Kim & Key: A Tale of Two Smiling Assassins
by Winona D’Costa
April 6, 2014
Kim Dotcom is like John Key. Both are ruthless survivors of corporate and government politics. In Dotcom, Key has found
a genuine threat, unlike the flimsy ones offered by the Labour Party.
In his pre-politics era, John Key was known as the ‘smiling assassin’ for cheerfully firing dozens of employees while
collecting a pay check of US$2.25 million. But life caught up with Key. What he did to others Dotcom is now doing to
him.
Dotcom has become the ‘smiling assassin’ of New Zealand Politics. Dotcom has systematically and ruthless claimed the
scalps of John Banks and Peter Dunne, National’s lifelines, all with a cheerful smile. John Banks, Companion of the New
Zealand Order of Merit, cabinet minister and ex-mayor of Auckland sunk low in the belly of Dotcom and is now no longer
heard of. Peter Dunne, the ‘good’ boy of parliament faced public humiliation and slurs of infidelity all caused
indirectly by Dotcom.
Slowly, but surely Kim Dotcom is zeroing in on John Key. The biggest blotch on Key’s perfect image is his handling of
Dotcom. Unlikely Shearer or Cunliffe who can’t verbally go head to head with Key, Dotcom trashed Key in GCSB Select
Committee meeting. “Why are you turning red Prime Minister?” Clearly Dotcom has succeeded where Cunilffe and Shearer
have not: to get the Prime Minister turning red.
Should the Internet Party enter New Zealand Parliament it’s over for Key and National. If Dotcom wants the Prime
Minister’s head on a plate to put in his mansion, the Internet Party and Dotcom is going to have play it a little
smarter. He needs to create a party that people will want to vote for. A party with tangible policies that are not based
on mere twitter tweets.
By flinging money at people Dotcom isn’t securing their vote. He needs to empathise with the people. He must get out and
speak about the injustice done to him and explain how Key and National can make more citizens victims of their power.
Then the Internet Party will emerge a true contender.
Dotcom has already exposed National’s abuse of power without entering parliament. If his party occupies seats in
parliament, John Key will have to do the one thing he never imagined himself doing: quitting. Resigning. Walking away
with his tail between his legs. Maybe Dotcom will hire him as Chief of Staff for the Internet Party.
ENDS