The generic nature of the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and the genetic make-up of the political character of its founder Branville McCartney

The generic and genetic make up of Bran's DNA

By SIMON


FRONT PORCH

After the roll-out of the country’s latest third party, two things are clearer: the generic nature of the Democratic National Alliance and the genetic make-up of the political character of its founder Branville McCartney.

Despite Mr. McCartney’s inability to resist the self-referential and narcissistic claim that it’s a Bran(d) new day, there is little original about the generic brand he is desperately peddling as new and exciting. He will never have to worry himself with being considered an original thinker, nor for that matter, much of a thinker.

Whether or not he purloined the lighthouse logo from an erstwhile ally, his green flavor, in only one sense of that word, was the party color of the defunct Bahamian Democratic Party. Green was the gloss Mr. McCartney used for much of his public relations even as an FNM, curiously painting his Bamboo Town headquarters green at one point.

Was it not always about Bran, with his mutable party colors, depending on whatever served his vaunting ambitions? We have seen this before with those inveterate party hoppers-cum-political chameleons whose loyalty is to themselves, not to a party or cause larger than their personal ambitions.

The DNA is decidedly green through and through, more of which later. For now, his party colleagues will come to realize that the DNA is not about a movement or an ideology or a vision. It is foremost a vehicle for Mr. McCartney’s vanity and pursuit of celebrity and power. Tellingly, he didn’t even go through the pretense of having himself elected as Leader.

When Mr. McCartney eventually abandons his self-creation, it will quickly collapse, fading into irrelevance much like those pathologically narcissistic former and current politicians who never grasped why “the people” never realized the genius such self-proclaimed geniuses saw in themselves when they looked in the mirror.

In his maiden address as the DNA’s self-anointed leader, Mr. McCartney shamelessly borrowed and unsuccessfully attempted to repackage ideas that have enjoyed currency for decades. His approximately 5000-word speech was a glaring and glib cut and paste job, long on other people’s ideas, desperately short on how to achieve or pay for them.

There was a cavalcade of clichés including: “redefine the possible”, “putting people first” and “change”. Many are not insulted simply because they have heard such slogans ad nauseum. They are also amused and stunned that Mr. McCartney believes that such fatuous rhetoric will propel him to the prime ministership.

Perhaps Mr. McCartney is owed some sympathy. Absent the clichés and stilted rhetoric, he would have been left with “Good evening” at the beginning of his address and “God bless The Bahamas” at its conclusion. As he wants to be considered a man of empathy, he might have shown more care and compassion for Hubert Ingraham, especially after attempting to make his own the Prime Minister’s vision and record.

IMAGINE

The unelected Leader of the DNA asked us to close our eyes and imagine. Among other dreams, we were invited to imagine the possibility of better public infrastructure, including roads and public schools, an enhanced natural environment and an improved public health system.

Bahamians don’t have to close their eyes to imagine these. In driving around New Providence and traveling to the Family Islands, one can see Mr. McCartney’s supposed dream becoming a reality — no thanks to him. After all, he abandoned Mr. Ingraham’s cabinet in the midst of the hard work of transforming and revitalizing New Providence and the Islands of The Bahamas.

Mr. McCartney also spoke of reducing government bureaucracy, advancing plans for agriculture and food security, as well as increasing opportunities for small businesses. Again, Bahamians need not keep their eyes wide shut in a dream world spun by Mr. McCartney.

The dreams of which he spoke are being advanced by Mr. Ingraham, who since 2007 navigated an extraordinary economic crisis, launched new social programs and put in place other measures for the long-term and economic security of Bahamians while Mr. McCartney was still in his political Pampers and trying out his training wheels as a politician.

The artifice and conceit as well as amateurish impetuousness that is at the heart of Mr. McCartney’s political character and DNA was on full display on live television during the not-ready-for prime-time launch of his self-promotion tour.

Those who are now on the Branville bandwagon may wish to caution their leader that protestations of how humbled one is while preening and primping at the same time, does not make for good television or believable rhetoric.

Still, as reality TV goes, the production quality of the launch of brand-Branville was reasonably good from a technological viewpoint. However, the showmanship, entertainment and slick visuals did not mask how generic and generally substance-free the whole affair was.

No matter how desperately one attempts to repackage porridge, in the end it’s still pablum. Some may recall that Pablum was also the trademarked name for a processed cereal for infants. Mr. McCartney deserves credit for a rare marketing feat, of which he may only be half-proud: His launch event was simultaneously, thus far, perhaps the best and the worst day for the DNA.

Many packed the ballroom at the Wyndham Crystal Palace while others watched on TV. But in the end, it’s about votes, not viewership. Bahamians love politics and a good show. The test is to translate such interest into concrete support.

Mr. McCartney has his true believers and those who will flirt with his DNA for various motives, some genuine, some suspect. Others will pat him on the back and tell him to keep up the good work, though they will never vote for his party.

NONSENSE

He will be well advised to discount much of the nonsense that will be whispered into his ears. While some may have projected their hopes onto him and the DNA, the reality post-launch and the managing of expectations will test the scant political maturity and experience he has.

Already, after months of build-up and media hype and leaks and drama, the DNA’s launch proved to be an exceptional disappointment for many, most especially in terms of Mr. McCartney’s keynote address and the initial group of candidates.

If this is the best that the DNA can offer in terms of policy, people and politics, their prospects are even worse than many initially imagined. One never wants to dilute one’s brand especially at the roll-out event.

Not only does the party which bills itself as democratic have an unelected head, there were no branch elections for its candidates. The DNA is not a democratic organization. It seems more like a cult of Bran and a clique of his supporters. To attempt now to both rubber-stamp Mr. McCartney as leader and ratify candidates retroactively will be laughable and democratic in name only.

As problematic, are the amateurish blunders made by a number of the McCartney-appointed candidates. A mistake by a new candidate is understandable. But, the DNA may be in for more difficulties if their candidates continue to make basic mistakes such as confusing Elizabeth Estates with the Elizabeth Constituency and not knowing the difference between being disenfranchised and disempowered.

Then there was the candidate who sought to scrub his answer to a question and have a do-over on live television. Not only was he not responding to a difficult question. One would have thought that we would have had a ready answer to such a basic question as asked by the reporter.

And, this is the group from among whom Mr. McCartney will select a cabinet to manage the country’s foreign and domestic affairs? As well-intentioned as they may be, by no stretch of the imagination can most Bahamians imagine that these individuals are capable of running, or know how to run, a country.

Credibility-wise, the biggest stumbling block for the DNA is that Bran McCartney may actually be that party’s most capable member. The man who has scant executive or political experience and no vision, except what he has borrowed, wants Bahamians to hand over the nation’s affairs to him and a band of neophytes.

When Bahamians close their eyes and imagine that prospect, they won’t see a dream to be realized. They will see a nightmare to be averted.

frontporchguardian@gmail.com

bahamapundit.com

5/17/2011

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