Last Friday there was a post at The Standard called Climate of Deception at Fox News.
It has been long known that the name “Fox News” should really be known as “Faux News” because it doesn’t believe in reporting reality. It just makes crap up and spins everything to avoid dealing with reality.
This was posted under the handle of lprent, although that poster is open about his identity (Lynn Prentice) and connections with the Labour Party. Most Standard posts are done anonymously.
A post in the weekend, Key’s sickening opportunism over Norway attacks, was posted by “Zetetic”. It was claimed on other blogs that “Zetetic” was Trevor Mallard, or was closely associated with Mallard. This was denied on Kiwiblog.
While lprent frequently strongly denies (perhaps too strongly) that The Standard is a Labour Party blog, the frequent posts with obviously strong Labour agendas make it clear that Labour Party posts dominate the blog. Outside The Standard this would be a common perception:
It has been long known that the name “The Standard” should really be known as “Labour Propaganda” because it doesn’t believe in reporting reality. It just makes crap up and spins everything to promote Labour and to attack National and John Key.
If Zetetic is Trevor Mallard it further dents Mallard’s online and political credibility. If it is someone connect to Mallard, same. It is obviously someone close to the Labour Party – this reflects very poorly on Labour, especially because the frequent attacks are gutless and anonymous.
Many people comment on political blogs anonymously, often with perfectly good reasons.
There is no good reason for politicians or people connected to politicians or political parties to post anonymously. It is deceitful and dishonest.
Anonymous blog posts that have obvious political agendas should be regarded with deep suspicion and derision, they have no credibility and are a discredit to the politicians and parties they represent.
Earlier this term the Labour Party paid lip service to transparency in politics. That they keep blogging anonymously with attacks on opponents proves they were not serious about transparency. What other purported policies do they treat with this level of disregard and disrespect.
Labour are not alone in this online dishonesty, but they are prominently and repeatedly involved and especially at the moment are the most obvious example of online deceit in our politics.
There is a climate of deception at The Standard with Labour closely associated with the deceit. If they had guts and integrity they would fess up and pledge to be an open and transparent blog, and an open and honest party. Their most likely reaction will be standard procedure, to attack the messenger instead.
