Reminiscent of Paul Martin’s appointment of Ujjal Dosanjh, David Emerson and Ken Dryden just weeks before last year’s federal election, Gordon Campbell is starting to invoke “star power” to retain his hold on the B.C. legislature.

Last month, the provincial Liberals announced to much fanfare that gold medalist Daniel Igali would run in Surrey-Newton. Last week, they followed it up with the introduction of Carole Taylor, chairwoman of CBC/Radio-Canada’s board of directors, as their candidate in Vancouver-Langara. In preceding days, UBC President Martha Piper and Judge Wally Oppal had been mentioned as potential “star recruits.”

The mainstream media lapped up the announcement of their colleague’s jump back into the electoral arena, in a stark and blatant reminder of the way “star” politics obscures any substantive discussion of the issues.

Last Monday evening, Global TV’s long-time Victoria correspondent Keith Baldrey focused almost exclusively on the post-election ramifications of Taylor’s candidacy. For Baldrey — I forget which vapid Global anchor person was pitching him the softballs — the sole focus seemed to be on how Taylor would co-exist with her former municipal colleague in government. The whole discussion presumed a Liberal victory on May 17, as Baldrey even wondered aloud if Campbell wasn’t grooming a successor for the premier’s office.

In last Tuesday’s Vancouver Sun, the equally permanent (if slightly more critical and insightful) legislature correspondent Vaughn Palmer described Campbell’s successful wooing of “one of the most sought after candidates for higher office in the past two decades.” The Sun, we should also note, dutifully adorned its front page with a grinning Taylor complete with the caption “Liberals pick a star.” Neither Palmer nor the lead story penned by Doug Ward mentioned Taylor’s New Democratic competitor in the riding, Anita Romaniuk of Vancouver’s Parks Board, and there was very little about Taylor’s positions on the issues.

The speculation that Taylor — a well known federal Liberal — would soften the image of the right-wing provincial government was contradicted by the new candidate’s own seal of approval on Campbell’s four years of cuts:

“Do I support the tough days that the government had to go through with the cuts in order to get the books in order? Yes, I do.” (Vancouver Sun, March 15 2005)

Of course, it is well established that the Liberals’ initial $2.5 billion tax cut for the rich is what caused the government to accumulate record debt. The tough days have been lived by the poor and working class of the province, who have seen services cut and user fees soar over the past four years.

Though some highly touted “star” candidates have failed rather famously — like the ill-fated shameless move by labour leader Dave Haggard to run for Martin’s Liberals — the sad truth is that “star” campaigns seem to be a growing trend. And it’s a painful reflection of our star obsessed, marketing driven and depoliticized society.

Exhibit A, of course, is the fact that Arnold Schwarzenegger is the governor of California. While it remains painful and surreal to type those words, we all need to reflect on the kind of apolitical environment in which a woman-groping son of a Nazi, who actually called an opponent an “economic girlie-man,” could attain high political office.Schwarzenegger is the extreme case, but it’s worth noting the way that with sufficient gloss and buzz (ie. “star power”) any real or consistent discussion of issues becomes totally irrelevant.

For instance, while the U.S. Congress convenes hearings and hysteria reigns over alleged steroid abuse by the likes of Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds, the Governator’s official website boasts a 1970s vintage photo of the admittedly steroid-pumped-up bodybuilder for auction.

Though we often like to bask in our relatively progressive political climate north of the border, it is worth recalling that the Right will martial the same forces to implement their neo-liberal schemes of privatization. They will manufacture a little “star power” — fuelled by a shameless and servile media — and use it to gloss over the devastation wrought on the poor and the environment by their corporate agenda.

Unfortunately, in the face of this onslaught, the Left too often responds by dumbing down their own message, instead of tackling the tedious work of substantive education on the issues. And that’s a shame, because the B.C. Liberals’ efforts at glitz and glamour can only go so far before they collide with the hard experience of so many in this province.

All the special effects Hollywood North could muster would not be able to conceal the closed schools and hospitals, nor the soaring numbers of homeless on our streets. No matter how many pretty faces they can conjure up to surround his, I don’t think it’s just a cheap shot to say that Gordon Campbell’s mug will continue to conjure up less than starry images for most.

Derrick O'Keefe

Derrick O'Keefe

Derrick O'Keefe is a writer in Vancouver, B.C. He served as rabble.ca's editor from 2012 to 2013 and from 2008 to 2009.