just watched it again. some commentary:
"We have to celebrate Muslim festivals. We can't celebrate our own festivals because it's supposedly racist". I'd like to know what on earth that is based on?
The segment where he tried to canvas a black woman was a fascinating encounter. I like how the bemused woman is clearly much smarter than that guy. Sees right through him. He reminds me of David Brent, in that he pretends to be talking to her, when really everything he's saying is intended for the camera. He can't even speak any sense most of the time.
- - - -
Him: "I don't know if you've, er, seen any of our literature from the British National Party?"
Her: "Yeah, I thought you're not for black people?"
Him (feigning surprise): "Well, where does it say that though?"
Her: "I assumed that you don't embrace coloured people."
Him (entering nonsense mode now, stumbling over his words, suggesting to me that this particular hypocritical line of attack is not something he's used to when there're no cameras around): "What... Well look, well - it's not a question. You're just saying to me... But where does it say in our manifesto that we don't embrace black people? It doesn't." (Of course it doesn't you tosser, if your party made their inherent and ostensible racism official, you would no longer be a party.)
Her: "Um, well I haven't actually read your manifesto. I've heard a lot about the party." (You're not alone there. This woman knows exactly what the BNP are really about, and isn't having any of it. Not that it'll matter to him one jot once this play is over.)
Him: "Ah. Yeah, but a lot of it comes from the Labour government, y'know, and their propaganda. The people... it's, a lot of it's propaganda. I mean I wouldn't have approached you if I thought, y'know, like you shouldn't vote for us."
Her: "Yea... No-one else has approached me, so I assumed it was true. 'Cos I've walked past here before."
Him: "Yeah. Well, I just approached you, didn't I?" (Correct, well done. And it was only for the camera's benefit.)
- - - -
I'd feel too sick if I transcribe the rest. At first I was confused about why he was canvassing a black woman in the first place. Then I quickly realised it was obviously all for show, simply pure-spun propaganda, as he then went on to directly prove (when he thought the camera and mic were off). This is clearly a very conscious and collective drive to make the BNP publicly appear as non-racist as is possible given their infamy. This would be in order to get into Europe and unite with other national fascist parties from other countries. In order to gain more money and power, fast. Something which I personally find unthinkable.
I don't think it will happen, though. Every country with a democracy has a similar ratio of extreme nationals in the country, although of course the USA pushes that average up rather. If they're genuinely trying to win over black British voters it's almost laughable, but I doubt that this is what's really driving this campaign. The question is whether a unity with other parties would make a major difference to the balance of power, politically or financially. Either way, it's nothing British.
Facebook groups:
"Nothing British about the BNP" (currently 8,127 members)
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=185663495611
"1,000,000 United Against the BNP (currently 200,344 members)
www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8644741474
Perhaps we can actually make a difference here.
(
spacehog, Wed 3 Jun 2009, 2:37,
Reply)
Make a difference?
By doing what, exactly - joining a group of people who would never have voted BNP anyway just to say you're not going to vote BNP? How does that change anything?
Let's face it, they're never going to get any real power - it's just more scare-mongering.
(, Thu 4 Jun 2009, 16:49, Reply)