From the inbox today (names removed):
“This annoys me. I have been giving to the Conservative Party for years, but it seems like the guys running the show there has just been waiting for an excuse to ask for more cash, to play more ads, and so on. Wash, rinse, repeat.
From: Doug Finley, Director of Political Operations [Conservative Party of Canada]
Sent: Thursday, March 19, 2009 11:30 AM
To: [Conservative supporter]
Subject: Liberal hypocrisy is back.
March 19, 2009
Dear [Conservative supporter],
Liberal hypocrisy is back.
After having their Leader and National Director decry the use of negative political advertising, the Liberal “War Room” has been actively promoting television-ready anti-Conservative attack ads on the web.
Given that the style, sourcing and messaging of the ads are identical to attack material being generated by paid Liberal staff, it's clear that the Liberal “War Room” is test-driving ads.
What does this mean?
First, the Liberals are sloppy . The Liberal “War Room” has tipped its leader's hand by demonstrating that the Party's opposition to attack ads and shallow, manufactured outrage is nothing more than a lie.
Second, the Liberals will say anything to win . The ads being promoted by the Liberal “War Room” are full of errors. Time and time again, the Liberal attack ads misquote and distort the words of our Prime Minister
Third and finally, Conservatives must be ready to respond . Unlike the Liberals, we can't rely on powerful special interests to deliver our messages for us. We need to have the financial and volunteer resources to fight back.
So please consider making a special, one-time contribution to help defend our Party and our Prime Minister from the Liberal attack machine – a machine that professes outrage at attack ads with one hand, while releasing vicious attack ads of their own with the other.
$50. $100. $200. Whatever you can afford. We will use your donation efficiently and wisely to prepare the Conservative Party for more attacks from the Liberal “War Room”.
P.S. Never forget that in 2004 the Liberal Party of Canada launched pre-campaign attack ads against Stephen Harper less than two months after he became leader of the Conservative Party of Canada.
Doug Finley
Director of Political Operations
Conservative Party of Canada
Nobody likes attack ads…but if you set expectations by claiming “they started it” -supporters are less turned off when the (responding) ads roll out.
Similarily, those expectations can be used to raise cash-in response to the ever perceived threat of liberal attack dogs and media bias.
Usually an effective technique, just might not be that effective given the current econ/politic climate.
The difference between the Conservative attack ads and the Liberal attack ads is that the Conservatives attack people on a personal level whereas the Liberals attack the Conservatives based on the performances and policies of their short time in government. Frankly the whole aspect of attacking people rather than policies is wearing thin with me and I wish they would just keep rhetoric to a minimal, but that’s just my opinion.