Condemnation from across the board

We blogged yesterday about a cowardly attempt to intimidate Wanganui mayoral candidate Michael Laws.

We are delighted to report that we're not the only ones to condemn this, and that the condemnation has come from both sides of the blogosphere. After all, you couldn't get two blogs further apart than No Right Turn and WhaleOil! 

Idiot/Savant blogs:

Someone has apparently sent a threatening letter to Wanganui mayoral candidate Michael Laws. Meanwhile, Labour leadership aspirant Shane Jones is publicly fantasising about torturing John key's genitalia.There's an obvious link between the two: both involve threatening violence against public figures for political gain. That is vile and it is wrong and it has absolutely no place in our democracy.

From the other extreme, Cameron Slater notes:

We live in a democracy where we encourage people to put forward alternate views. Politics is a robust environment but there is no need for violence. Politics is supposed to be a contest of ideas but unfortunately there are some among us who do not want alternate voices heard.
It used to be they would cut out letters an make words from them and stick them to cardboard and write in green felt tip, but now these essentially retarded people have Facebook and Twitter and other media with which to spew their rantings.

We agree with both points of view. The intimidation of candidates for public office has no place whatsoever in New Zealand society. It is pleasing that the political Left and Right can be in agreement on this issue.

Intimidation is not on

We're no great fans of Michael Laws, even though there are times where we have agreed with an opinion that he has expressed. Nor would we consider voting for him for the mayoralty of Wanganui this year. 

But this kind of behaviour is absolutely unacceptable, and needs to be denounced; Stuff reports:

Michael Laws says his initial reaction is "defiance", following an attack on his home and a threatening letter demanding he withdraw his candidacy for the Whanganui mayoralty.
Laws said his home in St John's Hill was attacked early yesterday morning, with broken beer bottles strewn across the driveway.
A handwritten letter was also delivered to his address, threatening action if he should continue with his candidacy for the Whanganui mayoralty.
Laws attached the contents of the letter, which began:
"Dear Michael,
Hey boy! You've got a problem! I want you to withdraw from the local election. You have an enemy in me. U know why? Because you are a feral fascist! [sic]"
A name and phone number, which appeared bogus, were attached to the letter.
Laws said he would not be threatened, blackmailed or bullied.
He told Fairfax Media today he believed the two incidents were related, and he had some idea of who it was.
"I've identified a leading suspect and I'll be handing their name to the police," he said.
He had spoken to police, but would make a formal complaint and hand in the evidence today.
"My immediate priority is ensuring the safety and security of my children," he said.
His children had gone to check the mailbox and had discovered the broken glass and the letter.
"I think it's despicable that people attack families in this way, it's happened before - I've had rocks through my children's bedroom windows."
Last week Laws suspended his mayoral campaign after his ex-partner, Leonie Brockhammer, suffered a severe stroke.
"I have a very strong family who have gone through a lot of adversity and obviously with their mother at the moment are undergoing quite a bit more," Laws said.
While he did not say if he had made a decision on whether to continue his campaign for Whanganui mayor, he said his initial reaction was "defiance".
"But I've got to put that to one side and make a considered reaction for the family. I know how instinctively I feel about it, but I've got to think with my heart, and not with my head. I just can't let an emotional response on the wider issue govern it." 

This attack is cowardly, and has no place in a democratic election campaign. It is especially vile that the intimidation has had a direct effect on Laws' children.

Whilst Michael Laws is not our preferred candidate, we are disgusted that this kind of behaviour has occurred. We are also deeply disappointed that it will further add to the negative perceptions that many have about Wanganui; perceptions which are generally undeserved.

We also take this opportunity to extend our thoughts and prayers to the Laws and Brookhammer families with regard to Ms Brookhammer's serious illness. For everyone's sake and especially her and her children's, we hope that she makes a complete recovery.