Poll Points to Right Royal Beating for PM Clark

29 June 07

Media statement: For immediate release

Poll Points to Right Royal Beating for PM Helen Clark

With more than 52,000 ballots cast, voters have given an overwhelming verdict in the HELL Poll to find out ‘who needs a good smack’ for their role in the controversial anti-smacking legislation introduced by Green MP Sue Bradford, and passed by Parliament recently.

“Like every poll we have seen recently, the HELL poll is not good news for the Government, and for Helen Clark personally it is very bad news,” said Colin Mellar, Head of HELL.

Overall, Prime Minister Helen Clark has attracted 8745 votes, which is the highest total for anyone featured in the poll. However, in a straight contest with National party leader John Key she is in a class of her own, with nearly three times as many voters nominating her for a good (although not excessive) smacking as those who think John Key needs a ‘bit of a clip.’

Seventy one per cent of voters chose the Prime Minister for a bit of disciplining versus just 29 per cent for John Key.

“If these percentages were translated into seats in Parliament its clear that, not only would National have a majority nearly big enough to push through constitutional change, but Helen Clark wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week,” said Colin Mellar.

Second place in the HELL Poll, with 8096 votes, is everybody’s favourite ‘black shirt,’ Brian Tamaki of the Destiny Church.

“It is perhaps ironic that Brian Tamaki, who campaigned so strongly for the right to put the fear of God into our nation’s children, has been a very popular choice to receive a good smack himself,” said Colin Mellar.

“Given the old biblical maxim that ‘to spare the rod is to spoil the child’ we can only speculate as to whether Brian would be willing to bend over for a taste of the rod, or whether he would blubber like a big cry baby to avoid his own medicine.”

Third most popular in the HELL Poll is Maori Party MP, Tariana Turia and, perhaps surprisingly, Paul Holmes is in fourth place, but in his match up with Keith Quinn, he is a pants down winner.

“Obviously Quinny resonates with New Zealanders in a way that Holmesy doesn’t,” said Colin Mellar.

“Given that both of these guys supported the anti-smacking bill, it seems Quinn has a degree of public support that Holmes could only wish for, despite his best dancing efforts and cover stories on wimmins magazines.

Voters in the poll are asked to cast their votes between pairs of the leading protagonists in the smacking debate:

John Key vs Helen Clark
Keith Quinn vs Paul Holmes
Sue Bradford vs Brian Tamaki
Simon Barnett vs Paul Henry
Tariana Turia vs Jude Dobson

To cast your vote, and to see how voting is progressing, go to www.hellpoll.co.nz

ENDS

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