And so it seems there’s more to being a viable alternative prime minister than effective media management.
The stunts — armed with hard hat, safety vest (also a favourite outfit of Gillard and Rudd) and snappy sound bite (via two takes) — are getting old, as is the negative campaigning, within the Liberal party and the gallery. Where once Abbott got points for being “disciplined” and “gaffe free”, his Policy Lite approach is finally attracting some decent scrutiny.
Prime Minister Gillard is slammed repeatedly for her failure to communicate. Abbott more than anyone has capitalised on this, with plenty of free kicks from the media. As Laurie Oakes, fresh from being thoroughly depressed by a similar political scene in the US, wrote in the Herald Sun over the weekend, “… the Opposition Leader is getting away with purveying trashy policy because the nation is mesmerised by the Government’s woes. While Julia Gillard continues to stumble from one mess to another, Abbott largely escapes scrutiny”.
But cut through only gets you so far, at some point, as the Opposition Leader is now discovering, you need to have something of substance to communicate. Whether he’s dragged by the scruff of the neck in front of some substantial policy debate by the newly emerged Peter Reith, or called to account by a gallery that’s actually starting to ask some tough questions, pointing the finger at everyone else (most recently by suggesting that economists don’t know what they’re talking about, without outlining how or why) isn’t going to cut it any more.
Pragmatism isn’t enough for a public who want more from their politics. Start talking Tony, we’re listening.
After his babyish tantrum on ch 9 news the other night, (in which he gave a very passable 2gb parrot imitation), and a disgraceful dummy spit after losing his battle earlier in an interview with the prime minister, Laurie the Hut has a credibility problem.
Like the rest of the “press” he hasnt been listening.
They let knuckle head say anything he wants, without scrutiny, negatively and monotonically in a set up posed controlled setting, wearing the same shirt, with the same background each time, with, I suspect, a conductor out of shot keeping time with a stick ready to poke it in his eye if he leaves the script;
When the prime minister speaks, worse than not listening to her, (especially when she says something they dont agree with), they make it up.
Abbott doesn’t do serious intereviews, avoids 7.30, meet the press, Jon faine and anywhere else that he will actually have to argue his case. Incontrast the 2 muppett’s who make up the “breakfast crew” (both less than 25) in my regional city have had three interviews with Abbott since the election in which he get’s nothing but “mate” and furious agreement.
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If you want a laugh, it’s worth looking at the comments uner Peter Van Onselen’s two recent pieces in the Oz which make the same points, with some more specific information about the control of interviews. Most accuse him of being a Lefty, in about as many words.
Holden – Yeah I read those comments, none to subtle and apparently “meet the press” and 7.30 are just communists fronts out to bring down poor old Tony. I also liked the comment that as Gillard refuses to go on the Bolt report and Alan Jones (although at last count she has been on Alan’s show more than Abbott’s has been on 7.30) Abbott is justified, ass if wither of those to a impartial credible journalists.