‘New’ Fianna Fáil, same old political cliches

FIANNA Fáil leader Micheál Martin made a big play of his promise that his campaign would not be about “poll-tested sound bites.”

However, nobody informed his speech writers, who happily dug around in catchy political rhetoric from around the world to pen his manifesto launch yesterday.

Here are some examples where his call for a different type of election were drawn from well-worn political sound bites.

Mr Martin’s manifesto speech: “There are no new spending commitments.”

Gordon Brown traded off this slogan during the new Labour election campaign in 1997.

Mr Martin: “We believe that any attempt to tax our way to a balanced budget would cause immense economic damage.”

This is a favourite among American Republican politicians and has been used frequently including a similar statement by Senator Jim Sexton in 2007: “We cannot tax our way to a balanced budget… the costs of higher taxes and spending also undermine economic growth.”

Mr Martin: “The problems Ireland confront today are too serious for politics as usual.”

A slight alteration on the rallying cry for various US politicians, including the Bipartisan Budget Appeal group set up by Washington campaigners in 1984. “A matter too serious for politics as usual’ unless we are willing to risk the ‘recovery, our economic future and our country.”

Mr Martin: “This election must be part of a process of restoring trust and confidence in politics.”

Ahead of his election campaign, Conservative Party leader David Cameron said the government should “look at every option for restoring trust and confidence in our politics”

Mr Martin: “It is the right plan for this time.”

Canada’s conservative prime minister, Steven Harper, said the same thing to the people of Toronto about the choices to be made for economic recovery.

Mr Martin: “[We] will revive the economy and restore public finances.”

Japan’s finance minister Yoshihiko Noda promised his people he would stimulate the economy and restore public finances.

Mr Martin: “We believe it is by far the most realistic plan to move Ireland forward.”

In 2008, then US vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden criticised Sarah Palin for not having a “realistic plan to move America forward.”