Ghomeshi for PM!

May 2, 2004 11:32 AM

Screw The Vote! The CBC is taking an unusual approach to the looming Canadian election. Follow host Jian Ghomeshi as he travels around the country encouraging not to vote, in a fascinating attempt at reverse psychology. Comes with its very own propaganda kit, too! [more inside]
posted by krunk (16 comments total)

Ghomeshi, of Moxy Fruvous fame, has been the host of CBC's >play for the last two years, and is getting a rep for stirring shit up.

From the website(s): Yes even Ghomeshi, eternal optimist and political activist, has been silenced. Why bother fighting it? There's just no point.

"Rock The Vote" concerts have been around since 1990 in the United States, with no discernible impact... If earnest and well-meaning political efforts to appeal to youth are met with apathy and cynicism, will the irony of Ghomeshi’s counter-campaign tempt young people to get involved?
posted by krunk at 11:32 AM on May 2, 2004

I just knew Jian was destined for television sooner or later.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 11:36 AM on May 2, 2004

Hm.

I guess this provides me with a (somewhat) rational way to explain the "DON'T VOTE: it only encourages them!" sticker on my bicycle.
posted by kaibutsu at 12:00 PM on May 2, 2004

I just knew Jian was destined for television sooner or later.

I thought now he works at the Pizza Pizza.

But anyway, I think the ironic message of this idea was best displayed in the States a few years ago when Michael Moore did the famous "Ficus 2000" campaign. Basically, he went around the country registering ficus plants in all the Congressional seats that were running uncontested to make note of the fact that out of 435 seats up for grabs every two years, about a dozen actually change.

It was most noted, as he showed in the documentary about the campaign, when the direct results for a New Jersey district were not aired on television, and a public discolsure of ballots were not ever released by the BOE members of that district. Essentially, the ficus had won, and no one wanted the news to get out about it.

The only think more disturbing than how little the national population of the federal government actually changes during a major election cycle is how few people in this country care about it.
posted by XQUZYPHYR at 12:17 PM on May 2, 2004

Well, it's probably at least as effective as last night's "The Price Is Right Get Out the Vote Special" (but it was a little embarrassing when Bob Barker officially threw his support to Eisenhower).
posted by wendell at 12:30 PM on May 2, 2004

This reminds me of that Urban Outfitters "voting is for old people" t-shirt that prompted such an angry outcry against it's attempt to discourage young voters. I was fascinated at how incapable of understanding cynical sarcasm people were.
posted by Wingy at 12:43 PM on May 2, 2004

"I thought now he works at the Pizza Pizza."

No, he was fired from that job, right after he quit driving the Zamboni.

And, um, about the title text for this post...please, God, don't encourage him.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 1:35 PM on May 2, 2004

I prefer this laissez-faire approach to voting. On this subject, I don't even give a care.
posted by mosch at 2:13 PM on May 2, 2004

Hey, he's just looking for off-handed ways to improve us.
posted by Johnny Assay at 3:37 PM on May 2, 2004

I'm amused by the fact we're paying for the CBC to tell us not to vote for the very politicians that decide how much we pay for the CBC.

Hooray for Canada!

That was cynical sarcasm
posted by loquax at 3:52 PM on May 2, 2004

I just found jianghomeshi.com, and wow, the music he's got playing on the site is great! nice flash work too...
posted by krunk at 3:54 PM on May 2, 2004

Too bad he's no longer amming with Moxy Fruvous.
posted by Space Coyote at 4:20 PM on May 2, 2004

And his last job was sweeping the floor at SkyDome.
posted by loquax at 5:06 PM on May 2, 2004

Without being too coy about it, I sorta knew the Moxy guys. What it was, is that I knew really, really, really well someone who knew them really, really well, from long before they formed the band. I always liked Mike Ford a lot; but I never liked Jian. What is Jian calling his record company? "Wonderboy"? Sheesh. Everything he's done has appeared to me to have been done very self-consciously, as he aimed for political greatness and/or stardom ahead. Lots and lots and lots of posturing. I always thought it was primarily Jian who injected the unpleasant tone of smugness into Moxy's music.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 5:37 PM on May 2, 2004

I must say, this is pretty cool.
posted by abcde at 7:14 PM on May 2, 2004

Ethereal Bligh: "but I never liked Jian" "the unpleasant tone of smugness".

I too dislike Jian. Although, at the opposite end of the political spectrum he always reminds me of Brian Mulroney. Pompous, self-righteous, relentlessly self promoting, and always amazed by his own brilliance and wit. As for the campaign I doubt most 18-24's even know who Ghomeshi is.
posted by arse_hat at 11:11 PM on May 2, 2004