Surprise: The Press love Latham

Nick Leys, the source of Strewths ‘make Howard look bad’ style of reporting waxes philosophically about how the press love Latham. He says it as if it had never occurred to us conservatives that for generations the Journalist departments of Australian universities have been turning out Left Wing little echoes. I’m told by my friends in Academia that UQ were once so embarrassed about their Journalist school that even they downgraded the department.

THE Biff Factor ? Mark Latham’s friendly and down-to-earth approach ? has proved a key difference in campaigning styles between the opposing leaders. Biff’s youthful and energetic team regularly socialise with the press pack, while the Rodent’s people are more aloof. Biff has made a habit of dining with the reptiles once a week in whatever city he is in. Last night it was a Thai restaurant in Brisbane, which pleased some hacks who are sick of Labor’s penchant for deep-fried Chinese. The dinners are off the record and a chance for Biff and the media to shoot the breeze about anything. As one photographer said, it’s a good chance to ask Biff all the really important things, “like why is he a St George supporter when he grew up in the western suburbs”.

Can’t you just picture the camaraderie as the Journos and the Labour hacks sit there drinking chardonnay, eating Thai and giggling like undergrads at the stupidity of the voters who still can’t see their collective wisdom. With every utterance from Howard analyzed to the 6th degree and Latham getting a free ride with minimal efforts to critically assess his promises and throw away lines, the thing that they miss is that the voting public don’t miss the fact that Latham’s promises are still just that – promises from someone who has yet to be put under the hammer.