Opinion: National's candidates claim they have exactly the same 'sense' of their community's views

By John Pagani

It's a bit of a laugh that National candidates have been caught out making cookie cutter statements about their selections, but there's something a bit worse going on in this example:

The similarities started in March when Leonie Hapete was chosen to stand in Palmerston North and Jonathan Fletcher was picked for National in Rimutaka.

 

In separate statements, both said they got ''the sense'' from their community that people welcomed the Government's ''comprehensive plan to grow the economy, to start living within our means, deliver enduring jobs, and build the critical infrastructure to future proof New Zealand and our region.''

 

...

 

When she won selection in May, [Maggie Barry] also noted a ''sense the community understands National's plan to grow the economy, to start living within our means as a country, deliver enduring jobs, and build the critical infrastructure to future proof New Zealand and our region.''

You can't say you saw a pig flying if there was no pig.

You can't claim you heard a tree fall in the forest if a tree hasn't fallen in the forest.

You can't claim you have a sense there will be an earthquake on a particular date if you have no such sense, but someone has told you to say it.