NPA and Vision Vancouver are pretty good at staying on the message track

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      Even though it's more than four months till the next Vancouver election, the Non-Partisan Association and Vision Vancouver appear to have their marketing messages in order.

      The NPA's central theme under mayoral candidate Kirk LaPointe is that it will listen to Vancouverites.

      It's even promoting the hashtag #NPAlistens.

      The NPA has also reinforced this through its slogan: "Your Vancouver. You Deserve a Voice."

      The implication, of course, is that the governing Vision Vancouver doesn't listen to the citizenry, who have no voice in governance.

      The NPA's secondary message is that it will offer more financial transparency than Vision ever has.

      In other words, if you vote Kirk LaPointe for mayor, you'll get open, honest, respectful government.

      Vision, on the other hand, likes to say it's moving "forward" and that the NPA will only take the city backward.

      It's a blatant copy of President Barack Obama's campaign slogan in 2012, but the marketing whizzes in charge of Vision are hoping you won't notice that.

      In the most recent Vision news release, I counted four mentions of "forward" (not counting the fifth "forward" in the headline).

      There were also three mentions of "backwards".

      Naturally, all the "backwards" were in connection with the NPA and all the "forward" messages related to Vision. 

      Expect both parties to spend at least $2 million each between now and election day to drive home these respective themes.

      Welcome to 21st-century politics, Vancouver-style.

      Comments

      6 Comments

      Disgusted

      Jul 14, 2014 at 6:32pm

      The Vision people hire Americans--or people who have worked on 'Merican elections--to help them pump their crap out.

      And,as we have seen it's all form over function with them. Why actually do something when mere sloganeering is so much easier?

      Nothing new in their approach. I guess no one wants to make the connection between TIDES USA and Tides Canada, huh?

      Kevin Smith

      Jul 14, 2014 at 7:42pm

      Is it not odd that the NPA wants to listen to people and yet who did the executive listen to before they 'appointed' their mayoral candidate? Why no open process?

      Jack

      Jul 15, 2014 at 9:58am

      Kevin - who cares if they appointed their mayoral candidate, that's generally how it's done. The citizens have the opportunity to vote for who they want to be mayor in November.

      Now stop taking your comments from Vision news releases and apply some critical thinking before posting.

      Nelson100

      Jul 15, 2014 at 12:26pm

      Here's a thought. Let's throw them both out of power. Just for curiosity's sake let's see what happens when developers aren't running our city. It's entirely possible and might be interesting.

      Whitespot

      Jul 15, 2014 at 1:05pm

      Campaign spending limits now.

      Anyone but Vision

      Jul 15, 2014 at 10:10pm

      Although I am not a huge fan of NPA, LaPointe seems like a very good candidate, NOT a politician (BIG PLUS), and they're talking the talk... Vision is running a dictatorship and absolutely do NOT LISTEN! Anyone says the contrary, is either paid by Vision, has never been to city hall of just is oblivious.

      I sure hope we get rid of ALL Vision councilors, vote a minority party in, with a mix of different parties.