More on the NDP spin cycle in Vancouver-Point Grey

This morning, I wrote a post on how the B.C. Liberals and the NDP tried to spin the media about the Vancouver-Point Grey by-election.

The NDP's theme in the campaign was that this was a grassroots, community-oriented attempt to represent the constituency. That was contrasted with a big bad premier who was running for the B.C. Liberals.

The NDP candidate, David Eby, drove this message home at every opportunity.

Perhaps this offers a clue as to why there were so few big shots from the NDP or the B.C. labour movement at his campaign party last night.

I only spotted one MLA, Raj Chouhan, who represents Burnaby-Edmonds.

I didn't see any of the Vancouver MLAs (Spencer Herbert, Shane Simpson, Jenny Kwan, Mable Elmore, or Adrian Dix) during the time I was there. (Note: Dix was there, according to a Straight reporter, as was Jenny Kwan late at night, but they weren't anywhere near the television cameras when the drama was unfolding between 8:50 and 9:30 p.m.)

I also didn't notice any of the other usual NDP heavyweights—Bill Tieleman, Gerry Scott, Geoff Meggs, Jim Sinclair, Joy MacPhail, or Paul Faoro.

If any of them were present, I didn't see them in the period I was there.

Were they told to stay away from all those media because it would have clashed with the NDP story line? Or was it a case of all of them having other obligations? Or were they just disinterested in the outcome of Eby's David-versus-Goliath challenge against the premier?

Regardless of the reason, their absence reinforced the central message: the NDP ran a community-oriented campaign in Vancouver-Point Grey, unlike the premier. If there was an NDP machine calling the shots, it certainly wasn't on display last night.

Comments

13 Comments

glen p robbins

May 12, 2011 at 5:52pm

It was David Eby - NDP vs. Christy Clark BC Liberals.

Christy's spin - first time government has won a by-election in 30 years works - until you consider that some of those governments who lost the by-election won the general election thereafter. Political folks don't normally think through that far in these parts though.

Eby and NDP are bigger winners - because the Green vote has gone from 38% (2005) to 40% (2009) to 45% (2011), while the left siphon the BC Greens have correspondingly gone from 15% (2005) to 8.5% (2009) and 3.5% (2011).

Also, John Cummins and BC Conservatives did not run a candidate but will have the fed's helping them - and Chris Delaney's BC First grabbed 2.5% in foreign lands. Christy Clark will have 2 party's taking away her party's votes provincially - while most agree the BC Greens are fading--and Christy doesn't have enough credibility to make the Greens go with her - particularly when they are beginning to believe its the NDP's turn.

Christy's media friends are trying to spin an election now so she can avoid BC Conservatives getting a head of steam - this by-election was a best case scenario for her ------- the BC Liberals aren't likely to win an election down the road - because of emerging vote splits--coming for sure-------and only one in five will accept an early election (no matter what the retail media is selling).

I don't like Clark's chances in a general election but what can she do? She's Trapped/ like a rat in a cage (but the vert for facial plastic surgery is glowing) - and I don't believe the NDP showed their full force in the PG by-election - readying instead for the full election they want Christy to lead.

The retail media will be schilling like crazy people to mitigate for Christy and the corporate donors - pre-paid.

Desperate - desperate days await - Feeding frenzy for the Doctor and the Jackal.

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monty/that's me

May 12, 2011 at 8:42pm

Adrian was clearly visible, listening to David's very positive speech,sitting next to him on my TV screen. Many of the others were in Victoria where they work. Seems to me you are over-thinking all this. Why? And what is your obsession about visible minorities? Point Grey has been Caucasian for decades, so has much of West Van, Deep Cove, Ladner, Tsawwassen. So what? And how do you know the persons at Ms. Chrispy Crunch's party actually live in the riding? Where is the call for a recount?

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monty/that's me

May 13, 2011 at 12:33am

I posted a comment yesterday. It DID NOT appear. Are you guys acting like the SUN and the PROVINCE and eliminating replies that do not please you? Just checking.

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Geoff Meggs

May 13, 2011 at 6:41am

Charlie, your post is completely wrong. I was there to nominate David in person at his nomination. So was Adrian. So was Bill Tieleman. I canvassed, pulled votes, attended the fundraiser. Saw Bill at the fundraiser. Saw Adrian there. Saw Shane Simpson there. Saw Mike Farnworth working the phones. Saw Jenny on a couple of occasions. I know Don Davies canvassed for David. Etc. Etc.

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SillyRabbit

May 13, 2011 at 9:09am

Maybe it's because the house is sitting right now and the majority of MLAs are in Victoria. They couldn't all be expected to helijet over for the victory party and then heliject back to Victoria ready for the next day's business. Really Charlie, this reads more like a conspiracy theory than a news story.

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Charlie Smith

May 13, 2011 at 9:26am

Geoff,
I was talking about the party at night...not the work on the campaign.

Charlie Smith

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Shepsil

May 13, 2011 at 2:33pm

I suppose we all have our reasons to spin and your's Charlie is to sell newspapers!

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Charlie Smith

May 13, 2011 at 3:34pm

Earth to Shepsil:

1. This is a blog. It's not appearing in a printed newspaper.

2. Our newspaper is free, so nobody buys it.

This second post, which you've taken exception to, was actually written in response to your cheap shot about my last post on the NDP spin. I felt what you wrote was so far off the mark that it caused me to think some more about the Eby party. I wondered where all the union leaders were.

I've since learned that someone in your party actually discussed where people should stand in relation to the television cameras at the David Eby party. I was told this by someone I trust, who overheard the instructions.

If you like, I could write a third post, and we could carry on our conversation. Maybe you would like me to explain why I think Adrian Dix's campaign manager wasn't anywhere near the cameras when the final results were announced at the NDP leadership convention.

Didn't you find it a bit strange that the campaign manager who orchestrated this momentous event, Gerry Scott, was nowhere to be seen? I did. And I think I know the reason why.

Don't you think it's a bit pathetic that some NDP spin doctors had to orchestrate an election-night party for the TV cameras. I can only imagine what type of control freaks they'll be when they form government.

Charlie Smith

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Brent

May 13, 2011 at 8:41pm

Charlie, you are either amazingly naive or purposefully obtuse if you are surprised that TV appearances by politicians are orchestrated. And sometimes orchestrated by the media themselves to fit the story.

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SillyRabbit

May 14, 2011 at 7:54am

Charlie, you're losing it. Have a nice cup of tea. You'll feel better.

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