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YouTube video kills political careers

by on09 November 2009

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Hitler video upsets liberals


Two political
careers appear to be in tatters over a YouTube video which shows Aussie backbencher Alex Hawke as Adolf Hitler.

The party's state president, Nick Campbell, warned of ''decisive disciplinary action'' against those responsible for the clip which shows Hawke as a ranting Hitler berating aides for failing to wipe out the forces of factional rival David Clarke. Clarke staffer Charles Perrottet stood down from his job over the weekend after the Herald revealed that he and Thomas Tudehope had been linked in emails to the video clip.

Mr Tudehope had been the online media adviser to the federal Opposition Leader, Malcolm Turnbull but also resigned. Clarke pleads the party's ultra-conservative wing and he and Hawke, have had a bit of  a tiff  over control of state Liberal preselections. It seems that by backing the YouTube video the various supporters have shown that the Liberals are spending a lot of time and effort in factional politics. They can't really have a direct pop at each other, but instead are doing it through YouTube and other guerilla Internet campaigns.

It all came to light when an email chain obtained by the Herald linked Perrottet, Tudehope and a third Liberal insider to intimate knowledge of the Hitler video and its propagation. Perrottet claimed the emails were doctored.
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