Fine Gael to launch 'Obama-style' web forum - IrishTimes

[David Cochrane]

Harry McGee reports in this morning's Irish Times that Fine Gael are to "stand down" their current website and replace it with a single page with a video from party leader Enda Kenny similar to techniques employed by Tony Blair and Barack Obama.

The party said it was “a genuine attempt to start to change the way politics in Ireland works”, using methods modelled on those of former British prime minister Tony Blair and of Barack Obama during his US presidential campaign.

The site is available at Fine Gael Official Website for Fine Gael Party in Ireland. Fine Gael, National Headquarters, 51 Upper Mount Street, Dublin 2.

[ame="http://vimeo.com/18102431"]Enda Kenny on Vimeo[/ame]

FG opens election campaign with Obama-style web forum - The Irish Times - Tue, Jan 04, 2011

Politics.ie readers might remember the controversy back in April 2009 where Fine Gael was criticised for it's current website which had massive similarities with the-then BBC website (http://www.politics.ie/fine-gael/611...t-you-bbc.html).

[johnfás]

Politics.ie readers might remember the controversy back in April 2009 where Fine Gael was criticised for it's current website which had massive similarities with the-then BBC website (http://www.politics.ie/fine-gael/611...t-you-bbc.html).

I think you mean, when you tried to create a controversy. It went down a bit like a damp squib if I remember correctly.

[RahenyFG]

Harry McGee reports in this morning's Irish Times that Fine Gael are to "stand down" their current website and replace it with a single page with a video from party leader Enda Kenny similar to techniques employed by Tony Blair and Barack Obama.



The site hasn't launched as of yet, but we suspect a video has already been uploaded to YouTube.

FG opens election campaign with Obama-style web forum - The Irish Times - Tue, Jan 04, 2011

Politics.ie readers might remember the controversy back in April 2009 where Fine Gael was criticised for it's current website which had massive similarities with the-then BBC website (http://www.politics.ie/fine-gael/611...t-you-bbc.html).

I thought FG learnt from the George Lee experience that personality politics don't work and Enda certainly doesn't fit the personality politics mode that Blair and Obama would. Both are good political communicators, Enda not so much.

Having curtailed Enda's media appearances in the last few months, surely doing this is a bit of a risk. Enda is the chairman leader not the chief type.

[Oppenheimer]

I don't get the rationale in the statement:

The party said it was “a genuine attempt to start to change the way politics in Ireland works”, using methods modelled on those of former British prime minister Tony Blair and of Barack Obama during his US presidential campaign.

How has this kind of forum changed the way politics in the UK or US worked? Modelling on past successes is a way to go but to admit they are models based on controversial figures like Blair exposes to me that they are using this to win at any costs and not actually considering the welfare of the political system at all.

[LouthPoster]

Irelands answer to Obama - Enda kenny.

There actully quite similar, both divided there party in the run up to there election and both will be one term leaders.

[breakingnews]

First gimic of 2011 goes to FG.

This is setting Kenny up for ridicule, particularly if the video contains cheesey one liners about "hope", "change" and other Obama buzz words, that Americans lap up.

[KongMing]

Somewhere in Kenya, I mean, Roscommon a village is missing its idiot....

[PAD1OH]

oh dear

[Goban Saor]

Sounds like a bad idea.

[jackryan]

I cringe!