“...the public would say that it is clearly for political purposes - and for Christ’s sake, of course it is, you know?So much for the voluble denials up to now, then. That admission should save a lot of court-time. Meanwhile, in the same report, comes news that Labour still intend to press ahead with law changes brough on by their claims of "confusion" over election spending:
“If it wasn’t we would put out a pledge card the day after the election not before it.”
Asked if that meant it was electioneering, he said, “Yes.”
Proposed changes to election campaign laws -- expected to include a ban on third-party funding and the use of anonymous trusts -- are with the government and due before cabinet within weeks...
If this isn't one of the greatest attacks on free speech in this country's history, then I'm a muslim. A "ban on third-party funding" means that you or I many not pay for ads that oppose the government during the election period. In the US, where they still know a bit about free speech, such proposals are called "speech rationing." Perhaps we should start seeing it that way here as well.UPDATE: Generation XY has this photo (right) that pretty much sums up the efforts of Hodgson the "strategist": Ignoring the advice of pundits everywhere, when deep in the hole Clark and co refuse to stop digging. Head to Gen XY and suggest a caption. My contribution: "Clark and Co help dig their political grave. "
LINKS: Card was electioneering - Hodgson - Bernard Darnton
Yes, Labour's pledge card was electioneering Hodgson admits - Sunday Star
Speech rationing and mud-slinging - Not PC (Sept 22)
RELATED: Politics-NZ, Politics-Labour, Darnton V Clark
3 comments:
Interesting to note the "grave" is already preprepared with the sods precut...
I'm an Aussie, but look..."free speech" in New Zealand has become little more than a joke.
It's free provided it offends nobody. Which is not free speech at all.
I love this place, but Kiwis are the most compliant, uncomplaining and malleable people I've ever met.
If the government tells them that further restrictions on free speech are necessary in order to combat global warming, they'll shut up and forget they ever had free" speech within 24 hours.
and the sods cutting it, anon?
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