When Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) tried to claim that their fried chicken could be part of an effective diet program in 2004 they were penalised by the Federal Trade Commission, to whom they had to submit all future advertising for the next five years.
But when it comes to political advertising, ‘whoppers’ are allowable; in fact lies, distortions and misleading statements in the course of election campaigning are the norm, despite obviously not being in the public interest.
To take a local example.
Today I received a political flyer from National Party candidate Mathew Frazer attaching a postal vote application form for the coming federal election for the seat of Richmond aimed older voters, which this electorate has many.
Mathew’s ad on the back of the flyer states ‘I (Mathew Fraser) don’t have a political background, or big party backing’.
Be honest Mathew; you were the Liberal/National Party candidate for the seat of Richmond in 2104. You’re running in the 2016 federal election in exactly the capacity. You have been a member of the local National Party for many years. And a vote for you in 2016 is a vote for Malcom Turnbull.
I’d call that a serious political background and very obvious ‘big party backing’.
Mathew, KFC ultimately took the ‘fried’ out of the name, because it had a bad rap. Run a clean campaign and you might have a chance, because people don’t like lies particularly from ‘budding’ politicians.
Terry Sharples, Tweed Heads
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
