Pro-treatyites need to give Breakfast Roll Man something he can digest easily
THE 'Yes' campaign has failed miserably so far to give Breakfast Roll Man a reason to back the Lisbon Treaty.
The link up, to a degree, of the three main parties last evening, Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour, ought to be a sign the 'Yes' camp is getting its act in gear.
Also significant was the Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin saying the Lisbon Treaty does not alter the legal position of abortion in Ireland.
Just two weeks out from polling day and within Leinster House, several Fianna Fail and Fine Gael TDs, with their noses to the ground, privately predicted in recent days that the referendum would be lost if it were held right now, rather than on June 12.
But if last year's general election was held 10 days earlier, the result would also have been decidedly different.
The 'Yes' camp has a fortnight to turn around their fortunes after the 'No' campaign's steady run.
If the Lisbon Treaty is to be passed, soft voters will need to be given simple reasons to get out and vote and the 'Yes' camp needs a more coherent approach.
To date, the 'Yes' campaign appeared to be intent on giving reasons not to vote 'No', rather than why to vote 'Yes'.
The terms of the debate have been dictated by the 'No' campaign.
Fianna Fail has expended enormous amounts of energy attacking Sinn Fein, Libertas and Youth Defence.
Why?
Willie O'Dea was brutally honest when he explained it was necessary to counter false claims about abortion and corporation tax and so on, as these were coming up on the doorsteps.
"I regret the fact a lot of our focus is on countering those myths. Unfortunately we have to do it," he said.
Nonetheless, rather than trying to constantly debate the Treaty with the 'No' camp and getting drawn into rows about outrageous claims, the 'Yes' side needs to start emphasising its own message. The only way to get the soft 'Yes' vote out is to give them something they'll understand.
In the absence of a big idea in this treaty -- a single market, a currency or enlargement -- the 'Yes' camp need to fall back on the tried and trusted reliable of the country's relationship with the European Union and its impact on the economy.
To this end, the business and employers group, IBEC has led the field. IBEC's European Affairs director Brendan Butler has been one of the most effective campaigners, displaying a grasp of the detail, without getting bogged down in it. Crucially, he also doesn't allow 'No' campaigners to set the agenda.
His organisations sole message is perfectly simple: "Protect jobs and the economy."
Forget about the rest of it, this is a message Breakfast Roll Man will understand.
- Fionnan Sheahan
