Our weekly look at media spin tactics: let’s dissect the PR that aims to blow one’s own horn, bury one’s errors, resurrect the shambling zombie corpses of well-flogged deceased equines, and ooh look A Big Distracting Thing.
N.B. please stay on topic – this thread is for holding up a mirror to the tactics of the spinning Hollow Men. Breaking news stories are relevant only so far as the subtext of the message they are selling and how it plays to counter opposing messages – discussions of policy detail and implications etc belong on topical threads (if a relevant thread doesn’t exist, please request one in the latest open thread).
Looks like Joe Hockey has some interesting views on what constitutes an audit.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/hockeys-audit-claims-appear-false-20101010-16e0k.html
It was backed up by Robb at the time. Loughnane is now distancing himself, but did nothing to rebut Joe at the time.
Peter Hartcher spinning on Tone’s behalf
http://www.smh.com.au/world/abbott-opens-fire-at-low-pm-20101010-16e30.html?autostart=1
Buried at the bottom of the article
“However, the Herald’s chief political reporter, Phillip Coorey, who broke the story, said it had not come from the Prime Minister or her office.”
Lloyd. It’s great spin you have to admit. It completely destroys the memory of the ‘jet lag’ comments as well as making it a bigger issue than the Joe Hockey thing.
Day One this week to the Libs.
Buried at the bottom of the article Spin within spin.
The Australian and The HeraldSun don’t even mention Phillip Coorey.
And no mention of the fact that an inexperienced running-jumping-standing Rabbit embedded with the troops just might have put our soldiers’ lives in danger. But any thought along those lines wouls’ve been edited out, wouldn’t it?
The comments at the Australian on this story have just appeared, about 100 in one dump. They overwhelmingly slam Gillard for her “behaviour” and about 15% bucket Tony for being a gun totin’ fool, and 3 or 4 point to the SMH Phillip Coorey angle. The comments are interesting as a visceral response by the readership and a demonstration of why slanting a story has such a immediate measurable payoff. It’s interesting that the Australian doesn’t publish them in real time, (posts from 12.35 am to 9.44 am) to encourage a self correcting dialogue.
@ drsusancalvin: I have noticed this previously in Oz articles that I thought may stir up their base. The cynic in me which I try & suppress, also wonders whether they may be some prioritising to get all the venom to the top.
I have also looked through the Oz to get their slant on the faux audit (Horwarths could go to jail if they fib, according to Hockey). Could not find it anywhere, have I missed something is it buried? Or just not worthy of reporting as it is old news?
Faux Audits announces their new service: “Air Quotes”. Their new Manager and CEO Mr Ersatz said that a new low cost audit was available for those expecting scrutiny over a very short time frame, (the terminally ill and those in election mode). The figures had a half life of 7 days, and any legal liability could be waived by raising your fingers and inserting quotes around the issued statements.
I wonder who leaved the VicRoads 2040 roads plan to the Age?
http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/plan-for-hundreds-of-kilometres-of-new-freeways-20101010-16e04.html
(big pdf)
http://images.theage.com.au/file/2010/10/10/1977327/Melbourne2040.pdf
“leaved”? Leaked of course.
On the “audit” story linked @1 by Don… have a look at the same story by Peter Martin in the SMH rather than The Age.
At the top they actually have a copy of the letter from WHK Horwath’s. When you see the source document, itself, you see the smoking gun. The dodgy brothers Hockey and Robb have a lot of explaining to do.
Ha, ha, ha, good try spin guys!
http://www.smh.com.au/national/hockey-was-economical-with-the-truth-lib-poll-costings-never-audited-20101010-16e31.html
“A spokesman for Mr Hockey said he had used the word audited “as would be understood in laymen’s terms”.
What Joe is really saying here, is he was only talking to people who did not understand what the word really meant.
I did not hear any qualifications that accountants, lawyers, people familiar with audits and the implications should ignore his use of the word. Seems he was talking to a very narrow audience.
Joe & Andy will have to do better but I get the impression they may not be talking to each other at the moment.
Love Smuggles’ new Afghanistan story in which he apparently had also suggested “embedding” himself.
I also find his time line very interesting-he says he told Gillard on 22 September that he planned to go to Afghanistan. If that’s the case, why did he invent the jet lag story and why would Gillard have offered him a seat on her plane?
Even more interesting is the time it’s taken to finally arrive at this “narrative”. My suggestion to the Smuggles Set is to employ a script writer who is capable of thinking on his/her feet.
No doubt the usual RWDB cheerleaders will be selling the latest installment of the Smuggles Afghanistan saga.
Hopefully, the PM will be able to rain on his parade with the truth or in Smuggles Speak another “act of low bastardry”. He is sounding more desperate by the day.
Wonder what the fallout will be between the LIEberals and Howarth. It doesn’t sound like the firm is prepared to fall on its sword for the greater glory of the Smuggles Empire.
@ Jane “Love Smuggles’ new Afghanistan story in which he apparently had also suggested “embedding” himself.”
I bet he would also like to land on an aircraft carrier in one of those tight fitting pilot suits, then declare “mission accomplished”.
He really is a joke. But you have to admire that he can get his narrative out there. Even though the real story is his inability to think on his feet.
Trevor @ 12. Of course any reasonable journalist would be asking if the Opposition would have accepted such ‘laymen’s standards’ of the auditing of ALP data.
But hey, doesn’t matter. The question around the water cooler at work today was “why doesn’t Julia visit the troops like Tony” Does she like hate the military or something?
I mean FFS.
That’s not a politician enjoying being photographed with a gun. This is a politician enjoying being photographed with a gun.
Please tell me if I have it right. What the MSM and Coalition supporters are saying is that PM Gillard must not say anything that criticises Mr. Abbott. Are they saying if she does so, she is playing politics? Is it correct for me to believe that any conversation she has with Mr. Abbott must be kept secret? At the same time, it is OK for Mr. Abbott to say what he likes, when he pleases, without being accountable for his words. It follows that if Mr. Abbott makes a fool of himself, it is PM Gillard’s fault. The PM actually said very little, except to say that Mr. Abbott’s travel plans were his own business. Maybe she should not have pointed out that she managed to get eight hours sleep. That may have been cruel; she should have respected Mr. Abbott’s feelings!
http://www.petermartin.com.au/2010/09/thursday-column-could-constingsgate.html
It was only a matter of time before the “audit” chickens came home to roost. When I first sighted the documents as laid out by Peter Martin I was astonished that anyone could even try to claim that an audit had taken place. But of course I am not a layman.
The reaction by a young (armed forces) friend to Mr Abbott’s desire to be embedded, was that he hoped that the heads of our armed forces would deny Mr Abbott the priveledge.
Actually he was somewhat “colourful” in his opinion of a politician who would desire to be so embedded (very educative).
I wonder at Mr Abbott’s apparent need to constantly ‘prove his manhood’. I find it somewhat unappealing, and a little worrying
(and lest this become one of those threads, Kylie shows how to fire the Austeyr from the waist. Note her finger correctly away from the trigger, ignore grinning soldier in the background)
Trevor @14, he’s probably having a lycra camouflage suit built as we speak. I guess pink wouldn’t be the colour de joure in Afghanistan or the armed forces in general.
tssk @15, Jesus wept! There are some dills around!
I wish Julia had fired one. Chicks with guns NOW sistah.
Unless somebody stops me, in order to demonstrate its ordinariness, I’m just going to keep posting pictures of politicians with guns. Here’s Steven Smith, heavyweight.
Actually, I’ve just been over to Pav’s and there is an excellent point there, about chicks with guns:
http://stilllifewithcat.blogspot.com/2010/10/why-we-still-need-feminism-part-1763.html
Will standing next to an ASLAV satisfy, Casey?
The Sunday announcement by former NSW Government minister Dianne Beamer, member for Camden, seemed well designed to muster minimum media fuss. I guess it is not her fault that her move well before March 2011 election follows several other high profile exit announcements.
Not really Liam.
Something like the getup ad would have been good. Oh, let’s put it up again:
I personally am deeply disturbed by the kissing scene. Dear me, the things they do to that woman.
There was a photo of CrusaderAbbott standing on the roof of a building observing a contact simulation. There were mountains in the bacground. Either Afghani-bred, Talib-leaning markspersons arn’t the snipers they used to be, or the wannabe embedee was benefiting from some sort of Brown Zone buffer effect.
Jane,
I also find his time line very interesting-he says he told Gillard on 22 September that he planned to go to Afghanistan. If that’s the case, why did he invent the jet lag story and why would Gillard have offered him a seat on her plane?
Mmmm…maybe because he was gobsmacked that she would publicly ask the question after he had already told her he was going to Afghanistan on the way back from England and I figure she would have offered him a seat on the plane to make him look bad because he really couldn’t say publicly that he was going due to security restrictions and she knew that.
See…it easy to rationalize if you don’t hate him
Kev @30:
Bollocks. All he had to say was, “I’ve already made other arrangements to go”. Or are you suggesting Gillard was risking security when she said she was going?
Whoops! I withdraw my final sentence @31.
Everything else stands.
@ 30 Kev:
The criticism is his lack of ability to think on his feet. He did not have to nominate a date or be specific at all. All he needed to do was say something along the lines of “I have plans in place to visit the troops soon & did not think it appropriate to be there at the same time as the PM”. Not hard.
One suspects he did not say this type of thing because he did not & all of this has been cobbled together to try and get over his foot in mouth. The comments now about being “embedded” & photo ops of him firing weapons is making him look sillier in trying to outdo the macho thing. Jokes in the press of him needing beauty sleep must have really rankled the iron man
He should just shut up about it & move on. Petulantly whinging that evil communists made him say something stupid is tiresome.
The question is whether Tony Abbott demonstrates sufficient attention to important detail and emotional balance to inspire confidence that he is fit for high office:
Abbott’s response:
What Abbott plans should Gillard have been aware of? That at some time, perhaps in the distant future, Abbott would get round to paying a visit to Afghanistan?
Even after issuing her generous invitation, Abbott did not see fit to explain that he had a firm date for a visit.
Since when is it more important that the Leader of the Opposition exercise more secrecy about his movements than the Prime Minister?
Abbott’s fetish for secrecy here is very disturbing and raises serious questions about his sense of proportion and emotional balance.
Zoot. Yep, he could’ve said it better but considering he isn’t stupid there would have to be a solid reason why he didn’t say it as you suggested. It has become practice that visits to war zones by politicians are not announced before departure. I’m sticking with the gobsmacked and security but I don’t think jetlagg was a good response.
Trevor. Other than his poorly chosen response Abbott has done everything right. He would be expected to visit the troops – he did. Being the man he is he would be expected to want to get a bit closer to the physical aspects of the troops – he tried and was properly rejected. Being the Opposition leader it would be stupid to go with Gillard – he didn’t.
It is Gillard’s ethics that are being questioned. It is not that the ‘evil communists’ made him say something stupid – it is the fact that Gillard asked the question when she knew the answer and then let the debate simmer when she knew the basic premise was false.
No, he’s playing politics – there should be bipartisan support for the militatary – he’s trying to undermine that principle.
Because of a complete line of bullshit by Abbott.
Sorry, assumes facts not in evidence.
and then let the debate simmer when she knew the basic premise was false.
False, she had no reason to comment any further.
Sorry Kev. It still doesent stack up. If you are saying Gillards ethics must be called into question because she played politics with an issue that Tony wouldn’t, what were they doing the week before in saying troop numbers should be increased? Contrary to the bipartisan approach to Afghanistan the shadow for defence was calling for tanks to be sent, WTF???? This had far greater potential to undermine moral then a spat between the leaders over when to visit.
Have just heard Andrew Robb huffing & puffing about how awful it is that Penny Wong has criticised them about fibbing on their audit claims. Is this another act of low bastadry by the ALP? Why cant we all just agree that under the new paradigm, no one can question the words or motives of the coalition. These are always pure and they would never dream of playing politics
“maybe because he was gobsmacked that she would publicly ask the question after he had already told her he was going to Afghanistan”
1) She didn’t publicly ask the question.
2) Philip Coorey who broke the story claims that JG and the government were not the source for the story
3) Abbott only had to respond that he had made other arrangements to visit rather than opening gob and putting foot in by making up the jet lag story.
What’s the betting David Jones runs not walks to the conciliation talks scheduled for later this week. What’s the betting we get a nice new ribbon (white with yellow stripes?) and a nice big corporate foundation (Mea Maxima Culpa?) to try and spin out of the mire.
Abbott’s absurd call for the deployment of tanks in Afghanistan is further evidence of his unfitness for high office.
1. What military expertise is Abbott claiming here?
2. Absent any military expertise, whom did he consult to arrive at this military conclusion?
3. Did Abbott have any regard for the possible adverse effects his meddling may have on military discipline?
4. Does Abbott understand the relationship between military discipline and corps morale?
5. Does Abbott understand the relationship between corps morale and military effectiveness?
6. Did Abbott attempt deliberately to undermine military effectiveness?
Good call, Katz! Someone should arrest Abbott for treason. [removes tongue from cheek]
The fuss about Gillard v. Abbott is going a long way to cloud the ramifications of the “audited figures” isn’t it?
Pure luck I’m sure that the spin about this spat is taking much of the airspace. I see the date of the letter is July 13th which to me appears to predate the Treasury “leak” which the Opposition used to refuse giving their figures to Charter of Budget Honesty process. They never intended to have any scrutiny of their costings and the whole process appears to have been micromanged from the very beginning of the electioneering.
Treasury analysis of Opposition figures which was claimed to have been leaked was dated July 5th.
Auditors’ letter to Opposition dated July 13th.
Herald story re the leak was about the second week of August and the Opposition withheld their costings.
mediatracker: I would love to see the media pay some attention to this & give it some serious treatment. It is obvious that Robb & co were lying through their teeth. Had the media done their job then it would not have taken to much digging to expose the lie. Now the evidence is gifted to them they seem disinterested. That there now seems to be a pass the parcel game going on about who new about the letter is also interesting.
Of course News Ltd wont pursue the story & sadly the ABC seems cowed, scared of accusations of bias if they are critical of the coalition.
Had the fourth estate done their job and exposed the failings and lies of the coalitions costings I do not believe it is a stretch to say this would have changed the election result.
Good work on tracking the Opposition costing story, mediatracker.
If you’ve got any examples of this, Kev, I hope it’s something other than Abbott’s word, which is not proving all that reliable.
I’m still trying to make sense of this “act of low bastardry” charge, Kev. Maybe you can help us out.
My reading of it is that Gillard would have known he’d say something unbelievably stupid when questioned. Therefore it was unfair to set him up like that.
I must say if there’s any substance to it, there’s quite an unexpected level of sophistication in Gillard’s actions.
Isn’t it a bit of a worry if teh evil communists really are controlling Abbott’s brain?
And, re Andrew Robb = I thought engaging in a currency war was a bad thing, as opposed to a good thing, so far as the neolibs are concerned. But I forgot, its those communists who are controlling Liberal brains …
I agree with you Kev.
Yep, Abbott shot himself in the foot, verbally like. But he didn’t shoot himself with the rifle. Which is real good.
But as you say Kev, being the man he is, he would be expected to want to get a bit closer to the physical aspects of the troops.
Julia Gillard, being a woman, wouldn’t be expected to get as close to the physical aspects of the troops, Kev, so Tony is in front there.
And I again agree, being the Opposition leader it would be stupid to go with Gillard – he didn’t. Because he wanted to shoot guns and that and she being a chick wouldn’t be in that. So he went later when he could get close to the physical aspects of the blokes, shoot a few rounds and crack a few tinnies and Gillard would just be in the way, right? Like I never take me missus fishin’ for the same reason. On ya, Kev.
“Trevor says:
October 11, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Those women are shocking. They do not play fair like we do. They are not lady like all.
PB, how can they control his brain when there’s only sawdust there, where one should be?
But I agree as to Robb, if ever a zombie walked on two legs, it would be him. And that includes Kevin Andrews.
This is more media news than spin, but…
A story in Crikey says TEN are going to bring in a revamped 6pm news with George Negus at the helm. Om tonight’s TEN news, Paul Bongiorno ran with the credibility exposure of Hockey and Robb on costings/audits.
Could they really be aiming at a credible news service? If this is what’s contemplated, there is a huge commercial opportunity.
The other commercial networks, vide the last election campaign coverage and Menadue’s comments, have next to no real credibility. The ABC has joined them in trivialisation. It’s almost a reminder of Leyland’s attempts to catch up with the Big Two when releasing their P76. SBS is a little better with its wider horizons, but no better on domestic politics.
Opportunity awaits.
Did anyone pick up the Michael Tomasky article in the Grauniad about how Murdoch has signed up all the main right wing US politicians on his payroll – on exclusivity agreements so that only Fox News can cover them? This is the stuff of comic book villains, truly.
An unfortunate comparison.
Pathetic little liar Pyne goes with current Liberal meme
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/10/11/3035376.htm?section=justin
Hal9000, I’m wondering if life imitates art. A generation back when Kerry Packer organised the massive cricket defection to World Series Cricket…
the cartoonist Patrick Cook did one of a long-suffering person listening to the breathless radio reports, “…bringing to 90 the number of politicians (50 coalition 40 Labor) signing up for his Superelections program. When criticised for possibly bringing democracy into disrepute, Mr Packer replied, ‘Those old fuddy-duddies’ …”
So now Rupert’s actually doing it?
Apparently so, Don. He’s got Palin, Gingrich, Santorum and Huckabee on the payroll already. All requests for interviews from other media are referred to Fox.
Interesting link Don @54. “Political bastardry” and now “back-alley bitchiness”…..these creeps are becoming more and more shrill. It has to be diversionary tactics.
Peter Martin sprung them again on costing lies and they are running with the same tactics that they used during the election.
The idiot press seem not to have learnt a thing or are conspiring with them.
Stuart Robert accuses the command staff of leaving no margin of comfort in their resource requirements. This is an appalling and irresponsible allegation that can only give aid and comfort to the enemy.
Stuart Robert must be sacked.
Got to admit it’s worked a treat. That Hockey story sunk like a stone. The Coalition’s financial credentials remain intact.
Looks like the ground is being laid for the Opposition to claim “inside information from the troops on the ground” on how they are being let down by the Government (and not the rubbish about having sufficient equipment the top brass would have told Julia when she visited and didn’t REALLY see the really really true picture like Tony did). Stuart Robert is an actor in a play unfolding in the lead up to the Parliamentary session on Afganistan in which the Opposition will play the moral highground of being the only true supportors of “our boys and girls”.
Hal9000@52 – There was another article on http://www.politico.com by Jonathan Martin & Keach Hagey on Sept. 27th re the same matter which included references to emails from Fox.
“It has to be diversionary tactics.” Joe2 @56.
I think that you and media tracker are on the money, Joe2. Even by Abbott’s unhinged standards it is amazing to find him continuing.
http://www.theage.com.au/national/abbott-the-victim-of-political-ambush-20101012-16gh1.html
He was in friendly territory on 2GB then, but even so. The aim seems to be to bury the costings/leak accusations/ and “fully audited” false assertions of Hockey and Robb which simply blow their economic credibility out of the water.
As Tssk said, it’s working. Latest Essential breakup shows coalition still have a polling lead on economic credentials. Go figure.
Abbott knows that he and his shadow ministers can virtually say anything and they will get away with it time and time again. He must have realised it ever since he told a national television audience that he was a liar and the jackals of the press gallery decided that this was in all probablity an indication of what an authentic politician he is.
Before and since he has lied, contradicted himself, shown poor judgement, and gradually become more and more unhinged. His shadow ministers have followed the same course to a greater or lesser extent.
Yet they by and large escape any sort criticism or the kind of serious analysis we are entitled to expect from a free press.
Katz @ 41,
Abbott thinks Afghanistan is a desert. After all, when you see it on TV, the mountains are bare. Deserts are bare. And everyone knows Arabs only live in deserts, and since Afghans are Muslim they must be Arabs. During WW2 we had tanks in the North African desert, so logically, in 2010 we can have tanks in the Afghan desert. Simple/
mediatracker @ 59, it seems to be a repeat of the German conservatives’ claims that they were “stabbed in the back!!!” after WWI.
A Pyrrhic victory, though, wouldn’t you say, tssk? Their leader’s credibility battered even more to save the reputations of Robb and Hockey? To what end? Neither are seen as likely leaders.
Besides, I thought their financial credentials had been lost when the black hole was uncovered by Treasury. There may be a few thousand supporters salvaged in the electorate at large with this diversionary tactic but I doubt that Oakeshott and Windsor will have been reassured that the Coalition’s financial credentials are intact. Surely those are the only two ‘votes’ in the country which matter right now
mediatracker@59, if the report below is to be believed…”Mr Abbott said it was clear Australia’s troops were stretched but indicated he was reconsidering the Coalition’s position.”…the ground has already collapsed from underneath the oppositions feet on their next Afghanistan move.
Seems they cannot argue that more of anything is needed by our “boys and girls” because the top brass told them they already have everything they need. How bloody inconvenient of them.
Gone over their looking for a stick to beat Gillard with, and as the headline almost says, “Afghan flak hits Tony Abbott in the poll”. (Missed his nuts by a fraction and he’s now gone crazybrave on us).
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/afghan-flak-hits-tony-abbott-in-the-polls/story-e6frf7l6-1225937406182
Yes Joe, clearly Abbott’s brief “embedding” in Afghanistan was the beginning of his khaki campaign. Abbott wanted some hand grenades to lob at the ALP in the forthcoming parliamentary debate on Afghanistan.
Sensibly, the army brass decided that they didn’t like the cut of Abbott’s jib and locked up the ammo.
Now Rambo Tony is all decked out in camo gear, his old school tie wound around his head, his round-stopping bible in his sam browne and with nowhere to go.
Hilarious.
This piece of theatre has to be more diverting, and more damaging, than some poxy audits.
Excuse me whilst I throw up my breakfast.
“Mr Abbott said he needed to keep defending himself because he was the gatekeeper of the nation’s values.”
http://www.smh.com.au/national/soldiers-thrown-to-wolves-says-abbott-20101012-16ht2.html
Lloyd’s link to the Alan Jones/Abbott interview is extraordinary.
Is it more difficult to commit a contempt of a court martial than it is to commit a contempt of court against a civilirt?an cou
err … that should be ‘civilian court’.
The quotes in the SMH article are astounding. This man is desperate to paint himself as the champion of the people & doesn’t care who or what he damages to get that. I wonder if he can see the contradiction? His quote to Kerry Obrien re not taking his paid parental leave plan to cabinet remains true. “Err err sometimes Kerry err err it is better to ask forgiveness after the event”. He still believes this & thinks it can apply anywhere. This appears to be Tony’s MO for all his strategies, the end justify the means and all will be forgiven if he can knock off the government.
His strategy is dangerous though, thankfully it doesn’t appear to be working for him so far. But he may see himself as the lion chasing a heard of wildebeest. He only has to win once. I think Tony though would have a parable from the bible to back up his methods.
The cheerleaders are out in force now that the Smuggles Set has finally got its jet lag
fairy taledamage control storyfakedstraight.Fancy the Smuggles Set taking a week to remember that
a) he’d discussed his visit to the troops in Afghanistan with the PM, and
b) the date the alleged discussion took place.
If I were Smuggles, I’d be firing my secretary.
Hail Australia’s new Queen of Personal Spin;
Kristy Fraser-Kirk.. Kristy, it’s now time to donate that money-as you promised; remember – that was the tool you used to get the workplace rights groups and the doubting public supportive, even though they believed the 37Mil you were asking for didn’t reflect positively upon their ethos and aims.
As a student of media and a critical analyst, this episode has drawn me from the unvoiced masses to blog for the first time..
Please don’t mistake my motives for a nano second; I think the sort of practice McInnes clearly engaged in is illegal and kinda pathetic- a sick sign of a bygone age, take my disgust at his actions as a given. But it’s the manipulation of the media by Fraser-Kirk that has caused this passive media analyst to come out of his shell, perhaps because I felt a little betrayed- as I wanted Kristy to ‘stick it to the man’, but the tears to glee in the space of half a day really sent shivers up my spine and my fingers a’ tapping..
So Kristy, congratulations on your settlement, by all means pay any medical expenses not covered by DJ’s out of that, then do the right thing and do as you promised; donate the money, or if you betray us may we turn;
live by the media-die by the media.