On Friday Zetetic put up a post at the Standard headlined Dunne is angry. This got a lot of attention because of claims that were proven to false, and that Zetetic knew they were false. But that’s another (continuing) story with one part in Dishonest Politics. This is just a part of that story which so far has been overlooked – the claim of anger.

Zetetic wrote:

Underneath the ‘common-sense’ exterior, and all that hair, Peter Dunne is an angry man. He lashed out that those who pointed out he’s voting for asset sales he never told his electorate he would support. He screamed at losing TVNZ7 – Backbenches is his one chance to get on the telly. And he’s going feral on the Conservatives because they could usurp him.

The statement “pointed out he’s voting for asset sales he never told his electorate he would support” is what has already proven to be blatantly false.

The rest includes “angry”, “lashed out”, “screamed”, “going feral”.

It’s true that Dunne has been getting some media coverage lately, he doesn’t get much of that usually. How angry is he? He says:

This is all complete nonsense –for a start, I don’t do angry, and most of what passes for analysis here is sheer fantasy.

I’m sure Dunne sometimes gets frustrated in politics – anyone would – and may even do the occasional bit of apparent angry outburst. But he’s generally known (and criticised) more for his levelheadedness, and has a reputation of being sensible and just goes about his work outside the media glare.

Now as usual Zetetic didn’t provide any facts or examples, ‘Eddie’ doesn’t seem to demand that of him. So, particularly when associated with proven falsities, it’s easy to be very sketical of these claims. Most of the emotion seems to be from Zetetic’s language, not Dunne’s.

Zetetic closed his/her post with:

No wonder Dunne’s blood pressure is up. His little micro-niche in the political ecological is under threat.

Oh, and if you think Dunne’s angry now, just wait until Operation Ohariu.

Operation Ohariu is on the Labour PArty website with Charles Chauvel’s name on it.

On the 26th and 27th of May, in conjunction with People’s Power Ohariu, we’re going to send Peter Dunne a message. We need your help to do it.

So Labour have directly associated themsleves with People’s Power Ohariu now. That makes it seem more like an attempt at reliving a lost election.

Dunne holds the casting vote on asset sales – that’s how thin National’s majority is. The people of Ohariu can make a difference by sending their MP a message.

We need as many helpers as we can get to turn up to Ohariu, disperse in our numbers throughout the Ohariu electorate to get signatures on the Keep Our Assets petition.

Four shifts, two days, and 24,000 signatures.

That’s a huge target, surely thet don’t expect to get that many in Ohariu?

This will be the easiest campaign task you’ve had. People queue up to sign this petition throughout the country. All we need to do is give people the opportunity to have their say.

We’re calling on every Labour member throughout our region to help.

Labour bet the last election on campaigning against asset sales, and went backwards. It looks like they are trying to bet the next election on it too.  But the wisdom of that is another story. Back to the main point here.

I don’t think Dunne is angry, but…

I think Zetetic wants Dunne to get angry, he wants to get under his skin, to rile him, to provoke him, hoping Dunne will react into doing something that would make good anti-Dunne ammunition. I would bet that the ultimate aim is to try and destroy Dunne’s career.

It’s how “Zetetic” seems to operate. Factless accusations and smears to try and provoke a reaction that can then be used against the target. And “Zetetic” (and “Eddie”) aren’t alone in doing this.

More posts to follow on “provoke and hope”.