STOP ATTACKING
#DAVEHUGHES, EVERYONE!
He's a good bloke.
He's one of us.
He tells a good yarn. Well, he tells us he does.
He rescues dogs. He looks after struggling tenants. And now, apparently,
@DHughesy is prepared to produce the receipts to prove just what a generous bloke he really is.
Because something rather interesting has happened to brand
#HUGHESY.
It's taking a hit. ▓ ⛐ 𖧀
And suddenly we're not talking about
#CGT anymore.
We're talking about what a lovely, generous, socially conscious bloke Dave Hughes actually is.
That isn't Dave Hughes, political commentator.
That's Dave Hughes, brand protection.
And this latest post (see image below) is a fascinating little exercise in
#PR.
Notice the language.
He's no longer talking about "the left".
He's talking about the "Extreme Left."
That's a useful little distinction when you've spent months telling everyone that you're a lifelong Labor voter.
You can't suddenly start treating the entire left as the enemy without creating a rather awkward problem for your own backstory.
So, enter stage door left:
THE EXTREME LEFT.
Now the reasonable left can be separated from those nasty "Extreme Left" people who apparently think a wealthy person can't possibly be generous.
And how do we establish that Dave is one of the good guys?
• Dogs.
• Single parents.
• Children.
• Cheap rents.
• Receipts.
It's practically a character reference.
And here's the thing:
We actually believe him.
Dave has consistently said he doesn't negatively gear. He said it publicly, including on the Mark Bouris podcast. We have no reason to assume he's lying about that.
But Dave seems to think that settles something it doesn't.
He has repeatedly said that negative gearing isn't what he's angry about. It's CGT.
Well, okay.
That's rather important.
Because if negative gearing isn't the issue for him, then the value of capital growth in his property holdings becomes the very thing he's telling us matters. That's what has hit his
#Wealthywelfare
That's what CGT applies to.
So we're not attacking Dave because he owns property.
We're not claiming he secretly negative gears.
We're not even saying he should charge his tenants market rent.
We're pointing out the rather obvious connection between a substantial property portfolio, capital appreciation and the capital gains tax debate that Dave himself made the centrepiece of his political campaign.
And now there's another little piece of spin.
"Did Albo rent his investment properties at a discount?"
Ah.
There it is.
Whataboutism.
We're talking about Dave Hughes and suddenly we're talking about Albo.
That's a convenient way of changing the subject.
Because this latest post isn't really an attack of Labor policy.
It isn't even primarily a defence of Dave's CGT argument.
It's a defence of Dave Hughes.
And that's why it's so interesting.
The progression has been extraordinary.
𖧀 Comedian.
𖧀 Then property magnate.
𖧀 Then lifelong Labor voter furious about CGT.
𖧀 Then increasingly enthusiastic anti-Labor political campaigner.
𖧀 Then campaigner against Victorian Labor.
𖧀 Then Liberal-aligned campaign trail participant.
And now...
Robin Hood.
"Look! I rent cheaply!"
That's one hell of a journey for the bloke who originally told us this was all about one tax policy.
And perhaps the funniest part is that Dave seems to think we're attacking his character because we don't believe he's capable of generosity.
No.
We're watching what happens when a public persona collides with a political campaign.
You can be wealthy and generous. I'm that guy.
You can own investment properties and charge below-market rent. I'm also that guy.
You can disagree with Labor.
You can even change your political position.
None of those things are illegal, immoral or particularly interesting by themselves.
But when the public narrative starts moving in a direction you don't like, and suddenly you need to publish a detailed account of your generosity, your tenants, your wife, your dogs and your charitable credentials...
That's PR.
And it's pretty obvious PR.
So good luck rebuilding the HUGHESY brand, Dave.
⛐ Comedian.
▓ Property magnate.
𖧀 Robin Fucking Hood.
→Liberal lackey.
It's been quite a journey.
And don't worry.
We're here if you ever need us.
We'll even let Ginger* do the talking.
Woof.
Video: Noisy the dentist.
______
*The Ginger rescue dog video link is in the replies.
The Dave 'Robin Hood' post link is ALSO in the replies. Have a read; it's comedy gold.