Fri, Nov 07, 2003 page8

• Editorial: VCD fuss detracts from real issues

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  VCDs containing skits that make some very sensational and inflammatory personal attacks on People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong (宋楚瑜), among other members of the pan-blue and pro-unification camps and the media, have created a storm.

  The curious thing is this: As offended as Soong and his gang may feel about the attacks, except for the heightened hostility in their tone, nothing new has really been expressed in those skits. Anyone who has had a chance to listen to some of the comments made about Soong in talkshows on local radio stations in southern Taiwan, where Soong does not have a chance of winning any popularity contest, will agree to this point.

  So why is the pan-blue camp so enraged over these VCDs when very few people had even heard of them until Soong hit the roof?

  Members of the pan-blue camp are filing complaints against not only the makers of the VCDs and groups that helped finance their production, but even President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Secretary-general Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) are being sued for libel. Suing Lee, Chen, and Chang is of course, preposterous, to say the least, because there is not a shred of evidence to suggest that they were involved. Surely the pan-blue camp must know this.

  It is just too hard to believe that the DPP and Chen would have done something like this at a time when the party is finally overtaking Soong and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan (連戰) in terms of popular support in the presidential race by successfully running an issue-oriented campaign. Issues that Chen has pitched thus far, such as writing a new Constitution tailored to the needs of Taiwan and public referendum rights, have gradually won over the support of the voters. These issues, which were previously considered radical and extreme, are being embraced by even moderate voters, suggesting that the times have really changed.

  According to a survey published by a local Chinese-language newspaper yesterday, good campaign strategy coupled with Chen's successful visit to the US have pushed popular support of the president and Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) ahead of Lien and Soong for the first time.

  In the circumstances, the release of the VCDs at this time can only incite resentment and repulsion among moderate voters, who, according to general consensus, will decide the outcome of the presidential election. It is therefore very important for the DPP and Chen to convince the general public that they had nothing to do with the controversial VCDs.

  As for the pan-blue camp, its high-profile rage serves at least two purposes -- garnering public sympathy and diverting voters' attention from its desperate lack of campaign platforms and issues. After all, in his days as the "oppressed Governor Soong" under former president Lee, Soong learned how being cast in the role of a victim can go a long way in winning over votes. Lien and Soong's inability to present any vision for Taiwan's future in their publicity campaign is rapidly evolving into a major crisis for the pan-blue camp. At a time like this, it is better for them to lure public attention away from these issues and to focus it on scandals.

  While it is true that the pan-blue camp has had its share of fun blackening and insulting the reputation of Chen, his family and the DPP government, two wrongs do not make a right. No matter how much one may disapprove of and dislike Soong, it is essential that we have a clean and healthy campaign and election in which meaningful and constructive debates are held on issues of real concern and interest to the public.
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