So, after weeks of argument, we finally know what Phil Goff's pandering to racism was worth: a 4% rise in a poll that (having previously shown National at a historic high and Labour at a low) was almost certain to rise anyway. The obvious question for Labour is "was it worth it?" Pissing all over your principles and burning your relationship with Maori and the Maori Party for that?
As someone who takes those principles seriously, I don't think it would be worth it even if such Brash-channelling had produced an Orewa-like response. But those who don't, and who see sacrificing the fundamental commitment to equality which lies at the heart of the left-wing project simply as a matter of cost-benefit analysis, might want to think about whether the "benefit" was worth it - or if it can even be distinguished from the noise.
