06.28.2011 06:38 AM

NDP steals platform cover from U.S. campaign poster

H/T GritChik.

25 Comments

  1. JenS says:

    It really sort of feels like we’re focussing on the wrong things. Not to be overly critical, but I’m getting a little worried about October. I suspect, though, that the strategy is to let Hudak and Horwath peak too soon, then hit ’em hard closer to election day. At least, I hope that’s it.

  2. CQ says:

    More fun… from the Rap Sheet blog:
    http://therapsheet.blogspot.com/search/label/Copycat%20Covers
    A whole category of mystery and crime fiction copycat book covers; running back to 2006.

  3. Dave Roberts says:

    My god man the NDP used a stock photo for an election ad. This changes everything.

  4. Howie says:

    Yawn. Hudak’s sitting at 41% and this kind of thing does what, exactly?

  5. Ottawacon says:

    Fairly thin gruel to go after the NDP for, isn’t it? Use of stock photography is not exactly a venal sin, and I doubt too many people care that the denim shirt might be ‘misrepresented’ as being worn by someone in Ontario. Considering the borderline lunacy of some of their platform announcements, it is hard to care too much their image use.

    • Ted says:

      Does it make a difference that one of their campaign planks is a “buy Canadian” plan? I think it does.

      • Wes says:

        Sorry, Ted. It makes no difference whatsoever.

        • Ted says:

          Makes no difference to the importance of the issue or the credibility of a party that wants us to do as they say and not as they do? I think it makes a difference whether politicians are utter hypocrites or not. Perhaps you disagree.

      • SM says:

        This image may indeed have been licensed from firstlight.com (Toronto) or Masterfile.com (also Toronto). You don’t know that it wasn’t.

  6. DB Smith says:

    I would be more concerned that the NDP button is on the right and is not on the left.

  7. Cath says:

    stock shots are used all the time. I actually think the ad works – very relaxing and cozy feel to it – just like putting on that old jean shirt. It speaks to the people the NDP hope to help I guess.

    This election is going to be about personalities and who voters trust based on guess what? How they use that personality to sell their plans and tell Ontarians their story.

    Who’s going to have the best narrative?

  8. James Bow says:

    I have to agree with Ottawacon. This is pretty small potatoes, and one of those manufactured controversies that help in its own small way to drive voters away from the polls, full stop (something that Hudak would surely smile about). Surely there’s more within the NDP platform that deserves criticism?

    • CQ says:

      Accept that from your editor for your next book cover (see my comment link at 9:22) 🙂

      • James Bow says:

        Well, yeah. Except that, if that were the cover for my next book, it would be stupid. All that colour on the shirt? It would catch fire in minutes.

        And if you want to know what I’m talking about, read the book (“Icarus Down”).

  9. sj says:

    Isn’t the real issue whether or not the shirt and button were made in a union plant?

    I love that they laterally reversed the image so now it is a woman’s shirt (right side buttons over left).

  10. Greg says:

    I wouldn’t say it doesn’t matter. I would however say, I don’t understand how it matters.

  11. SM says:

    1. The image isn’t stolen, it is licensed. The sample you show is a stock page, not US campaign poster, therefore you are accusing them of theft incorrectly.
    2. The image is also available from 2 Canadian stock agencies.
    3. the Liberal.ca website is full of stock photography, including this stock shot of a group of “liberals”:
    http://www.fotosearch.com/FSB347/x21931058

    I can understand the general public not realizing how ubiquitous stock photography, footage and illustration are, but I’m surprised that someone of your experience is so naive on the issue.

  12. Liz J says:

    What on earth are you talking about? The image you posted is of a stock photo that anyone can buy the rights to use, not a campaign poster.

    I guess an argument could be made that it would be a superior choice to purchase stock photos from Canadian and not American companies. But many Canadians photographers sell their images through American distributors. You can’t really tell who the artist is from the distributor’s site.

  13. pcase says:

    Long time reader and commenter, and I really do not see how this matters.

  14. sharonapple88 says:

    Nothing says common man/gal as a denim shirt with a white shirt underneath.

    It is amusing that logo pushes the idea of “change” and yet the picture is a recycled photo.

  15. JH says:

    Another game changer. Please can we have some substance here?

  16. Lord Kitchener says:

    the 90s called, they said nobody wears denim shirts anymore…unless you are a cowboy or live north of Sudbury.

  17. Jonathan W. says:

    Totes Canadian content: The denim shirt thing is Chrétien 93.

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