Ad Hominem Ad Nauseam

In The Death of the West Patrick Buchanan points out the political differences between the Democrats and the Republicans are inconsequential yet the level of bitterness in mainstream American politics has never been greater.

In New Zealand there is also little difference in the policies of the two main parties, National and Labour. However, over the last few years there has been a marked rise in personal attacks directed against rival politicians.

Among neoconservative bloggers, and among Young Nats on student campuses, there is an intense dislike of Labour leader Helen Clarke, who is often compared to Joseph Stalin in drag. This is despite the fact that Labour’s policies aren’t that much different to Nationals.

Political correctness is one possible reason why politics has got so personal and abusive. Many people are afraid to say what they really think and so prefer to vent their frustrations through personal attacks rather than by explaining why they are opposed to particular policies.

Another factor is the rise of the liberal-right. Libertarians have an intense dislike of state interference in the economy and will latch onto any differences in tax policies between parties no matter how small. As I have mentioned before, libertarianism is a socially acceptable (and often petty) form of political incorrectness since it only really focuses on economic issues and surrenders the cultural sphere to left liberals.

In New Zealand this can be seen in the “ACT guy, Green girl” trend, where an economically conservative/socially moderate male has a socially liberal/economically left wing partner who is oblivious to the male partner’s economically right wing tendencies.

Buchanan believes that the main differences in US politics are in the cultural realm, but for tactical reasons voters continue to support the mainstream parties:

“A hundred times in the campaign of 2000, a voter would come up to me and say that he or she believed in me, and agreed with me but could not vote for me”.

In NZ there is now a pronounced split in the rural/urban vote with the provinces overwhelmingly pro-National. Rural outrage with Labour’s socially liberal manifesto could be seen in the attempts by the Exclusive Brethren to influence the outcome of the 2005 election - a course of action, which attracted considerable unwelcome attention for the normally secretive sect.

No doubt party strategists believe personal attacks are a good strategy. Labour’s campaign to discredit Don Brash certainly achieved its objective. However, it has done little to reduce support for National, which has arguably benefited from Labour’s attacks on its leader, since personal attacks take the focus away from policy shortcomings.

A factor that needs more investigation is the connection between cultural Marxism and personality politics. Since, post-modern theory claims there is no way to assess things with a reasonable degree of objectively it makes sense to judge the message according to the values and behaviour of the messenger, rather than assess the message itself.

Or to put this in political terms- it makes sense to try and discredit your opponents rather than their policies.