Conservative NASCAR Sponsorship – Likely more risk than political payoff

This racecar sponsorship by the Cons.Party is not a wise move.
There are too many issues contrary to this move.And Canadians will take note of these not so obvious but still visible contrarian issues.
There are better, less controversial ways of advertising or promoting if you will.

I'm also assuming some of the money to buy the sponsorship also came directly from the donations of good Canadians who wanted to give Paul Martin's gang a thumping, not to pollute the atmosphere. While I'm sure the Liberals wish they were so flush with cash, they don't mind seeing the Tories shooting themselves in the feet. This moronic attempt to win votes is reminiscent of the slap-stick that used to be provided at the Bijou by The Three Stooges. Voters want a government that represents all Canadians, not just the minority of people who voted Conservative. They want action on the environment. They want a government they can feel proud of. All the decals on race cars in the world aren't going to change that. Don't the polls confirm the Conservatives have little room for growth and all they are doing is feeding their base and driving around in circles ? It sure looks that way to me.

While I might wish this to have a negative political impact, I don't think that those watching the event will feel that way. It is pure publicity for a brand, and will be seen as having little to do with politics. It's also a distraction -- bread and circuses -- to keep people from paying attention to the politics.

Those who might think that this event that promotes the worst qualities of the car culture are unlikely to be voting for this "New Conservative Party" anyway. These same people would look poorly at the publicity stunts the Conservatives have used in place of environmental policy (Including their false claim that carbon taxes would harm the economy, rather than what economists are saying that it would help in the long term. Remember: Economists said that John Bairds specific plan would hurt the economy, not Kyoto implementation or environmental protection.)

I have the impression that few people out of the political class notice these policy discrepancies in the ways that political brands try to advertise themselves. I have seen the Heart and Stroke foundation (as well as similar "health" oriented groups) more than once give away cars as part of their fundraising, which is about as politically consistent and yet few ever notice or care.

Hi Nik, Hope this reply fines you well. I think the comparison to street racing is a little bit of a stretch seeing how one is a legal with the safety factors controlled as much as humanly possible. Street racing on the other hand is illegal and shows no regard for others and is undertaken by self centered immature idiots.
Now to the environmental aspects of this decision, The numbers are saying one in four Canadians watch NASCAR. As the polls show already, the majority of Canadians want to do something about GHG but no one wants to pay for it, a little case of not from my wallet. I do not believe it is helpful for the environmental groups and columnists' to be writing articles saying that 25% of Canadians are tabacco chewing red necks with no regard for the environment because they watch NASCAR, correct me if I am wrong these are the people we have to get on board to make change happen. As to Susan's article, I long ago gave up reading her totally one sided articles and I say that as a person who decides how to vote the day of the election. I believe that all governments should be closely monitored by the press but I also believe that a person who is reporting the news for the consumption of others should be impartial.
If I was the CPC I would be more worried of number 29 (Bourque's Dodge) running out of gas just short of the finish line in a pit decision because the jokes on that one would be just horrible and impossible to live down.

Strange pick, but may work out. Certainly beats their negative personal attack ads. My only worry is if the car has a crash on a bad day for politics. May make for some dark humour. Also has a sense of triteness about it, but thats not always a bad thing.

I read the news on the Conservatives sponsorship of the NASCAR vehicle. I think this is a no-brainer - it is a poor decision and pure waste of money to support this sponsorship.

Usually parties and government are concerned about setting a precident. Does this sponsorship then encourage sponsorship of motorcycles, horses, people, dogs, dog teams and participants in snow races, skiers, etc, in races too? Seems to me, if they can register for the NASCAR, they set the parimeters and open to all types of sponshorships for all races.

My second thought is the few Canadians that will actually notice or see the car are too small to make any difference. I doubt even the ladies that attend the races will be encouraged to support the Conservatives because of this sponsorship.

Government and parties have a lot of work to do for Canadians and I would prefer to see them focused on those issues than participate in events that are not federal - events that run coast to coast to coast and all the country inbetween.

This is fraught with risks for the Conservatives. As the some people in the Linux community learned during last month's Indy 500, fast race cars circling an oval can and will crash!

Nik - I don't know if I should blush for these guys or just ridicule them for this stupidity. In my unCanandian moment a settled on the latter. I Blogged on this recently and here is the link:

http://ken-chapman.blogspot.com/2007/06/harper-cons-going-around-in-circles-at.html

One of my Con friends pointed out that NASCAR drivers only turn left and even that is incongruous.

Nik you really need to get a life. To spin a sponsorship into alienating women and showing the Tories aren't in favour of the environment or street care racing is nuts. Even more telling is your referral to Susan Delacourt of the Toronot Star who is the biggest Harper hater in the press gallery. Anything she has to say is suspect at the best of times. You sound like the opposition parties. Have you done a poll or are you conjecturing what will happen. I will watch for your poll which confirms your thoughts. Can the Conservatives do nothing that is simply a fun thing or a way to get their name out. We know Nik those evil Conservatives they need to be brought to heel by the likes of the pundits, elites, pollsters and the opposition parties. No good can come from a Conservative government eh Nik.

While I might be tempted to go into the pros and cons of whether it "shows the right signs" vis a vis the environment, I think the sponsorship is just bad marketing -- period. It seems like a shallow attempt to throw a bone at the "core base" just in case a few of them were getting antsy by the solid move to the center of the country -- the move that has made the Conservatives actually electable in a mostly to-the-left-leaning country. It is rather transparent and "amateurish" in terms of marketing strategy.

This is another poor decision on the part of the conservatives. They really are acting desperate. With these kind of decisions it is no wonder they can't get the numbers into majority range. They probably should concentrate on more important things like getting our troops home from Afganistan before we have more deaths of our fine young men and women
Jean, Saskatchewan

The adveritising is paid by the Conservative Party of Canada with money collected from thousands of individual contributors not necessarily contributions from taxpayers. The party can spend the money as it likes and it is none of our business unless we are Party members. Non Party members should butt out!

For any political party receiving public funding, I believe it is frivolous to spend those funds---or portion thereof--- in such a manner. HOWEVER, sponsoring a hot air balloon maybe entirely appropriate.

I just read the article in the Star. I am not familiar with Susan Delacourt but I find the piece a fair discussion of the issue. I agree with Nik's reported comments on it.
It is more revealing of the mindset of the decision makers of the Conservative party as if I needed to convince me of their lack of good judgment.
I won't consider other aspect, the environmental issue alone tells me it's a stupid decision. Especially so when the govenrnent professes such great concern for the environment. Reinforced hyprocy!

It does not bother me if they sponsor a race car or driver, but since NSCAR is coming to Montreal it is not a bad idea. Nik the real problem here is your posts are already 2 weeks old and not important, if you want to be a blogging site like the Globe and Mail you have to daily blogging or people get bored and move on. This is old news, to day's topice is the passing of the Budget which Im for, but do not want this Liberal Kyoto Protocol passed into Law. Has anyone seen Dion's made in Canada, Plan or is it because he does not have a Plan. I remind you over 60% of Canadians do not want Dion as Prime Minister.

Since this blog is already days old we have to move on to a current topic, Canadians have to find away to get this bonehead by the name Hervieux - Payette a Liberal Senator, she makes no sense and is a major problem for Canada, Nice to see another stupid person at the RCMP resigning and should actually be criminally investigated by the OPP for insurance program at the RCMP, a obvious yes man for this other jerk by the name Giulano Zaccardelli, who is also responsible for not bringing Jean (Corrupt) Chretien to Justice and a police investigation must be re-opened for his role in the Liberal Sponsorship program, others for doing less get life time sentences. g.d. crook

Hi Nik,

Just read the piece, and sorry that I interpolated on this one when I answered Bernie!

NIK, ALL PEOPLE FALLING FOR THIS NONSENSE,CAN NOW SAFELY JOIN THE
LIKES OF JACK LAYTON, CLASSLESS AND ONLY LOOKING FOR MEDIA
EXPOSURE.GET BACK TO WHAT YOU DO BEST,LIKE A JUNE 8th SES
RESEARCH POLL. BCLOWERMAINLANDER 23 06 07

The majority of polls have shown that the Conservative Party has hit a brick wall, even though the stars have been aligned in their favour.

Economic growth has been constant. The Liberal Party has been struggling to right itself and, simultaneously, inaugurate their new leader. The Conservatives have moved so far left that they’re in peril of trespassing on Dipperland. They’ve even managed to outspend the Liberals in vote-buying! But, even with favourable placement, the stars didn’t shine on them as intended. That’s because the party’s flip-flops and “bait-and-switch” strategy caught up with them first. All the weenie stretching – about the superior high-tech war room, about the mega bucks in the war chest, about being just a battle cry away from a spring election - came to naught. One ought not count their chickens before they hatch, because they often don't! At least Canadians were prudent enough in opinion polls to keep them in minority-land.

The NASCAR sponsorship is a rather lame attempt to preserve the loyalty of their natural constituency. It’s as feeble as attempting to malign Mr. Dion’s reputation via amateur attack ads using data taken out of context. Chalk it up to the to the CPC living up to its excessive incompetence.

Regrettably, the party’s pursuit of power has become pathological. As George Bernard Shaw said:

"Power does not corrupt men; fools, however, if they get into a position of power, corrupt power."

[updated Sat Jun 23 23:53:01 EDT 2007]

This is goof Giuliano Zaccardelli formerly of the RCMPis gone, do think we can get this investigation long over due for Chretien's role in the Sponsorship Program, Canadians have to get this guy to Justice for his misdeeds as a Prime Minister, so much for the little guy from, where is it now Shawigan, I think they had one sawmill. Remember it was Chretien that appointed this clown, what was he smoking and drinking that day. Zaccardelli has a lot in common with Nero or is it Caesar. Giuliano the Immigrant.

By the way Blossom over 60 percent of Canadians do not want Dion as Prime Minister so how do you like that, they are scared of getting another dud like Chretien or even worse another Trudeau ( Mr Finger) the mastermind of the National Energy Program along with another dud Marc Lalonde, both very greedy individuals, something that is common in Quebec.

[updated Sun Jun 24 00:32:46 EDT 2007]

Hi Nik,

I perceive that your comment "My view is that the symbol of the sponsorship appeals to the Conservative core vote but has little appeal beyond that." refers to the Conservative core vote being a bunch of "rednecks" with the non-supporters being the more intellectual among us. I'm sure you meant it to be provocative to probe us to comment and it worked. There are a few of us who have managed to get a few degrees and not married our cousins who find that the Conservatives are doing an OK job. I find it refreshing to not have the "scandal a day" liberals leading us. As for sponsoring a Nascar - why not? When you read about some of the other stuff we sponsor like 10 Lieutenant Governors and our old creeps club in the Senate which squander is worse? It is apparently, one of the most popular spectator sports (certainly not mine) so why not a demonstration of patriotism to the fans who will enjoy it?

[updated Mon Jun 25 09:17:46 EDT 2007]

Conservatice Race Cars are not Ok, But big Red Liberal Hot Air Balloons are, Paid by the Taxpayer, not the Liberal Party of Canada. They need a Name Change - Corrupt Liberal Party of Canada and Quebec Section!

LaFleur our Quebecer 4 years and 1.5 Million Dollars, Up Next the mastermind of the Sponsorship Program, Jean Chretien and at the sametime pay back and reopening of the APEC Inquiry, both times Jean Chretien has been able to avoid, mainly because of the incompetance and appointment of Mr Z the czar at the RCMP. What a fool!

Logos or No Logos, Jean Chretien DOES NOT DESERVE THE ORDER OF CANADA, we are working to have process to have this Order cancelled, this presented by the Dumb Liberals in Quebec and a useless Governor General from Quebec that does not know the difference from right or wrong, no wonder the Military is in a mess and same for Rideau Hall, we your Commander in Chief is a Idiot.

New Commissioner Of The RCMP will make sure that Jean Chretien is investigated for his role in the Sponsorship Program as the mastermind. Good bye Order of Canada.

<i>Imtesting</i>

[updated Wed Jan 02 20:50:52 EST 2008]