Why Does the Left Have to Rely on Hate Figures?
Jonathan Sheppard thinks that it's an inbuilt default mechanism for the left to viscerally hate certain people on the right. But the right are pure as the driven snow. Is he right?
13 Jul 2011, 13:13
Murdoch: A hate figure for the left
When false rumours of her passing have circulated over the internet you could not imagine (or maybe you could) the pleasure expressed at the news. Personally I thought Brown was a poor Prime Minister, and took some appalling decision that damaged the country. Those same feelings are probably shared about Thatcher by those who weren't fans. Yet will I celebrate if his family or indeed the man himself faces tragedy? No, because he doesn't invoke such strong feeling of 'hatred' and I do use that word intentionally, that some on the left feel towards those on the right.
We see the same views expressed to Murdoch. On a twitter exchange (which isn't the best forum for reasoned debate) it was put to me that Murdoch was responsible for the Iraq war. No mention of Saddam Hussein then? Of course not, because Murdoch is totally hated. Far be it for me to point out that Maxwell was a rather naughty media baron on the other side of the political divide. Then of course they have Lord Ashcroft. Oh how they hate him. Don't mention what he does for charity as it wont fit their narrative. Better not tell them he has his own online media empire or they will detest him even more.
Now not everyone on the other side of politics feel this way. I have good friends in the other parties and we can have a robust debate and still like each other. But there does seem to be a significant grouping of those on the left who can see no good in anyone on the right and are far too party political to see anything of virtue across the political divide. You could almost call it politically bigoted.
Do people on the right have such hate figures? I'm not sure they do. Tony Benn has been a darling of those on the left. He was my MP. I fundamentally disagree with much of what he stands for (though agree with his scepticism of the EU, if for different reasons). Is he a hate figure for me? No, I just think he is misguided about much of what he believes. Try as I might I can't really think of anyone that would fit that bill, and yet they think Tories and those on the right are the nasty ones.
Comments (17)
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I've noticed this too. Whilst there are extremes on both sides, it seems that the left-leaning tend to be more visceral and emotive, and the right-leaning tend to be more rational.
Anyone who votes Tory is (to a Labour activist) "scum", whilst anyone who votes Labour is (to a Tory activist) misguided.
I've always found it strange to compare the left & right when dealing with their own mega-PMs. Each side has a PM that won three elections, and was defeated by their own side, and not the opposition.
The right ignore Thatcher's mistakes and laud her achievements. The left ignore Blair's achievements and focus on his mistakes.
13/07/2011 14:19I thought Brown was an awful PM. I thought Blair was deluded. I think he was a class act for the Labour party. That's why he won election after election. I can why people voted for him. Unfortunately (yes they are a minority) of people on the left who as you say, see all Conservative minded people as scum.
I see to remember highlighting a certain MPs twitter account when he wrote (later claimed to be hacked) that essentially Tories were scum sucking pigs. Its that attitude which is still around which is just too party political.
13/07/2011 14:42"Socialism, like the ancient ideas from which it springs, confuses the distinction between government and society. As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all. We disapprove of state education. Then the socialists say that we are opposed to any education. We object to a state religion. Then the socialists say that we want no religion at all. We object to a state-enforced equality. Then they say that we are against equality. And so on, and so on. It is as if the socialists were to accuse us of not wanting persons to eat because we do not want the state to raise grain."
(Bastiat, The Law, 1850)
13/07/2011 15:58The left certainly seem to be more tribal and partisan than the right.
Many within the Labour party, and many Labour supporters really hate all Tories. I don't think I have ever hated any Labour supporter. Even when faced with those who are unpleasant I tend to find them more amusing than anything else!
As far as hate figures from the left go though, if I had to try to think of some, maybe Ed Balls? Alistair Campbell? Peter Mandelson?
14/07/2011 00:08Thank you for this article, which explains the courteous and respectful manner in which Conservative MPs behaved towards the former PM today.
I hear they're also prone to crude generalisations.
14/07/2011 03:07A former PM who was laughably partisan in a debate that, on the whole, had a cross party consensus though Jimmy.
14/07/2011 09:56Oh, I really hate Ed Balls. Does that count?
14/07/2011 11:53Actually there are a couple of applicants for hate figure on the left and we probably need a a hierarchy of hate to classify them.
I definitely hate Bob Crow and would rejoice in his early passing and if I then by chance happened upon his grave - I may dance on it whilst singing that popular YouTube adaptation of "Going Underground".
I would put Ken Livingstone, Dennis Skinner, Gordon Brown and Ed Balls in the severe dislike category. I don't wish death on any of them - but I do hope that they are frequently humiliated in public until they retire.
Other than that - happy to conclude that most of the rest of the left are simply misguided.
14/07/2011 15:07Hang on - also include George Galloway. Not sure if he is in the hate or severely dislike category.
14/07/2011 15:13Oh and one more - I find Kevin Maguire really irritating. Probably a notch below severe dislike and would be rectified if the BBC stopped using him on their shows and interviewing him.
Most other commentators at least try to pretend to be objective when on appearing on the BBC.
14/07/2011 15:22Oh come on James... there must be someone on the left you like. It is Friday... treat yourself.
15/07/2011 11:39Peter Hyman.
Unusual for the left, someone who has actually devoted time and effort to those less fortunate than themselves.
Hyman also focuses on outcomes rather than methods, a flexibility shown in his willingness to embrace Tory free school policies to further his own beliefs.
He still talks rubbish on Newsnight though :)
PS add Medhi Hasan to the severe dislike column - apologies if that negates my Friday goodwill.
15/07/2011 17:32All the hate is coming from the Right, then again Iain Dale seemed to swear a lot on his blog.
I suppose you can't teach manners to some people.
15/07/2011 21:12"All the hate is coming from the Right"... great statement backed up with lots of examples Matthew.
15/07/2011 23:16Of course the rightwing adopts a universally reasonable approach to the left doesn't it? Paul Staines anyone?
16/07/2011 06:09Nile Gardiner of the telegraph - he really hates Obama. I can't actually read his blog posts - even though I'd probably be sympathetic to his position - because his analysis revolves around his obsession with the idea that Obama is single handedly ruining America.
16/07/2011 16:06johnmc72,
You'll find Paul Staines hard on the tory party. You won't find either Lablist or LFF neither of which are very critical of Labour.
The lefty blogs are usually full of weak pro plp argument and the hypocrisy is rife. Its all justified in this moral socialist crusade against the unfairness in society. Thats why they are are rank failure; unless you are already a pre programmed Tory hating TXXX you get bored and leave.
17/07/2011 16:33