People get involved in politics for a variety of reasons. Generally, it’s because of a philosophy. Sometimes its because somebody talked them into becoming involved. Sometimes it’s the attraction of power. Sometimes it’s the lot.
When people fall out of favour with their political party or grouping, or get hacked off and resign there is often a residual feeling of anger, or annoyance. For most people who let their party membership lapse is because they have other attractions in their lives, as politics is mightily absorbing of time.
The essential thing is the media revels in former political colleagues falling out.
Is it me, or are NZ’s journalists accepting the latest bait cleverly manipulating them about NZ First? There is now virtually no coverage of the fact that 4 people have been charged by the Police for “donations” to the National Party. However, there is massive coverage of New Zealand First’s affairs. I have no idea about NZ First. I have never voted for them, but I wonder why they are suddenly being targeted. Who exactly is promoting the focus on NZ First?
Is the media being manipulated, again? Remember an acknowledged method of political manipulation these days is to hit the strong parts of a Government, or political leader, and not the weak parts. Maybe that’s about undermining the person who has understood MMP better than most others, Winston Peters?
In these days of 24-hour news and stretched newsrooms it worried me as I read the Sunday Times today. There’s pages and pages of comments on NZ First.
There’s shock, horror, somebody in NZ First photographed the former President of the Party, Lester Gray, talking with journalists. If a journalist photographs a politician that’s OK. But a politician photographing a journalist is not? The Editor of the Sunday Times refers to the photographing with the following comments “snooping on journalists is an attempt to silence and shut them down. It makes you think twice about doing the work expected of you”.
I wonder why journalists can photograph public figures but public figures, or political parties, can’t take photos themselves?
Just wondering if Topham Guerin and like-minded organisations are at work behind the scenes with this political topic? Just wondering. That’s all.
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