Stay strong, Clarke... you must face these haters

Fame brings its share of troubles, but few have had to endure what the PM’s partner has gone through.

Fsmear campaign that was reported this week when the country’s top cop had to quash rumours that had apparently been circulated for months about Gayford, published on social media and tipped to the mainstream media. Presumably it was an effort to get to and embarrass the Prime AR out... in this nasty Minister, but she made like Jay new political age we’re Z and just brushed that dirt off in, it’s certainly a brave her shoulders but Deputy Prime soul who would go Minister Winston Peters pulled around with a politician. no punches when he said I feel for Clarke Gayford. Gayford was the victim of ‘‘the There he is: living his life and black ops politics that have been enjoying a successful happening in this country for broadcasting career, and then in some time’’. the space of a few months his You might have once said partner goes from being a rankthat Winston’s just being and-file MPto the leader of the paranoid and that sort of thing Opposition, and then, just a few doesn’t happen here, but the 2014 weeks later, the Prime Minister. Dirty Politics scandal

Nek minnit, he’s what the conclusively shattered those Americans would rose-tinted call the ‘‘first man spectacles. of New Zealand’’ One of the and subject to a disturbing aspects whole new level of of what’s happened attention. He goes to Gayford is the from being snapped number of people at a few local Kiwi who were driven to events to suddenly contact the media being the focus of with these ‘‘tips’’ so the world’s media they could spread while having the rumours as dinner with the wide as possible. Queen at It’s one thing to Buckingham disagree about Palace. someone’s politics

Of course, the and engage in profile you earn debate about it. But from being on radio and TV in to send ‘‘tips’’ to the media in the New Zealand attracts its fair hope they’ll fire up a story that share of slings and arrows – but does damage... that’s a bit off. you don’t necessarily grow a What happened to the good thicker skin, you’re not old days when people just voted magically imbued with the every three years and, if the superpowers necessary to make winner was someone they didn’t you impervious to people saying like, they’d just suck it up and mean things about you, you hope for the best while they got remain just as sensitive as most on with living life until the next other human beings. election?

Instead, you have to somehow Now it seems some folk will find a process whereby you don’t remain so incensed at not notice all the mean things that returning the party they voted people are capable of saying for that they will actively seek about you if they’re so inclined. the destruction and ruin of the Barry Colman also gave a healthy And, believe me, there are side they don’t like throughout sum, along with property investor always people who don’t mind the entirety of the political term. Philip Hong, Heartland Bank, being so inclined to do that. If so, then another couple of Gibbston Valley Winery, and

But Gayford has entered a years of this is going to get alcohol lobby group Spirits NZ. whole new realm of attention. ¯ tiresome wereELabour’sbigdonors and exhausting. tu His partner is the leader of the I’m sure Gayford can handle Union ($120,000), retired High country and that automatically it. After all, he’s from Gisborne, Court Judge Robert Smellie attracts a new brand of haters. and they breed them pretty ($130,000), along with the NZ Now the people who don’t like tough in Te Tai Rawhiti. Dairy Workers Union, the her or her government will also But man, these underhand Maritime Union, and the NZ Rail not like him. tactics truly suck. Kia kaha, & Maritime Transport Union.

This was evidenced by the Clarke bro.

‘ Gayford’s partner is the leader of the country and that automatically attracts a new brand of haters.’