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A community leader (in Dickson) told me last night that Mr Peter Dutton (who they had met, several times) was, in fact, quite a nice person and the bad things that he enacted were actually a manifestation from the party he has a senior role in.
A thread
Imagine my face.
#auspol
A thread
Imagine my face.
#auspol
Yup. I was at quite a fancy party indeed. They were progressive, community minded people. Enviro and sustainability motivated.
I've done a great deal of door knocking right across Dickson. I've spoken to all types and heard all sorts of ideas and opinions.
I've done a great deal of door knocking right across Dickson. I've spoken to all types and heard all sorts of ideas and opinions.
I'm not often unsettled or surprised anymore.
But in this group. From this person. It hit me hard. Despair rising.
Because this man had been charmed by Mr Dutton. Maybe a guest appearance at his groups community event. Maybe a large grant. Praise for his group. Recognition.
But in this group. From this person. It hit me hard. Despair rising.
Because this man had been charmed by Mr Dutton. Maybe a guest appearance at his groups community event. Maybe a large grant. Praise for his group. Recognition.
Maybe social time. Drinks and conversation after some event.
I do not know.
This nice chap voted red at state and green last fed. He is quite a smart man. Not prone saying things he doesn't mean. He isn't rusted to one party. He is progressive.
And I was gobsmacked. Speechless
I do not know.
This nice chap voted red at state and green last fed. He is quite a smart man. Not prone saying things he doesn't mean. He isn't rusted to one party. He is progressive.
And I was gobsmacked. Speechless
I stood trying to figure out this paradox.
And it wasn't this man's fault. He isn't to blame. He isn't wrong, it's his opinion.
But charm had won him over.
Mr Dutton gets many opportunities to address groups of voters. Schools. P&Cs
And it wasn't this man's fault. He isn't to blame. He isn't wrong, it's his opinion.
But charm had won him over.
Mr Dutton gets many opportunities to address groups of voters. Schools. P&Cs
Sporting clubs. Churches. Men's sheds. It's a long list.
Charm. It's enough to win over many voters.
And it falls to me (or us) to change that.
So if you think that calling him a potato is going win anyone over, I hope you understand just how outgunned you are.
Charm. It's enough to win over many voters.
And it falls to me (or us) to change that.
So if you think that calling him a potato is going win anyone over, I hope you understand just how outgunned you are.
Milliseconds has crawled past and I had to respond to this man....
What would you have countered with?
What would you have said?
(Far out, who is even still reading this far down the thread?
)
What would you have countered with?
What would you have said?
(Far out, who is even still reading this far down the thread?
)
I had to talk about something more important than grants, praise and drinks. More important than his community group.
I had to make him feel something.
I had to make him feel something.
...So I explained one of the reasons I want a better MP. A story about something that happened to me when I was younger. It's a story that illustrates how I hold different values to Mr Dutton
Not facts. Not arguing. Or name calling.
Not facts. Not arguing. Or name calling.
A strong story about values that I share with The Listener which in turn triggers strong feelings from them.
I'll probably never find out with any certainty whether the story had a strong effect on him or not.
God damn his words will haunt me for a long time.
God damn his words will haunt me for a long time.
