What is it with National? Where is their voice on the issues of the day, any day? I was at a restaurant the other night and the owner joined us to share a very drinkable glass of Gamekeepers red. His opening comment was questioning why National wasn’t taking a stand on the current issues, particularly the social ones, statues, black lives etc. It’s a good question and one to which I referred in my article, The Silence of the National Lambs.
He asked if National was too frightened to speak out on these matters. He made the point that it was either Winston Peters or David Seymour who was addressing these topics of concern. This was the opinion of just one man but how many hundreds or possibly thousands of others are thinking the same? National cannot, must not, remain silent on these issues. They need to speak up for the silent majority and show they are on their side. Leading into an election is an opportune time to be holding public meetings on these issues.
The ideal person to front these issues is Judith Collins. She should be given a leadership role and a free hand in this regard. Judith is the consummate performer when it comes to fronting the media. She is completely unflappable, exudes confidence and has a relaxed but steely persona when it comes to putting the boot into the other side and, by association, the interviewer. Her appearance with the native speaking Jack Tame On Q+A recently was a prime example.
The National caucus may not consider Judith as a viable option to lead the party but she is certainly popular with many of the party faithful as evidenced by polls on The BFD. Letting her loose to speak on these issues, along with other notables who have an interest in these areas, would draw large crowds and take some of the wind out of Jacinda’s sails.
If National is serious about winning this election, they need to show that they are on the public’s side both economically and socially. They can’t follow Labour’s lead, as they did the other day, and join in saying we agree with “let’s do this” but we’ll do it better. That is the limpest, wettest idea for differentiating yourself from the other side that I have heard…EVER! If National aren’t prepared to actively formulate and promote policies that are diametrically opposed to those of the Labour rabble then they are burnt toast at this election — along with the country.
On economic and other issues the normal election meetings can be held, but in conjunction with those, on issues like statues, Black Lives Matter and the negative effects of COVID-19, for God’s sake National, let Collins loose.
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