Opinion: Giving Jenny Morrison a voice on contentious issues is about generating a new media angle for the Prime Minister while he bathes in her reflected glory
We have long heard from the Prime Minister that Jenny Morrison is his shoulder angel, leading him to revelations of empathy and guiding him towards the light when politics seem darkest.was always going to show her speaking lovingly about her husband. Journalist Karl Stefanovic left us in no doubt that this was a puff piece.
In an environment where most Australians can’t name a politician who has made a positive impact, Morrison needs to generate as much media exposure as he can possibly control. There is an old saying that familiarity breeds contempt. Psychologically this is false. The Mere-Exposure Effect demonstrates that humans are actually more inclined to like something they feel more familiar with, even if they had a prior aversion. Giving Jenny Morrison a voice on contentious issues is about generating a new media angle for the Prime Minister while he bathes in her reflected glory. And let’s not remove her agency. She is no hostage. She is a willing participant.
She readily acknowledged she was wrong and clearly apologised for taking a family holiday during the 2019 bushfires. There is debate that the halo slipped when she opined on the behaviour of Higgins and Tame, but her earnest appeal to manners and kindness will not go down badly in the marginal western Sydney electorates where more conservative social norms prevail.
But I doubt that this sentiment can be credibly attributed to Scott Morrison. “Meet the Morrisons” was all about politics and Jenny’s halo will have its limits.to Gladys Berejiklian and Malcolm Turnbull.
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