When I came back through American customs recently after an overseas trip, the customs official looked at my passport. We started the usual chat about where I was from. In a thick American accent he said “do you know they’re gonna change the name of the Labor party?”, followed by a short quizzed, jet-lagged expression from me, “they’re gonna call it “The Screw Up party””.
It is certainly not a good sign that the woes of an Australian political party can reach an American customs official in LAX. But Labor has made enough bumpy landings on enough issues that their troubles are well known across the seas.
The Gillard plane jolts down onto the runway, but then rights itself again and again.
There are moments of restored hope, or should I say events which quieten the violence of despair. There are bumps in polls, shiny presidential visits, theories about Abbott’s No-ism not being able to last, the Carr coup appointing him as foreign minister.
And of course, the leadership ballot which was supposed to give Gillard all that “legitimacy” - a proud scout badge she can now wear on her uniform.
So, the theory goes, all Gillard needs to do is to keep toughing it out. Keep surviving the lows, and exploiting the rare highs.
A Labor staffer said to me a little while ago that all that was needed for Gillard to survive the next election was for voters to see that she was “tough as guts”. Once they saw her wade through the shit with a smile, they’ll respect, even admire her and then vote for her.
Of course, who knows how 2013 will work out. But this idea of toughness being her saving is odd for many reasons.
For one thing, Abbott already owns the “toughness” branding in Australian politics. From the start of his leadership he has owned this space and will continue to do so for as long as his hairy chest is beating. For Australian voters, “toughness” is a male quality. Women can’t be too womanly of course, but they can’t be too manly either. The catch 22 of poltical gender roles.
But anyway, even if people could warm to Gillard, it’s the Labor brand that stinks. This association in the public mind is strong and would be hard to break even if Gillard were shining.
And then what do we really mean when we say Gillard is “tough”? Is she tough when she ignores the vocal anti-carbon tax, anti-pokies reform, anti-mining tax citizenry? Well, that’s easy enough – don’t go out and meet with Joe Public in any public appearances without getting your advance staff to do their jobs properly.
As mentioned previously, she does at least face this group through the media, and in that sense she toughs it out. But why anyone would think these efforts would translate into votes is another question entirely.
But maybe the “toughing it out” idea refers to internal battles? I.e not getting defeated by Rudd? The leadership episode surely was tough for all, but Rudd really never stood a chance with so much bile left over from his time as PM.
It could mean just sticking to the policies even when they are getting you in trouble. Well, surely if she backed out of the carbon tax, mining tax and the rest, a) the public would just completely check out of the whole mess b) a fragile minority government would find it hard to proceed without the Greens and independents.
I think the “Gillard is tough” idea is more about an internal party message. A pep talk mantra, a Labor party “hold in there” kitten poster – positive affirmation written into the larger political context.
If we can just hold on, just keep going, stay the course, balance that tightrope...
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