Is there a more odious, pathetic, political buzz-word than “dog-whistling”?
Because, here’s the funny thing about a dog whistle: only dogs can hear them.
So, if you’re a journalist or politician screeching that your opponent is “dog-whistling”, you’re admitting that you are a dog. Otherwise you wouldn’t be able to hear this supposed “dog-whistle”. If you claim to hear a “racist dog-whistle”, then you must be a racist dog.
Over to you, journos and pollies. Who among you is hearing a dog-whistle, now?
Well, Stuff for a start, apparently. “Maori leaders”, too. In other words, two groups in New Zealand who’ve profited mightily from race-baiting. The embodiment of Thomas Sowell’s observation of those who keep racism “on life support”: politicians, race hustlers and people who get a sense of superiority by denouncing others as “racists”.
And nothing says Labor know they’re on a hiding to nothing in the upcoming election than the flailing, desperate resort to race-baiting.
National leader Christopher Luxon may face ongoing pressure over willingness to work with parties who some accuse of inflaming anti-Maori sentiment.
The Labour leader Chris Hipkins met with Maori leaders in the Far North and directly questioned the National Party leader on race relations during Wednesday night’s leaders’ debate […]
After confronting Luxon about working with NZ First, when both leaders agreed comments from its party had been racist, Hipkins continued his focus on race relations.
Because, of course he is. He’s got nothing else.
But, here’s the thing: Tweedledum can agree with Tweedledumber until the cows come home that a comment is “racist” — but neither of them, nor the pearl-clutching journalists and “Maori leaders” have done anything to prove it.
The comment quoted by Hipkins on Wednesday, from Rob Ballantyne, targeted who the NZ candidate called “elite Maori”.
“Cry if you want to, we don’t care. You pushed it too far. We are the party with the cultural mandate and courage to cut out your disease and bury it permanently,” he said.
So, where’s the “racism”?
Is it as blatantly racist as, say, claiming genetic superiority? That one race (and sex) is the sole source of violence in the community? Both of those are unequivocally racist, especially the claim of racial superiority, something straight out of the Nazi playbook.
The only thing is that both of those statements came from prominent Maori in the Labor government’s partnership. Indeed, the most open racism is spewed by the one party in New Zealand which is explicitly racial.
Then there’s this sterling piece of towering hypocrisy from the “Maori leaders”:
“Race-baiting for votes is not new here in Aotearoa. But this election, the dog whistling and the outright public displays of racism from political candidates have increased to unacceptable levels,” their joint statement said.
I’ll repeat: if you can hear a dog-whistle, what does that make you?
ACT leader David Seymour on Friday downplayed the critiques. He called them “self-proclaimed Maori leaders”. (Most iwi and marae leaders are elected.)
Seymour continued: “The open letter goes on to reference ‘the race-baiting policies of the Act Party.’ The letter never says what they are. It is a serious accusation backed up by zero evidence.”
Stuff
Of course not. Because if they had to produce evidence of legitimate racism, they’d have to hold up a mirror.
