Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

The no context zone

by Aaron Wherry on Thursday, January 27, 2011 4:20pm - 138 Comments

The Conservatives have produced two more clips, these ones based primarily on the fact that Michael Ignatieff once used the word “yes” in a public setting.

The other is here. For the original context of Mr. Ignatieff’s affirmative comment, go to the 3:10 mark of this video. It’s unclear whether Mr. Harper has ever uttered the same word aloud, but in his recent interview with the CBC he did say “that’s right.”

Tags: advertising, attack ads, democracy, election, Michael Ignatieff, Stephen Harper

More by Aaron Wherry

danby

Running such ads when there is no election is truly sleazy and lowbrow.

If you are to run such ads during an election, I would prefer to adopt the US model where there would be a candidate voice-over at the end declaring I'm Stephen Harper and I approve of this ad

McC_

only it would be something winky like "This message has been paid for by the Concerned Patriots of Canada" instead.

The facts

Stephen Harper raises taxes

[youtube jJwTjLIj2RM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJwTjLIj2RM youtube]

McC_

wow, a double double: sleazy and facty.

Dave

slacty!

Out There

If we use the Conservatives' logic, we should dispense with elections entirely. If our economy is so fragile that a change of government would imperil it, then clearly what we need is for Harper to be appointed President For Life.

Fortunately, our country, and our economy, are more robust than that.

(What I get from these ads is that the Conservatives aren't taking these positions for tactical reasons – their dislike of their political opponents is visceral. These ads are the work of True Believers.)
Karma

I'm Shocked! Shocked I tell you!!!
Neither the Liberals, the NDP nor the Bloc would ever employ scare mongering attack ads. They are purer than pure. It's only the Tories who are bad obviously and will be condemned to Dante's Inferno.
Some of you folks are hilarious

McC_

Shorter Karma: "Moooom, they started it…!"
Richard_S_Argent

Weren't Canadians told in 2006 to "Demand Better"?

What ever happened to that?
Out There

This seems to be the Conservatives' primary election plank these days: "The opposition isn't any better than we are. And, frankly, change is such a hassle."

gottabesaid

After a few more hours of thought, a few thoughts…

This latest round of ads speaks to the danger of attack ads to the people doing the attacking… and every party that has resorted to attack ads has been burned by them. Sure, they can be effective when they're done well, but done poorly (like these) and they do more damage to the attacker than they ever could have hoped to do to the opponent. The Liberals must be loving this.

Second, these ads come off as desperate. I don't think the Conservatives have any reason to be desperate, or even worried, but to the average voter who don't follow politics, I'm sure it comes off as desperate, like they actually have something to worry about… and they're so worried they're cobbling together dumb, and yes desperate, ads.
hollinm

The fact remains Ignatieff is proposing higher corporate taxes. The reductions in corporate taxes was authorized in 07 and are proceeding as approved by the Liberals. So to eliminate the corporate tax reductions which are already in place he is proposing increasing taxes. The yes,yes, yes is just emphasizing how Ignatieff feels about raising taxes. Ignatieff started the election speculation with his year end interviews. It has only escalated because of his continuing comments. He is itching for an election and so the Conservatives took dramatic licence.
What I don't understand is why the media feels they have to defend and protect the Liberal party. The Liberal party has been around a long time and is not beyond using dramatic licence i.e. soldiers in the streets. However, we all know why. The media leans to the left and the Liberal leader is weak and so they feel it is their solemn duty to protect the Liberal party.

Richard_S_Argent

I do love the Orwellian Doublethink.

Stasis is Increase!
gottabesaid

"What I don't understand is why the media feels they have to defend and protect the Liberal party."

Oh, give me a break. You can't open a paper without hearing about how inept Michael Ignatieff and the Liberals are.

They're bad ads. They're not worth defending. I'm sure your guys will come up with some better ones in the future. Move on.

Holly Stick

The ads have been removed. Somewhere in the PMO there may be a grownup capable of feeling shame.

hollinm

If they have been removed they have served their purpose.

gottabesaid

Embarrassing the Conservatives? Was that their purpose?

hollinm

Hello are you not reading the media outrage over these ads. I expect it from the Liberal sycophants on this board but virtually all media outlets are attacking the Conservatives over these ads. Let the Liberals fight their own political battles. But no the media has to take a position and write ad nauseum about how the ads jumped the shark and the attackers will be hurt more than the attackees. Give me a break. The damn Liberals have no money, have used attack ads in virtually every election and we only have to look at the last Martin campaing for proof but they can no longer pay for airtime because they are broke so they resort to youtube knowing their crappy in the woods ads will get airtime.
The ads were put on the party website but the trolls found them and poof they are all over the place. The Conservatives are doing exactly what the Libs do. Put them on youtube etc and the media true to form will report on them and there is the free advertising.
They are bad ads but you guys sure are going all out to make sure they are seen. Talk about jumping the shark. It is the Liberal friendly media and people like you on this board who are encouraging more viewings. Get over it. Take your own advice. Move on.

Holly Stick

Those ads were lies. Canadians do not like liars like Harper who assume that Canadians are stupid. You conservatives are revealed to the world as liars.
gottabesaid

Actually, I'm very glad the Conservatives were called out on these ads, just as I was happy at the time that the Liberals were called out on their 'troops in the streets' ads. I find attack ads repulsive, no matter which party they come from, and I'm giddy when it bites the attackees right in the a**. I think it should be screamed from the damn rooftops, and yeah, I hope the Conservative are embarrassed by it. They should be.

But, I know how it is… stop criticizing the Conservatives, start supporting the troops, change the channel, whatever.
gottabesaid

Oh, and since we're talking about misdeeds supposedly being blown out of proportion… and Ignatieff getting a free ride from the media… Do you recall when Ignatieff's summer bus tour began? On the first day, his bus broke down, a few miles down the road. Ignatieff was ridiculed in the media for two or three days after it happened (which is about the lifespan of this ad story). So please, spare me this 'Liberal Friendly' media bullsh*t. The Sun papers actually employ Conservative talking points (eg. 'just visiting') in describing him in their editorials.

And it's the Liberal's fault for an ad that the CONSERVATIVES came up with? Seriously? The Conservatives are the victim? Seriously? Seriously. Seriously?

I know this 'Liberal friendly media' crap is convenient to explain away incidents that don't go your way, but that's all it is. It's shallow attempt to change the channel.
EeeOar

Sycophants?

hollinm

syc·o·phant (sk-fnt, sk-)
n.
A servile self-seeker who attempts to win favor by flattering influential people.

——————————————————————————–
EeeOar

Ahh, so you do know what the word means.

Then why misuse it?

alfanerd

Good point
hollinm

You Libs love your artists and latte sucking types so you should understand what it is all about. Have you forgotten your Liberal values.

Richard_S_Argent

So what you're sayin' is that you guys want to be just like us? Verrry Interesting!

p.s. You seem to have some problems understanding the difference between liberal and Liberal. I suggest you do some reading up on it.

DBM

In the words of Jean-Paul Sartre….

"Au revoir, Monsieur Gopher!"
earl

Frankly Im worried if Harper gets a majority we are one step closer to a police state and a separated Canada.
cyberclark

In the interview Harper confirmed he would change Canada so the Liberals would not recognize it! This means, none of the rest of us would either.

He has a cadre of the 5 western premiers working out of a club in Oregon that can readily defeat parliament by working their agenda. Where are they going? To where ever Conservative ideals takes them. Gone are the CPP OAS and probably Quebec if they have their way. As a long time Conservative, I have put up the Conservative wish list here:
http://albertathedetails.blogspot.com/2011/01/con…

The cadre can be found at http://albertathedetails.blogspot.com/2011/01/con…

The NWT member of this cadre are now going for devolution; that is to become a province where they can hook into Alberta's water export program along with BC.

Strange times these! Probably the most important election in Canadian and Provincial History.
petergoodman

They took the videos down. Wonder why?
Mike T.

Can anyone find an ad from another party which directly attributes a response to a question obviously not the one asked?

This may be a new low.
jonatwitan

But it's not that obvious. I mean, am I really this obtuse? The Cons no doubt framed the question to make Ignatieff look bad, but Ignatieff is clearly (????) saying "Yes! Yes! Yes! Oui!" to the fact that he thinks the Liberals are ready to fight an election.
hollinm

Its called dramatic licence…Oh lets recall…..soldiers in the streets plus assorted other ads put out by the Libs over the years. The problem is the Libs are broke and can't afford to buy air time so they rely on their friends in the media and youtube to get the message out.
Mike T.

I don't think your obtuse.

I think you're lying.
LdKitchenersOwn

Then I guess it's fair to say that Peter MacKay thinks that the government has endangered the security of Canada and risked the lives of our troops by putting Air Canada's need for government-protected profits ahead of our troops need for a secure forward airbase?
hollinm

At it again eh Mikey!