Horowitz on Mallard

I blogged on Friday about how the infamous quote:

“Political war is about evoking emotions that favour one’s goals….while mobilizing passions of fear and resentment against your opponents.”

was not advice to Don Brash on what to do, but in fact David Horowitz describing what the left do in America.

Now Trevor Mallard, commenting on National’s industrial relations policy last night on TV3, delivered a very well scripted soundbite, which seemed to be following the Horowitz interpretation of the left-wing playbook to perfection. It was delivered in one burst, but I have broken it up into phrases below, with imagined commentary from Horowitz.

Mallard: What this does is implement John Key’s promise to lower NZ wages.

Horowitz: Good work: don’t debate the issue, just misrepresent it by dredging up an ancient lie.

Mallard: It does it by lowering the wages of people when they are sick.

Horowitz: Excellent – make something up, scare people, keep working on the fear and resentment.

Mallard: By taking their holidays away.

Horowitz: Outstanding, you didn’t even smirk as you lied to the camera.

Mallard: And through the fire at will provisions.

Horowitz: Nice – you didn’t mention the 90-day aspect, and you avoided mentioning the ‘hire’ part of it, and didn’t smirk. Branding it the ‘fire at will provision’ will make many fearful, even angry, about all this. Most importantly, you didn’t make any attempt to actually debate the policy issue. Go to the top of the class.

I think we will use the “Horowitz angle” to examine many of Labour’s statements during the campaign.