Dublin Opinion

The problem with the various campaigns around the Lisbon Treaty is that in order to get a simple message across to a wide audience you have to reduce a complicated topic to a simple black and white argument. However, simplification does not mean basic distortion, like using a dodgy doctored photo originally used by a website called Shame on Jew.

Hugh Green posts this video from Generation Yes which runs through a selection of the opponents of the Lisbon Treaty and says why they can’t be trusted. It starts with The Socialist Party and describes them as Irish Trotskists. So there is no confusion they show a picture of Leon Trotsky using a whip on two naked and bent over women. Hugh helpfully puts up the original photo of Trotsky ( without the poorly drawn whip and with the prostrate women) which was modified to ‘reveal’ that he liked whipping womens’ backsides.

Suzy Byrne of Mamam Poulet also posts the Generation Yes video.

In what is one of the better political videos from a party or campaign group that I’ve yet to see in any campaign in Ireland, Generation Yes spend a little time looking at their opposition. Now a bit of spellchecking and proofreading would make it better but there are a few interesting swipes in there. I’m sure that after the initial skirmishes this week Generation Yes will be heading back to the issues.

Yes, typos and poor phrasing….AND THE WOMEN’S ASSES!

Maybe I’m a fusspot, but I find this tactic from Generation Yes to be quite disturbing. I’m not saying this because I support the Socialist Party (I’m not saying whether I do or not), or that I support a No vote (ditto), I’m saying it because the strategy is indicative of those who think that there is no point in dealing with the substantial issues around the Lisbon debate and believe instead that flinging mud is the best way forward. I suspect that they think that there is no point in engaging with the issues that The Socialist Party raise, or that if they did, their ‘audience’ wouldn’t ‘get the message’. Okay, so its a quick video, used to make simple points and is not meant as a tool for dealing with more complicated arguments. So why use the photo? It hardly helps.

Did they not think that it could be seen as offensive, especially to the female members of the Socialist Party?

Of course not. It’s just a quick fun video used to rubbish those who argue for a no vote. ‘Clowns to the Left of me/jokers on the Right/stuck in the middle with You’.

According to the Generation Yes website Andrew Byrne is its Executive Director. He is also

Chief of Operations for Ireland for Europe, the independent citizens’ campaign for a ‘Yes’ vote, headed by Pat Cox.

I wondering if Pat and Joe will be exchanging emails again, and if so, will it be published in the Irish Times?