elections?
So maybe my love of attack ads isn’t so shocking after all.
There are no lies in these ads. They are merely pointing out weaknesses in the Liberal party. They are not personal attacks.
But sometimes the truth hurts.
* * * *
Greg Weston's column ("Attacked by their own") is very insightful today. Greg is not a big PMSH fan from what I've read, but he seems to think that this is a clever strategy.
Toronto Star reports that the Tory Attack Ad Draw Copyright Questions.
Wednesday Update: Dion throws a jab at Harper. Would you call it a personal attack?
Toronto Star reports that the Tory Attack Ad Draw Copyright Questions.
Wednesday Update: Dion throws a jab at Harper. Would you call it a personal attack?
38 comments:
They are not personal attacks.
"stephane dion is not a leader"
That's not a personal attack?
I agree Joanne. These ads are nowhere as nasty as previous Liberal ads. They just even the playing field. The MSm is in the pocket of the liberlas
"stephane dion is not a leader"
"Leaders set priorities. Leaders get things done".
When did Stephane Dion ever show himself to have done those things?
Im talking about the "stephane dion is not a leader" part. Is that not a personal attack?
Anon,
Attack ads are more along the lines of
"Soldiers in the streets" and other tales from the left, these are simply ads made to inform Canada, something that the MSM refuse to do.
Like I said on the other post by Joanne, Im not a Liberal. I don't care about that party (or yours for that matter).
I found it so strange that none of you think that saying "stephane dion is not a leader" is not an attack. How partisan are you people...at least call a spade a spade.
An attack would say what Dion is rather than what he is not. I'm sorry if that's too nuanced for you to appreciate, anon.
Anon,
And you believe that Dion is a leader?
I prefer the term "truth" ads!!
Personally, I think the ads were fine, right up until the very last line. It may be true that "Stephane Dion is not a leader," but it's that direct statement that makes it more personal, rather than just showing the clips.
By all means, show the clips - it seems the general populace needs the reminders to balance the Fib's rhetoric towards the Conservatives. Lord knows, their personal attacks towards SH and other CPC's are far more direct and offensive. That doesn't make it ok, in my book. I think there could have been a better way to end the ads. They could even have ended it just before that line. Viewers can draw their own conclusions, at that point.
partisan opinion:
Dion is not a leader,
partisan attack:
Harper is not fit for office.
And you believe that Dion is a leader?
Sure, why not?
An attack would say what Dion is rather than what he is not.
....and he is not a leader, and you base this on what?
As a non-partisan who has voted for both parties (most recently harper btw) your not selling your party very well.
kunoichi has the right approach here.
Did the Liberals "get it done"? nope, not by a long shot. Thats fine to say, its the truth and its their OWN words. They're debating and telling each other this. This is all fine and rather damning, if you ask me.
The last line, "dion is not a leader" is a personal attack. To me, that turns me off. I'll decide if Dion is a leader or not, I dont need to be told what to think.
anony, you're splitting hairs.
well what do you base your assertion that he is not a leader?
I didn't assert anything; the ad did. You're trying to shift the basis of this to evoke an emotional response. I'm not going to raise to your bait.
My assertion was that you're splitting hairs. Would you like me to explain what I base that on?
I skipped a couple of words in my opening remark... "I didn't assert anything about Dion's leadership."
Anon: "sure, why not"
You just asked the question that the ads are answering, why not.
Wow, good discussion here.
First of all, Mac I love your avatar!
Platty, good point. I've been thinking about this though. Perhaps they should have said that Dion is not an "effective" leader. I know it is implied, but it does have that nuance of being a bit personal.
Anon, could you please give yourself a number or something for continuity? I think #83 is already taken.
Let's ask this question. If we had a huge crisis, such as a major terrorist attack or something, who would you rather leading have the country and communicating effectively with our closest allies? Harper or Dion? Just imagine it.
You're trying to shift the basis of this to evoke an emotional response. I'm not going to raise to your bait.
Wasn't really trying to do that in the least, so don't worry about latching onto any hooks.
You just asked the question that the ads are answering, why not.
Why isn't he a leader. He's never led the country before. We, as in the general public, have no reason to believe the he can't lead, thus the attack. Its making an assumption.
who would you rather leading have the country and communicating effectively with our closest allies? Harper or Dion?
Neither party leader has never had to deal with such a scenario so its a bit hard to judge in that type of hypotheticl situation. I assume they would both do an ok job.
Here's the deal. I voted Harper last time, haven't made up my mind for next time. I found this site by googling the dion ads because I wanted to see them. That's all.
Going through your other bloggings I can see that this is what happens here...debate, mostly amongst your other partisan foes, which I clearly am not. How do these online debates end? We all shake hands or something?
How do these online debates end? We all shake hands or something?
Mostly we just try to learn something from each other - and vent. It's a psychological service. ;)
Why isn't he a leader. He's never led the country before. We, as in the general public, have no reason to believe the he can't lead,
This comment shows a lack of understanding of what leadership is.
Leadership is not a title. Leadership is not something a person is elected or promoted to.
Leadership is not standing there saying "do this, do that, follow me."
Leadership is a behavior.
Leadership shows itself in how we behave every day, in private or public.
Leadership is in the choices we make and the responsibilities we take on.
Anybody can be a leader, no matter what role they have in their own lives. We can be leaders in our families and in our communities, or just in our own individual lives. Most importantly, leadership is reflected by our actions.
You don't have to be in a position to lead a country to be a leader. It's something we are - or aren't - on a daily basis.
To see who is or isn't a leader, we must look at what they are doing *right now.* By that, we can make some general assumptions about how they would be in a recognized position of leadership. If a person displays leadership qualities (integrity, responsibility, actions, etc.) in their everyday lives, then it's a pretty safe bet they will display those qualities in a larger arena.
Leaders - even good leaders - will make mistakes. Leaders have to make choices that will probably make them hated by those don't know - or want to know - why they made those choices. They don't follow the whims of popular opinion, because they understand how fickle that can be.
Based on my limited observations, I see leadership qualities in Harper. In Dion, I'm seeing someone who wants the title and the perks, but can't seem to do the job. A manager, perhaps (and we do need those). But not a leader. Anyone who whines "it's not fair" is not a leader. Life isn't fair; a leader knows that and does what s/he has to, anyways.
Most importantly, leadership is reflected by our actions.
You don't have to be in a position to lead a country to be a leader. It's something we are - or aren't - on a daily basis.
To see who is or isn't a leader, we must look at what they are doing *right now.*
That is very profound.
I think your point is that this is an instrinsic quality; a certain confidence; a competence.
Harper has it. Does Dion?
Leadership is a behavior.
Leadership shows itself in how we behave every day, in private or public.
Leadership is in the choices we make and the responsibilities we take on.
Ok, by that definition I would say that Dion is a leader, but I do appreciate the cheap shot at the opening of you comment.
Harper has it. Does Dion?
I'd say so.
Please, please, please - Will all the different posters who are posting as anonymous please put something at the tail end of their posts to differentiate themselves from each other. My head is spinning.
BTW, with respect to the "Dion is not a leader" ad, I agree with kunoichi and anonymous 12:33 AM. It would have been better to have left out that last line. While I don't think it is a personal attack, it does come uncomfortably close. Ads are more effective if they leave it to the viewers to draw their own conclusions.
I can actually see the cut line in kunoichi's comment. The line between the generic description of leadership (very good), and the usual "oh and Harper has it but Dion does not"
It was hilarious when Crocodile Dundee said "that's not a knife!", but this "that's not a leader" stuff isn't doing the job.
Keep at it, though. The "professor dion" with no real world experience sounds a little stereotypical, but you never know. The "no fair" stuff, like earlier stuff about "he must have been teased in school" might work for a time.
But the "no fair" is actually the closest I have seen to him losing his cool. Showing that goes a long way to dispelling any "cold fish" appearance, and instead he remains "mostly unflappable". Leaders do call out "no fair" when they see it. But as noted in earlier comments, they don't sit and sulk about it, they move on.
One could claim Harper cried "no fair" about the PPG, and has been sulking ever since by refusing to talk to the press. I would not agree with that, but it is a similar attack to the "no fair" one you're trying with Dion.
Ok, by that definition I would say that Dion is a leader, but I do appreciate the cheap shot at the opening of you comment.
It wasn't intended to be a cheap shot, or any shot at all. Just pointing out that essentially saying we don't know if Dion is a leader until he's actually leading a country shows a lack of understanding of what leadership is.
I also specified that in my *limited observations,* I see leadership qualities in Harper, but not in Dion. I don't know either of them personally; I have no exposure to either of them on a daily basis. I can only comment based on what little I see. For all I know, I could be totally off base. For now, though, I'm cautiously optimistic about Harper and the Conservatives.
Just pointing out that essentially saying we don't know if Dion is a leader until he's actually leading a country shows a lack of understanding of what leadership is.
that would all depend on the definition of a leader, with is highly subjective. I was taking the meaning to indicate that he would be a bad leader of our country. There are various other ways to define a leader, and ill make my decision in the ballot booth, but whether Dion or harper are "good leaders" is not exactly a ballot question for me. Environment, taxes, crime, the economy, jobs...these things matter to me, not who could lead us best if a terrorist attack happened or whatever was mentioned earlier.
Yes, you need leadership qualities to impliment those ideas, but their respective parties must have noticed enough leadership skills to elect then, no? Neither took the reins of their party in a bloody coup or anything. They must be good at something.
Yes, you need leadership qualities to implement those ideas, but their respective parties must have noticed enough leadership skills to elect then, no? Neither took the reins of their party in a bloody coup or anything. They must be good at something.
I would certainly hope so!
Will all the different posters who are posting as anonymous please put something at the tail end of their posts to differentiate themselves from each other. My head is spinning.
I agree, Brian. It almost makes debating with anons pointless when you're not sure which one is which.
I agree, Brian. It almost makes debating with anons pointless when you're not sure which one is which.
They were all me. My name is Steve, I have 2 dogs and wife. I live in Ontario and like long walks on the beach. I cried at the end of "homeward bound". Is that sufficient?
Hey, Steve. An anonymous with a sense of humour. Awesome!
Steve, you don't need to join Blogger to make yourself unique. Instead of choosing "Anonymous" click on "other" and write in "Steve" just like Liberal Supporter does.
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