Beware taunting the Do Nothings

I think Tory Energy Minister Lloyd Parrott made a big mistake. I could use dramatic terms like a fatal mistake, political suicide, massive blunder and other such phrases but they are cliches. I do think he put his foot in it. And from what I can see, for no reason.

Let me explain. A few weeks ago, Parrott rose in the “Special Debate” in the House to speak on the Tories new Churchill Falls deal with Quebec. It wasn’t an actual debate; it was a fast-track rubber stamp. It passed by a slim majority (21-18). The strategy was to get it passed, and quickly. Quebec wants it, Ottawa wants it. The Tories had the votes (just barely). All they had to do was get through it.

So why did Parrott pick a fight?

To my mind he made a couple of gaffes. First, during a speech in the House about this very contentious issue he decided to deride some of the people opposed to the deal. He attempted to marginalise them as “do nothings” on the internet. It seems he meant to say these were people who preferred not to make a deal with Quebec, just sit out the remaining years of the original lop-sided contract. I think he meant these people preferred to do nothing. It came across to many as deriding people on the internet as people who do nothing.

Will this be a rallying point in a fight not yet over?

Parrott and his colleagues got elected for a bunch of reasons, but near the top was the voters dislike of the Liberal’s Churchill Falls deal and their promise to have a referendum on any deal they could strike. Then they broke that promise. Was that a mistake? Time will tell.

Then Parrott taunted his opponents. He seemed to deride social media as a bit of a joke.

As mainstream media dies a slow death, is mocking folks on the internet wise? Will this be an instance where social media is harnessed to effect change? Stop the deal? Bring the Tories to heel? Will Newfoundlands online feel their oats?

When I worked in the House of Assembly one of the tasks my colleague and I were asked to perform was to vet speeches for politicians. Everyone needs an editor, no one more than a politician giving a speech. We often picked up on things our bosses wanted to say but maybe shouldn’t.

Had I been working for Parrott I would have highlighted that part and asked him if he really wanted to poke the bear? Stir up a wasp’s nest? As a former legislative reporter who listened to a million droning speeches that phrase jumped out.

Why give comfort and motivation to your opponents? If he had not mocked those folks, his speech would have just dissolved into all the other hot air no one was covering. The House was open four days. Everyone spoke. Do any of us remember a word?

There is no doubt social media will replace mainstream media. There is no doubt it will become a force in politics. I have no idea how or when but it’s coming.

From what I can see Parrott’s jab ticked people off. It also gave them a rallying point. Many online are now calling themselves Do Nothings. There are some trying to organize a Do Nothing movement.

Students of American history will remember Democratic President Harry Truman’s attacks on the Republican’s “Do Nothing Congress” back in the 1940s. To this day that phrase is used as a political slur in the US. It was used this year (Google it). Parrott can be excused if he did not know that. A capable editor not so much.

The Tories are going to act like it’s a done deal and try and distract us with other issues. It will be up to the Do Nothings, and others, to force the issue. Keep it foremost in people’s minds. Mainstream media won’t do that. Social media may.

Will this be the first instance of a new power in our politics – the power of the internet? Will it bring “Do Nothings” together as one to defeat the hated agreement rammed through without the promised referendum?

Or will the online community remain a divided, fractious, disorganized free for all it has been so far?

Has Parrott inadvertently started something? Is this the proverbial tiny crack in the damn that slowly spreads until the dam fails. Or is it just ho-hum? Am I just blowing smoke? Time will tell.

Either way I predict its going to be hellish interesting. 

Ivan Morgan can be reached at ivan.morgan@gmail.com