'Mr Clean' Image Not Enough To Prop Up Party

[Lite Beer]

'Mr Clean' image not enough to prop up party

EDITORIAL

By The Nation

Although PM says he did not flinch in fighting corruption, there remains a widespread belief he may have turned a blind eye for his govt's survival

Embattled Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has mounted another major election offensive. In the second part of his Facebook public letter titled "From my heart", he insisted that he has done his best in fighting corruption. It was a long and emotional response to his opponents' claims that he had been weak in that aspect. The move was also apparently aimed at revitalising his strongest asset - his "Mr Clean" image, which has been smeared after years of political turmoil.

In his latest "From my heart" posting, Abhisit maintained that his so-called "Iron Rules" were not just lip service. He cited the resignations of Social Development and Human Security Minister Vithoon Nambutr and Public Health Minister Vittaya Kaewparadai following corruption scandals as proof. In addition, Abhisit said there were other incidents that showed he did had not gone easy on his party's controversial coalition partner, Bhum Jai Thai Party.

The second part of Abhisit's letter drew thousands of "Like" and numerous comments, mostly from his fans. Yet one thing about Abhisit is that there are virtually two groups of Thai voters when he is concerned - those who will vote for him no matter what and those who will never vote for him no matter how hard he tries. Therefore, how much impact the Facebook strategy will have on the election campaign remains very much to be seen.

Abhisit's political rivals have attacked his dependence on Bhum Jai Thai. He was accused of tolerating corruption scandals involving the coalition partner because he needed its support to stay in office. The accusations have set the tone for this election. Abhisit may be good, rivals say, but he won't mind working with bad people and allowing them to do bad things as long as it will protect his political interests.

In the Facebook letter, Abhisit said that the Thai public had not received all the information concerning his fight against corruption. His only mistake, he insisted, was that he had not paid much attention to so-called marketing. His opponents took advantage of that by amplifying some issues and keeping what he did in the fight against corruption largely unknown, he claimed.

What he said in the letter was partly true. But his admission that he could not give a "100 per cent guarantee" there was no corruption in his administration made it sound like the graft problem was trivial. In reality, Abhisit was fighting a rearguard battle against corruption, and the "demonstration of responsibility" by Cabinet members who resigned had a lot to do with public pressure and probably less to do with any "iron rule".

Abhisit's "Mr Clean" image has yet to make its way to the forefront of the election campaign. But with his main rival Yingluck Shinawatra now facing increasing scrutiny for her alleged involvement in the 'ill-gotten wealth' of her brother Thaksin, the Democrat Party may be launching a last-ditch effort to set Abhisit apart from her. There is less than a month left before the election, so we can expect greater intensity in the race between the two rival parties to expose each other's weaknesses.

There are risks involved in the attempts to revive the "Mr Clean" reputation. For example, it is very difficult to make Abhisit look good without making his key ally, Bhum Jai Thai, look bad. But with the Democrats trailing Pheu Thai in recent popularity polls, they are apparently risks that the ruling party is willing to take.

Whether this strategy has come too late will be known on July 3. The fight against corruption, its success and public acknowledgement is a long-term process that requires firm ideology, great determination, boldness and sincerity. While Abhisit himself has managed to maintain his "Mr Clean" image, his government has not benefited from that. He has blamed poor communication with the public for lack of acknowledgement of what he had done, but there must be more reasons, including, most likely, what he did not do

-- The Nation 2011-06-12

[lannarebirth]

One thing that the voters of this fledging democracy have yet to learn is, sometimes the choices ar all bad. When the choice is between bad and worse you vote for the one who is merely bad.

[timekeeper]

he needs to promote himself in a farang menu style

he should show pictures of what he has done, school uniforms, money to old folks, rice subdsidies, more teachers, fighting loan sharks etc

he should also show pictures of what the reds have done

burning buildings, stopping trains, invading hotels, hospitals, bullying people etc

show the people in pictures what the parties are about so they can choose from the menu which party they find more palatable..............

[noahvail]

The mind boggles at the number of lawsuits that would engender.

[jayboy]

he needs to promote himself in a farang menu style

he should show pictures of what he has done, school uniforms, money to old folks, rice subdsidies, more teachers, fighting loan sharks etc

he should also show pictures of what the reds have done

burning buildings, stopping trains, invading hotels, hospitals, bullying people etc

show the people in pictures what the parties are about so they can choose from the menu which party they find more palatable..............

Yes that would do it and would prevent the Thai people making a terrible mistake.More childish propaganda should swing it.Somehow they have unaccountably got the wrong images in their mind...an interfering and corrupt military, an illegal coup, a puppet Prime Minister led to power, flirtation with quasi fascist groups like the PAD, unarmed civilians murdered on the streets of Bangkok, intolerable arrogance of urban elite, racial slurs, feudalist interference in democracy, courts "directed" to certain decisions, political vendettas using the court system, a rigged constitution, an incompetent junta.How could they have got it so wrong?I hope they come to their senses before election day.

[timekeeper]

The mind boggles at the number of lawsuits that would engender.

business as usual in Thai politics then.........

[Credo]

I agree with Jayboy. I really have nothing against Abhisit, except that he basically was a weak PM, who appeared to Kowtow to too many interests. Politicians have to do that, but without a clear mandate from the voters, he was in an unenviable position.

His greatest strength would have been in calling elections much sooner.

At this point he is not much different than any other politician; doing whatever he has to to hold on to power.

[lannarebirth]

I agree with Jayboy. I really have nothing against Abhisit, except that he basically was a weak PM, who appeared to Kowtow to too many interests. Politicians have to do that, but without a clear mandate from the voters, he was in an unenviable position.

His greatest strength would have been in calling elections much sooner.

At this point he is not much different than any other politician; doing whatever he has to to hold on to power.

In live broadcast negotiations last year Abhisit offered to hold new elections last November 14th. This offer was at first accepted and then when a mysterious phone call came in was immediately rejected. As it is, the elections scheduled for July 3 are 6 months before the end of his term.

Edited June 12, 2011 by lannarebirth

[jayboy]

I agree with Jayboy. I really have nothing against Abhisit, except that he basically was a weak PM, who appeared to Kowtow to too many interests. Politicians have to do that, but without a clear mandate from the voters, he was in an unenviable position.

His greatest strength would have been in calling elections much sooner.

At this point he is not much different than any other politician; doing whatever he has to to hold on to power.

It may surprise some but I am broadly speaking a supporter of Abhisit.I just wish he had more of that most valuable political commodity - courage.

[lannarebirth]

I agree with Jayboy. I really have nothing against Abhisit, except that he basically was a weak PM, who appeared to Kowtow to too many interests. Politicians have to do that, but without a clear mandate from the voters, he was in an unenviable position.

His greatest strength would have been in calling elections much sooner.

At this point he is not much different than any other politician; doing whatever he has to to hold on to power.

It may surprise some but I am broadly speaking a supporter of Abhisit.I just wish he had more of that most valuable political commodity - courage.

Where's my smelling salts??? Was there a leader ever surrounded by more backstabbers? I can't recall any.

[GazR]

I agree with Jayboy. I really have nothing against Abhisit, except that he basically was a weak PM, who appeared to Kowtow to too many interests. Politicians have to do that, but without a clear mandate from the voters, he was in an unenviable position.

His greatest strength would have been in calling elections much sooner.

At this point he is not much different than any other politician; doing whatever he has to to hold on to power.

It may surprise some but I am broadly speaking a supporter of Abhisit.I just wish he had more of that most valuable political commodity - courage.

Correction: it's ONE of the most valuable political commodities - e.g. 'political capital'

[GazR]

he needs to promote himself in a farang menu style

he should show pictures of what he has done, school uniforms, money to old folks, rice subdsidies, more teachers, fighting loan sharks etc

he should also show pictures of what the reds have done

burning buildings, stopping trains, invading hotels, hospitals, bullying people etc

show the people in pictures what the parties are about so they can choose from the menu which party they find more palatable..............

Yes that would do it and would prevent the Thai people making a terrible mistake.More childish propaganda should swing it.Somehow they have unaccountably got the wrong images in their mind...an interfering and corrupt military, an illegal coup, a puppet Prime Minister led to power, flirtation with quasi fascist groups like the PAD, unarmed civilians murdered on the streets of Bangkok, intolerable arrogance of urban elite, racial slurs, feudalist interference in democracy, courts "directed" to certain decisions, political vendettas using the court system, a rigged constitution, an incompetent junta.How could they have got it so wrong?I hope they come to their senses before election day.

In my opinion (I've only been here since 1979) the above comment is so completely one-sided and so full of half-truths as to almost not be worth replying to. BTW I was the author of the letter in the Post which described said negotiations re early elections which Thaksin rejected. Can I prove it? No. Does everyone know it? Yes - but a lot of people deny it. Why? Go figure.

[jayboy]

In my opinion (I've only been here since 1979) the above comment is so completely one-sided and so full of half-truths as to almost not be worth replying to. BTW I was the author of the letter in the Post which described said negotiations re early elections which Thaksin rejected. Can I prove it? No. Does everyone know it? Yes - but a lot of people deny it. Why? Go figure.

Do read my post in context.It was in response to a post associating a list of very positive elements with the current government.I was simply suggesting there are some darker elements involved.

Length of time in Thailand is in itself for a foreigner no indication of wisdom or knowledge.I have been here on and off (mostly on) since 1973 as it happens.

I would not be too boastful if I was you about being a foreign letter writer to the Bangkok Post.

[metisdead]

A derogatory and rather defammatory post and replies to it have been removed.

[GazR]

In my opinion (I've only been here since 1979) the above comment is so completely one-sided and so full of half-truths as to almost not be worth replying to. BTW I was the author of the letter in the Post which described said negotiations re early elections which Thaksin rejected. Can I prove it? No. Does everyone know it? Yes - but a lot of people deny it. Why? Go figure.

Do read my post in context.It was in response to a post associating a list of very positive elements with the current government.I was simply suggesting there are some darker elements involved.

Length of time in Thailand is in itself for a foreigner no indication of wisdom or knowledge.I have been here on and off (mostly on) since 1973 as it happens.

I would not be too boastful if I was you about being a foreign letter writer to the Bangkok Post.

Re Do you read (sic): And I wouldn't be too boastful about being here since 1973 either...but here's mud in your eye: those posts have been made under the name Frank Lee.

Bottom Line: Don't let fear hold you back.

[geriatrickid]

Where's my smelling salts??? Was there a leader ever surrounded by more backstabbers? I can't recall any.

On that I agree. I don't doubt that the PM had honourable intentions and wanted to make a difference, but I think some of his worst enemies were sitting at the cabinet table.

[GazR]

I agree with Jayboy. I really have nothing against Abhisit, except that he basically was a weak PM, who appeared to Kowtow to too many interests. Politicians have to do that, but without a clear mandate from the voters, he was in an unenviable position.

His greatest strength would have been in calling elections much sooner.

At this point he is not much different than any other politician; doing whatever he has to to hold on to power.

Of course, it was Thaksin that nixed Abhisit's proposal for early elections.