Dirt in Adelaide

Last week I said that the Federal election would heat up this week with dirty tactics emerging in the marginal seats ... and it has started in the seat of Adelaide.
Yesterday in my letterbox I found a flier from one of the major parties. It criticised the other candidate.
It was brilliant; it was cruel; it hit below the belt; it had impact; it was disgusting.
And the photo (taken in a dark corner at some event) was Photoshopped to show the hapless candidate at his worst. It painted a sad picture.
It probably was truthful, but it was unnecessary; and significantly reduces the credibility and niceness of the candidate who sent it.

A tip for budding politicians:
Never say anything stupid. Pause and think before you speak.
If you wear a jacket, then do up the buttons, especially when it is a black tie event.
(If you can't do up the buttons, then buy a bigger jacket.)
Avoid being photographed when holding a stubby of beer. A glass of white wine would be more acceptable; it demonstrates restraint.

So, what will be the impact of this brochure?
I suspect very little. In most cases it went straight into the bin.
Most of us decided how we will vote weeks ago and probably won't be influenced now.
Those of us who kept it are probably of the mind that it was more disgusting that a major party candidate felt that it was necessary to resort to such low and dirty behaviour.

The trouble is that most candidates don't have much say as to what their party does in electioneering in their electorate. They are just names on a ballot with their leaders calling the shots during the election campaign. It would be nice to hear more from candidates speaking from the heart rather than from the party script. I'd even give them credit if at times they disagreed with the position of their party.

The voters should not be taken for mugs.
That brochure should not have been sent.

Disclaimer: I am not a member of any political party. 🎯