The instinctual sympathies of the media in New Zealand are statist--that is, generally the media, with few exceptions, favour more state intrusions, controls and beneficences than less. Given that predilection, it is not surprising that the media and the Commentariat in general lean Left and are comfortable with giving left-wing parties and causes a supportive shove.
Therefore, when the Left turn against left-wing parties, such as Labour, something significant is churning beneath the surface. We have discerned in recent weeks the sport of David-Brenting the Labour leader, David Cunliffe in national media. As our readers will know, the David Brent character in the hit show, The Office, is the past master of cringe comedy--the most cruel and cringe-causing lines, the only relief to which is embarrassed laughter. The media appear to have cottoned on to this, and are goading Cunliffe to deliver David-Brent-like utterances which cause the entire nation to cringe. That Cunliffe appears serious only exacerbates the "cringe". It is the media's version of a blood sport.
Labour leader Cunliffe has the tendency to be just a little bit pompous and self-respecting. He is what the hoi-polloi would describe as self-righteous. In other words he is already 80 percent of the way to being a real life lead character in The Office, in which the Brent character (played by Ricky Gervais) was such a tour de force.
The latest example of the genre had the media flapping around David Cunliffe asking his opinions about the Royal visit of William, Kate, and baby George. In particular, the media wanted to get Cunliffe's reflections upon the fact that the Prime Minister, John Key was getting more "face time" with the royals than he was. It has to have been a set up. And Cunliffe delivered a performance of which Gervais himself would have been proud.
Here is the account as published in Stuff:
CUNLIFFE COMPLAINSThe "take-home"? David Cunliffe is a self-righteous, cringe-inducing prig. But the point is that this has all the hallmarks of a media set-up. They led Cunliffe down this path and got him to say the things that would be self-mockery in an actual comedy, but in Cunliffe's unfortunate case, he is the "real deal". Note the give-away lines in the text:
Earlier today, Labour leader David Cunliffe took a swipe at John Key over the royal visit, suggesting the prime minister was milking the extra "face time" with Prince William and his wife, compared with his own limited meetings. He also described a possible visit to the White House as "pre-election PR from the prime minister " who was "stage managing the calendar of the year as it suits him".
But he conceded "it may not be the first time prime ministers have stage managed international visits".
Cunliffe said it was very important that the treatment of the royal visit was as even-handed as possible between the government and the opposition, and also that the visit was well-spaced from the election. The split between the government and the opposition should be as even as possible - but it wasn't, he said. Labour was positive about the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and they were very welcome in New Zealand.
"We are not going to play politics with it," Cunliffe said. He would "leave it for New Zealanders to decide" if there was sufficient gap between their visit and the election. Apart from a one-on-one meeting with Prince William, Labour would be part of only one other event, a trip to Blenheim on Wednesday. Cunliffe repeated he would let the people of New Zealand draw their own conclusion if that was fair or if he was getting enough "facetime".
Asked why Key had so many events with the royals Cunliffe said, "I guess he likes the camera time."
"The prime minister was milking the extra 'facetime' "
"He (Cunliffe) conceded . . . "
"Cunliffe repeated . . . "
" . . . he would let the people . . . draw their own conclusion"
"Asked why Key has so many events with the royals Cunliffe said, 'I guess he likes the camera time.' "
Note how that last question about Key having "so many" events with the royals is such a patsy set up, and Cunliffe walks right into it with a sarcastic bite that makes everyone uncomfortable. The media are on to him and are baiting him to David-Brent the audience. Sadly, yet predictably, Cunliffe cannot help obliging. Even more cringeworthy--he does not appear to be aware that he is being set up.
Now, note that Cunliffe is one of "their guys"--he is more statist than Key. He is in the general ideological camp of the media. When the media hunt one of their own in a pack (the "interview" and Cunliffe cringe was carried in all the major dailies and on prime time TV news) there has been a sea change--rarely seen. It implies that the media has concluded "their guy" just does not have it and that he is an embarrassment. Their self-appointed role now is to magnify the "cringe" before the electorate.
The wolves scent blood.
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