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Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

  • Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

mentalfloss
No Party Affiliation
#1Jul 11th, 2012

Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper



Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper
"What's Stephen Harper's solution?"

Attack ads, it would seem, judging by a pair of new online offerings released Tuesday by the federal New Democrats.

If imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, then Conservatives should take heart that the NDP is adopting their playbook.

New NDP ads in English and French, posted on the party website, go after Prime Minister Stephen Harper's economic record, complete with ominous drumbeats and unflattering, black-and-white photos - stock material for negative political ads everywhere.

The NDP ad accuses Harper of presiding over the worst recession "in a generation."

"What's Stephen Harper's solution?" intones the female voice. "Attack the most vulnerable Canadians when they are most in need."

As examples, the ad points to changes to employment insurance and the pension system.

The official Opposition hit back after the Conservatives finally unleashed a summer ad campaign late last month targeting NDP Leader Tom Mulcair with accusations of reckless economic policies.

Political attack ads were once rare in Canada between elections, but the Harper Conservatives have used them extensively to help define their adversaries.

Liberals Stephane Dion, Michael Ignatieff and Bob Rae all received the Tory treatment, so many pundits were surprised when a Conservative barrage did not materialize in March, immediately after New Democrats chose Mulcair as leader.

But the Tory anti-Mulcair ads finally started airing in late June, and New Democrats are responding.
The ads were e-mailed to party supporters Tuesday and posted on the NDP website, but it is not clear whether the party will actually pay to broadcast them anywhere.

"We are not prepared to share the specifics of our advertising strategy; however, our objective is to reach out to a maximum (number) of Canadians," NDP spokeswoman Chantal Vallerand said in an e-mail.

"We want to hear from you. Send comments on this story to letters@nanaimodailynews.com. Letters must include daytime phone number and hometown.

Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper
 
IdRatherBeSkiing
+4
#2  Top Rated Post

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Locutus posted this yesterday.
 
Machjo
+1
#3

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
I guess the NDP is no better than the gtories. If you have nothing good to say about yourself, then tear the opponent down to your level.

Birds of a feather I guess.
 
taxslave
No Party Affiliation
+1
#4

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by IdRatherBeSkiingView Post

Locutus posted this yesterday.

Like he said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
 
Walter
+1
#5

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by MachjoView Post

I guess the NDP is no better than the gtories. If you have nothing good to say about yourself, then tear the opponent down to your level.

Birds of a feather I guess.

It's politics; always has been this way.
 
Machjo
#6

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by WalterView Post

It's politics; always has been this way.

perhaps. But you'd think voters would turn away from those who engage in this kind of politicking. I guess it says something about our voters then doesn't it: don't vote for the best candidate, but rather vote strategicaly against the worst party and then wonder why the second-worse always gets in.
 
IdRatherBeSkiing
#7

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by MachjoView Post

perhaps. But you'd think voters would turn away from those who engage in this kind of politicking. I guess it says something about our voters then doesn't it: don't vote for the best candidate, but rather vote strategicaly against the worst party and then wonder why the second-worse always gets in.

Turn away to whom?
 
Machjo
#8

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by IdRatherBeSkiingView Post

Turn away to whom?

Good point.
 
mentalfloss
No Party Affiliation
+1
#9

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
I really don't like this kind of advertising and I agree that it is pretty shameful.
 
Machjo
#10

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Perhaps the biggest problem with attack ads is that they don't change anyone's mind but rather just entrench ideological prejudices on either side, which is not healthy for democracy.

What I would love to see would be an educational ad. For instance, immagine an NDP ad aimed at educating the general public about the limited availability of our resoruces, or a Conservative ad aimed at educating us about the unlimited availability. Then the media and the scientific community would actually have something substantial to look at to determine who is actually right.

Or if the NDP put out an educaiton ad educating the public about the benefits of official bilingualism, and maybe a conservative ad proposinig a better alternative along with its advantages. Again, it woudl give the media something more substantial to discuss.

You could also have ads educating the public about the benefits of free trade or protectionism, raising taxes or reducing taxes, etc.
 
lone wolf
Free Thinker
#11

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by taxslaveView Post

Like he said imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

So I repost here....
Quote: Originally Posted by lone wolfView Post

What ADvantage is there in stooping to that level?

 
mentalfloss
No Party Affiliation
#12

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
We won't know what these ads can do until the next set of polls come out. As far as the CPC is concerned, it doesn't appear that their attack ad really made much of a difference.
 
L Gilbert
No Party Affiliation
+2
#13

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Ads like this don't impress me favorably. The best part about them is when they backfire.

Besides, I always thought ads were a waste of money. You want to boost your ratings in the public view, improve your policies and actions, don't spew BS over the air.
 
petros
+1
#14

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
I'm not sure which is worse. People who believe the bull**** in any type of advertisement or those who write them.
 
lone wolf
Free Thinker
#15

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
With the real people economy the way it is, wouldn't (at least) the illusion of a government pulling together help to inspire the "great unwashed"?

Who doesn't know where same ol' same ol' has taken us.....


...the Ride
 
petros
#16

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by lone wolfView Post

With the real people economy the way it is, wouldn't (at least) the illusion of a government pulling together help to inspire the "great unwashed"?

You'd think but too many view politicals parties the same way they do their favourite sports team.

Once a year they should all get together and have an all-stars series.
 
lone wolf
Free Thinker
#17

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
I predict a lot of penalty box time for unsportsmanlike conduct
 
mentalfloss
No Party Affiliation
#18

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Regarding this thread specifically, it can be merged with the other one which was posted earlier.
 
Machjo
#19

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by mentalflossView Post

We won't know what these ads can do until the next set of polls come out. As far as the CPC is concerned, it doesn't appear that their attack ad really made much of a difference.

Even if the NDP wins based on attack ads, it's a shallow victory at best since it's not based on good ideas but merely blitzy marketing like some toothpaste commercial.
 
mentalfloss
No Party Affiliation
#20

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by MachjoView Post

Even if the NDP wins based on attack ads, it's a shallow victory at best since it's not based on good ideas but merely blitzy marketing like some toothpaste commercial.

So you're saying that the CPC platform is recommended by 3 out of 4 dentists?
 
Machjo
#21

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by mentalflossView Post

So you're saying that the CPC platform is recommended by 3 out of 4 dentists?

Huh?

Seems like the conservatives rolled in on attack ads too.
 
Walter
#22

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by MachjoView Post

perhaps. But you'd think voters would turn away from those who engage in this kind of politicking. I guess it says something about our voters then doesn't it: don't vote for the best candidate, but rather vote strategicaly against the worst party and then wonder why the second-worse always gets in.

I always vote for the pol who will stay out of my way and by that I mean the one who will pull his/her hand out of my wallet.
 
mentalfloss
No Party Affiliation
#23

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
The one thing to keep in mind with the latest set of attack ads from both parties is that they probably cost the parties very little as they are exclusively online.
 
L Gilbert
No Party Affiliation
#24

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by petrosView Post

You'd think but too many view politicals parties the same way they do their favourite sports team.

Once a year they should all get together and have an all-stars series.

..... of rollerball.
 
Machjo
#25

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by WalterView Post

I always vote for the pol who will stay out of my way and by that I mean the one who will pull his/her hand out of my wallet.

So instead of attacking the other, coudl a candidate or party simply not say what he intends to do?
 
Locutus
+1
#26

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by IdRatherBeSkiingView Post

Locutus posted this yesterday.


You'd think a seasoned vet might notice the same thread in the same sub-forum eh. Might save the members and the mods some grief.

Oh well...
 
mentalfloss
No Party Affiliation
-1
#27

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by LocutusView Post

You'd think a seasoned vet might notice the same thread in the same sub-forum eh. Might save the members and the mods some grief.

Oh well...


 
L Gilbert
No Party Affiliation
+3
#28

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
I think Flossy wants to hold the CC record for number of threads started. He's certainly got the record for number of redundant threads started. lol
 
Walter
#29

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by MachjoView Post

So instead of attacking the other, coudl a candidate or party simply not say what he intends to do?

Mike harris did; man, I miss him as premier.
 
Redmonton_Rebel
#30

Re: Tory ads spur NDP to attack Harper

Jul 11th, 2012
Quote: Originally Posted by MachjoView Post

I guess the NDP is no better than the gtories. If you have nothing good to say about yourself, then tear the opponent down to your level.

Birds of a feather I guess.

It's called the opposition for a reason.

The NDP is just doing it's job criticizing the governments and the PM's RECORD, the Conservatives are doing us all a disservice when they make personal attacks on opposition leaders in an attempt to keep them from doing their job.

It's moronic to criticize the opposition for actually opposing the governments record, but that's the situation we've been left with by a government that is all attack and no offers no true leadership.
 

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