Media continue to pile pressure on the National Party over their handling of emails leaked by Michelle Boag.
Boag has already resigned from the party and withdrawn from being involved in Nikki Kaye’s electorate campaign, and MP Hamish Walker has pulled the plug on his political career after admitting forwarding private information about Covid cases to media.
But the weekend is full on trying to find something else to dump on National.
Kaye fronted up on Q+A – 1 News chose an uncomplimentary photo.
This is a common way media try to convey something about politicians.
Jack Tame also said that while Kaye looked genuine in denying knowing about the leaks from Boag ‘it still looked very suspicious she didn’t know’. Why? Either they take her word for it, or find evidence she wasn’t being truthful. Politicians have enough problems when they don’t look genuine, but saying ‘she looked genuine but…’ is bordering on dirty politics.
In contrast, the Spinoff was more kind with it’s photo selection:
Political leaks are frequently used by media. In this case they are distancing themselves, but questions are also being asked about the media involvement.
Mediawatch (RNZ): Walkergate revives Dirty Politics vibes (audio):
A universally-condemned leak of Covid-19 patients’ personal data for political purposes prompted the media to ask if ‘Dirty Politics’ was back – or had ever gone away in the first place. But just like Nicky Hager’s book in 2014, this episode also raised questions about the media’s handling of the leak itself.
Dirty politics worked and works because the media amplified political attacks, often from leaks.