I'm sorry David Cunliffe - it's not you, it's the nation

Since David Cunliffe became the leader of the New Zealand Labour Party on the 15th of September last year he has faced no end of criticisms.  Several people are saying he is incompetent and stand down as the leader.  In the last couple of months he has been portrayed by New Zealand's mainstream media as a monkey who doesn't know what he's doing.

This is due to him apologising for numerous things lately.  It started when he addressed the Women's Refuge in July.  He apologised for being a man because the majority of violence is committed by men.  The speech drew major criticism with people, including Prime Minister John Key appalled by the statement saying it's insulting because not all men are violent (never mind the opening sequence of National's TV campaign features a disheveled young white man).

He followed this apology up last week by apologising for being a Cunliffe and that he was sorry for how his direct ancestors treated Maori during the land wars.  This has also drawn criticism on social media sites like Twitter with people mocking Cunliffe.

Last night it occurred to me he's trying to mimic former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd who famously apologised to the Aborigines in 2007 and subsequently won the election and went on to lead the nation for 3 years until Julia Gillard took control and led for another term.

The difference between Rudd and Cunliffe's apologies is that Rudd's was new and genuine whereas people are seeing through Cunliffe and it's obvious he's following suit and just trying to win the election.  Unlike Rudd the NZ public is happy with keeping John Key as the Prime Minister but in 2007 Australia had enough of John Howard.  

Cunliffe has also said even if he loses this years election he will stay on as leader.  Some may call this stupid, but look at Australia's current Prime Minister Tony Abbott, he lost the 2010 election and is now Prime Minister.  The main difference between Rudd and Cunliffe however is timing and NZ doesn't want a Labour led Government & that's why nothing he says resonates.  It's not personal.  It's just the present mood of the nation.