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Going Negative
My understanding is that Fine Gael has not, historically, been very good at the key political party task of winning elections. Nevertheless, I like the looks of their campaign posters. It seems that the other side will raise your taxes and be soft on terrorism. Who needs that?
But just to prove that the language of negative campaigning is not, in fact, universal, here comes campaign poster number three. On one leve, the fact that I have no idea what this is supposed to mean is a testament to its strength. Clearly, you can tell that you should vote for Fine Gael. They're on your side. The other party doesn't listen to you. That sucks. Nobody wants to vote for a party like that. Plus, they don't look like the sort of people you should vote for. "Parlon Politics," clearly, isn't something I want. But what is it? What is this ad trying to say? My best guess is that this is supposed to be some sort of appeal to homophobia, but that could be seriously wrong. Anyways, perhaps readers can provide enlightenment. What's going on here?
April 15, 2005 | Permalink
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What is Parlon Politics? Who knows. [Read More]
Tracked on Apr 16, 2005 5:18:48 PM
Comments
What in this poster, which seems to be a politician dressed up as a old-style sheriff, prompts you to think of homophobia?
Posted by: Otto | Apr 15, 2005 9:58:51 AM
The goofy colors of his outfit? I wouldn't have thought he was supposed to look gay myself, just silly. Do you know what "Parlon" means?
Posted by: LizardBreath | Apr 15, 2005 10:04:11 AM
According to the magical Internet, the dude in the picture is Tom Parlon. I am not certain what sort of politics "Parlon politics" are.
Posted by: Ethical Werewolf | Apr 15, 2005 10:13:04 AM
Hmm, Sheriff, Western garb - Who da cowboy in da white house?
Posted by: RKW | Apr 15, 2005 10:13:43 AM
Yeah, the color scheme and the fey doo-dad around the neck suggested "gay" to me. But I really have no idea. The revelation that "Parlon" is a person and not an Irish slang term brings us closer to understanding. Homosexuality may be nothing but a red herring.
Posted by: Matthew Yglesias | Apr 15, 2005 10:15:26 AM
I've seen Scottish movies where Scottish people in a Scottish bar are dressed in Old West clothing and dancing to a country western, as in western U.S., band. (And no, I haven't had any acid that good for about 35 years.)
What this all means, I think, is that you need to be careful in Scotland or you'll have a terrible travel flashback.
What is means in context is totally beyond me.
Posted by: serial catowner | Apr 15, 2005 10:20:09 AM
You know, I'm a little slow, but I do believe Matthew wants to date an Irish girl (or boy, as the case may be). Clever devil! Well, just learn a litle Gaelic and their heart will be yours....
Posted by: serial catowner | Apr 15, 2005 10:36:37 AM
Wow. Welcome to the world of visual journalism.
Isn't the stereotype in America that all our cops are of Irish or Scottish origin? Maybe that stereotype is based on something real.
Posted by: Roxanne | Apr 15, 2005 10:38:19 AM
I am troubled by the ad. If I'm supposed to like the guy in the picture, it is an abject failure. If they are smearing the guy in the picture, I have to assume it is photoshopped, and I lose more respect for the smearers.
Posted by: Njorl | Apr 15, 2005 10:40:55 AM
One wonders what authors of this ad imagine would be a response to it. "Hi, I'm with Parlon for Sheriff. I'm here to tell you we advocate dubious fashion sense and studiously constitutent-averse governance. Funny how the Fine Gael campaign recognized these subtle but key planks of our agenda and, by publicizing them, is making our case for us! Thanks you guys!"
Posted by: inip | Apr 15, 2005 10:41:18 AM
I'm wirh RKW on this one. Isn't it pretty obviously a Bush parody? I have no idea what "Parlon" is, though.
Posted by: Daniel A. Munz | Apr 15, 2005 10:45:51 AM
Head of the Irish Farmer's Association.
Posted by: John Emerson | Apr 15, 2005 10:59:10 AM
I'd say it's less "Gay Cowboy" and more "Little Boy Playing Sheriff".
Which is also a pretty good description of the Bush administration.
Posted by: Mike | Apr 15, 2005 11:26:08 AM
Um, I am not really familiar with (modern) Irish politics, but it looks to me like a fairly clear attempt to associate the opponent with George W. Bush: American tourist clothing, sherrif badge, W chimp leer on the face, etc.
Cranky
Posted by: Cranky Observer | Apr 15, 2005 11:40:59 AM
The criticisms seem to be that he has abandoned his former constituents, I would assume farmers, and that he is in favor of "maximally" using state power to benefit his party.
also, it seems a common bush theme:
Bush as boy cowboy
Posted by: theCoach | Apr 15, 2005 11:47:33 AM
Parlon is the former head of the Irish Farmers' Association, and now a member of the minority party in government, the Progressive Democrats. The PDs are a right wing party - the three posters are an attempt to tar Fianna Fail by association with major figures in the PDs (who tend to be less interested in consensus-based politics, and more controversial). My best guess is that the poster is meant to suggest that Parlon's a bit of a cowboy. The middle poster (guy with glasses and key) depicts my uncle, Michael McDowell. While I disagree with him on many issues, I think I'm on safe ground in saying that accusations that he's soft on terrorism are quite incredible (he's the Irish politician who is most frequently and vehemently denounced by Sinn Fein, the IRA's political wing).
Posted by: Henry Farrell | Apr 15, 2005 12:02:01 PM
Tom Parlon is a TD (as Béarla: 'member of parliament') and minister of state. (As John notes, he used to be head of the IFA as well.) He is a Progressive Democrat. The PDs began as a splinter from Fianna Fáil (Irish for 'cute hoors') who, during the reign of Charles Haughey, were too corrupt even for the standards of some FFers. Now, however, the PDs are in coalition with FF.
The poster alludes to Parlon's putting up billboards in his constituency that read 'Welcome to Parlon Country'. The point was this: the government had decided to decentralise the civil service, removing various offices from Dublin and sending them (and the swag that goes with them) to the bogs and hillsides. The billboards were Parlon's way of telling his constituents, 'That's my pork. I did this!' There was some question at the time whether he had improperly used confidential information about the budget, or alternatively whether he had in fact anything at all to do with the decentralisation decision. At any rate he did make political hay out of it.
Fine Gael, as you might suppose, do not like the PDs. The other posters on the FG website tweak two of Parlon's comrades, justice minister Michael McDowell and PD party leader Mary Harney (who, as Serial Catowner will no doubt be thrilled to learn, currently holds the office of Tánaiste).
Posted by: Mrs Tilton | Apr 15, 2005 12:07:38 PM
Serial- I've never seen American tourists dressed like that- anywhere. Ever. On halloween, children, maybe.
Posted by: TJ | Apr 15, 2005 12:33:02 PM
Yes, Country and Western music (and bars, dress, rodeos, dancing) is big in the Scottish Highlands. It's one of the many things that makes the Highlands the British Appalachia (I think I mean Appalachia); others include...
mountains (obviously),
strong and weird religious beliefs,
relatively large numbers of guns by British standards,
extremely heavy drinking (especially whisky),
Land-Rovers up on bricks in front of every house (the local equivalent of the pickup:no Highland farmer is complete without a 40-year-old Land-Rover which still works, somehow, despite the engine being apparently a solid block of rust held together by baling twine),
severe poverty,
strong military culture (the Highland regiments),
a fairly casual regard for the law, especially as it applies to driving (specifically the bits barring those who are either nine years old, legally blind, or stinking drunk), distilling, smuggling and poaching,
and a history of rebellion (the '15, the '45), armed anarchy, clan feuds, horrible landlords, and cattle rustlin'.
Key difference: north of the Highland Line you are in strong Liberal Democratic country, and it has been Liberal since the term was invented.
God's own country.
Posted by: ajay | Apr 15, 2005 12:38:02 PM
Ok, so the consensus seems to be that the cowboy meme is a shot at the US, but ummm, the color scheme ain't exactly John Wayne. Either there's more going on here than just a cowboy reference, or the Euros really don't get the American cowboy.
Posted by: Dave | Apr 15, 2005 1:37:24 PM
The other thing that makes the Scottish Highlands the British Appalachia is that a lot of Appalachia was settled when their their ancestors were forced out of the Highlands at gunpoint...
Posted by: Bob McGrew | Apr 15, 2005 1:52:12 PM
Ok, so the consensus seems to be that the cowboy meme is a shot at the US, but ummm, the color scheme ain't exactly John Wayne. Either there's more going on here than just a cowboy reference, or the Euros really don't get the American cowboy.
The point of political attack ads is not accurate portrayal, its creating a negative impression. Making him look like a crazy kid playing cowboy dress-up is more effective than making him look like a real cowboy.
Posted by: cmdicely | Apr 15, 2005 3:55:25 PM
Not to be a stickler, but as an Appalachian, I feel qualified to say: we are the American Highlands - they aren't the British Apps.
Posted by: Dave M | Apr 15, 2005 7:48:11 PM
Cowboy is a derogatory term out there. ie. shoddy workmanship may have been done by "cowboy builders". Unprofessional, unorganised, low quality...
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