Smeared

Although I'm not sure it's historically accurate it's widely said that Emperor Nero fiddled whilst Rome burnt. It could be said that those in the Labour party are doing much the same during this possibly government ending recession. As I know from my in depth study of the West Wing it is those behind the men at the top that really make things work; the strategists, the thinkers, the spin doctors. That is why it is worrying that such political operatives are devoting their time to set up blogs to spread rumour about their opposition rather than forming a strategy to try and stop people losing their jobs.

Damien Mcbride, who sent the emails, is now staring down the barrel of a life in the political wilderness after what is a a pretty petty mistake to make. Maybe superficially it's a petty action to undertake but is actions have undertones of something more serious. At a time of recession we need people motivated by a sense of civic service not a desire to secure another term through the dirtiest electioneering tactics. When John Mcain consistently tried to smear Barack Obama in the US elections it was largely dismissed as the actions of a desperate man, aware that he was heading towards defeat. With similar ideas being employed by Labour and distinctions being made on private lives rather than policy perhaps they are bound for a similar fate.