Isn’t it curious how Warren Kinsella can put out a whole column opining on pros & cons of third party advertising without once ever mentioning the Working Families Coalition?
No worries. Lorrie Goldstein has done that for him – Attack ad double standards:
Unlike in federal campaigns, there are no limits on third-party advertising during Ontario elections.
In the last one, Hudak wasn’t just under constant assault from the WFC — including an ad that portrayed him as a stooge of Bay St. — but a broad array of left-wing special interests.
As Maclean’s reported Sept. 20, 2011 at the height of the Ontario campaign:
“As of last week, all six third-party advertisers registered with the province’s election watchdog were either labour organizations or coalitions who have in the past run attack ads against Progressive Conservative Leader Tim Hudak. Meantime, an array of environmentalists, NGOs and green entrepreneurs have joined forces in hopes of saving (McGuinty’s) two-year-old Green Energy Act, with plans for unprecedented forays into the ground-level campaign. Leaders of the ad hoc group deny they are acting for or against specific parties or candidates. But Hudak is the only leader committed to undoing the act’s key provisions.” During the 2011 Ontario election, McGuinty and the Liberals didn’t have to run ads attacking Hudak because the WFC and others did it for them.
In the 2007 Ontario election, Maclean’s reported, 90% of the $2.3 million raised by third-party advertisers went to groups opposed to Tory policies.
The Ontario Tories charge the WFC is a front group for the Liberals, which the WFC, composed of teacher, nursing and other unions, denies.
While there are political links between the Liberals and the WFC, Elections Ontario and the courts have rejected the Tory allegation the WFC is a Liberal front.
In the latest chapter, the Tories have been granted leave to appeal the court decision.
Please read the whole column. It’s a real eye-opener.
Christina Blizzard has written extensively on the need for Ontario election spending laws to be reviewed. This column is especially intriguing – Link between unions and Libs:
…But the presentation leaked to me shows that top Liberal campaign organizer — and fellow Sun columnist — Warren Kinsella actually made a presentation to United Association Local 46 — a plumbers’ union — where he pitched the idea that they should become politically involved.
The 28-page presentation laid out talking points about the record of the Mike Harris and Ernie Eves governments, and tied them to Tim Hudak.
The last two slides tell the union members to act:
“Not just a lawn sign,” it says.
“Contact your local newspaper. Submit letters to the editor. Open line radio shows.” It also tells them to get involved with social media.
“Use paid media, such as radio or television ads,” says the presentation.
It said, “politically-charged campaigns launched by other unions have been successful in the past” — pointing to the controversial Working Families’, “Not This Time Ernie,” campaign of 2003.
When I contacted him Thursday, Kinsella said the union requested the presentation.
“I was asked by the union to come and speak to them before the election about how to avoid a Hudak-PC government. I spoke to about 200 people, and they were introduced to me as members of all of the political parties,” he said in an e-mailed response.
“I encouraged them to get involved in the democratic process in any way they could. One way they could do that is to advertise, and to, of course, ensure that they followed all of the Elections Ontario rules…
We need some public pressure to change those Ontario rules and make them more fair.
And BTW if the National Citizen’s Coalition was really trying to help the CPC’s political fortunes, why would they be running an ad against Bob Rae now?
Think about it.
However they’re probably very grateful for the ‘earned media’ – especially from Kinsella.
Joe and Jane Frontporch of the Liberal Party have now been duly warned.
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Update
That Warren Kinsella is one smart dude. He gets to look so wise and principled when he tells the Libs to fight back, even though just like the NCC he is warning the Liberal Party about the dangers of a Bob Rae coronation.
Amazing. Volumes will be written about this man someday.
As Google is to searching on the internet; as Kleenex is to tissues, so will Kinsella be to genius political strategy.
