In tweets: #TalkToJoan isn't going well at all
Today, the Labour party launched a new social media engagement exercise to get questions sent to the Tánaiste.
Channelling her inner Joe Duffy, it's called #TalkToJoan, where people can address queries to the party leader publicly on Twitter.
It's not going well.
First, there was some light-hearted facepalming
Why do political parties insist on launching cringey PR campaigns that are inevitably going to degenerate into farce? #talktojoan
— Colette Browne (@colettebrowne) June 3, 2015
I note that the launch of #talktojoan was at a 5 star hotel....well done @labour #facepalm
— Ger Ryan (@TherealGerRyan) June 3, 2015
Others saw opportunity for mischief
The big flaw with #TalkToJoan is that she actually held up a sign on the internet. Major mistake. pic.twitter.com/ewTRBuphtK
— Peter Kavanagh (@TheKavOfficial) June 3, 2015
Oh dear,What has she done? #TalkToJoan #JoanMustGo pic.twitter.com/MzYRIUZbeb
— Lord Leitrim (@Breffni61) June 3, 2015
Some of the tweets were #redacted
#TalkToJoan I'd rather talk to a real politician. When is #TalkToCatherine being organised ?
— #Clicktivism (@DerekJByrne45) June 3, 2015
Then fellow politicians figured they'd get involved
I've dealt with constituents who've been made homeless by Joan Burton's cut to rent supplement #talktojoan #dubw
— Joe Higgins (@JoeHigginsSP) June 3, 2015
Why does your Dept continually conflate control savings with actual levels of fraud?Why does it never challenge the media on it? #TalkToJoan
— Joan Collins T.D. (@JoanCollinsTD) June 3, 2015
And conspiracy theorists jumped on board
#TalkToJoan is a honey trap to collect abusive tweets which will then be used to justify Lorraine Higgins anti-socialmedia law. Be warned.
— ismaithanfear (@ismaithanfear) June 2, 2015
Labour are setting up #TalkToJoan beware this could the troll baiting for #lorlaws beware and don't fall for it
— Tadhg O'Leary (@Tigerlil2) June 2, 2015
… and the actual meat of the campaign t.
According to the Labour website, Joan will be meeting with Labour members across the country to discuss "a number of themes" including income, healthcare, and social recovery.
Only after those meetings will Labour "be asking the general public their views", for
July, you say? Bring the popcorn.
