Captain GetUp: The bizarre hero we neither need, nor deserve
It’s not a bird. It’s not a plane. Strangely, it’s not superman either. It’s Captain GetUp.
But despite the name and signature orange branding, this new superhero doesn’t belong to GetUp!, a progressive non-profit lobby group with more than a million members.
He’s actually from the opposite end of the political spectrum: conservative lobby group Advance Australia.
Confused? So are we.
The mock superhero Captain GetUp was launched by Advance Australia on Tuesday, as part of the right-wing group’s campaign strategy to discredit its rival and “tell the truth about GetUp!’s agenda”, according to a report in The Australian.
Dressed in an orange bodysuit, moon boots and a silver cape featuring the Greens’ and Labor’s logos, Captain GetUp will hand out anti-GetUp! pamphlets and read out the following script to voters:
“I am Captain GetUp the truth crusader. After 14 years of secret backroom deals they are finally letting me out of the office for this election campaign. My mission is to show the world what clever tricks we use behind the scenes to increase political correctness and manipulate voters. At GetUp we really know what is best for you.’’
The “truth crusader” made his debut in Manly on Tuesday morning, tasked with the mission of explaining to voters why they should help Tony Abbott retain his northern Sydney seat of Warringah in the looming federal election.
He is due to appear in other high-profile seats, including Wentworth in Sydney, Josh Frydenberg’s Melbourne seat of Kooyong, and Attorney-General Christian Porter’s Western Australian seat of Pearce.
Captain GetUp also already has his own social media accounts.
Monash University senior politics lecturer Dr Nick Economou said it was common for interest groups such as Advance Australia or GetUp! to become more active at election times because they want to claim some ownership over the results.
“We’re expecting this to be a government-changing election,” Dr Economou said.
“Liberals fear they might lose their seats to Independents, and if it does happen then GetUp! will say they’ve contributed to Tony Abbott’s demise.
“We know GetUp! gets under the skin of conservatives … but the best strategy would be to just ignore them.”
The response on social media has been mixed, with some suggesting Advance Australia’s bizarre campaign strategy could backfire by inadvertently drawing more attention to the left-wing lobby group.
I’m following @CaptainGetUp because there can’t possibly be a better way to expose @GetUp as a organisation helping people choose the right party to support in #Election2019 than this ‘truth crusader’. #AusPol
— Mike Coyliar 💛🐝 Fella YES on Wurundjeri land (@Monstercoyliar) April 9, 2019
Others said it was too confusing.
CG: I am Captain GetUp, the truth crusader!
PUNTER: so you’re from GetUp?
CG: er, no.
PUNTER: So why are you called Captain GetUp?
CG: give me 3 more minutes and I will explain!
— Matt Burke (@matttburke) April 8, 2019
https://twitter.com/karaschlegl/status/1115404516545839104
Whether or not Australian voters can truly be convinced by a man wearing an orange suit approaching them on the street to talk about “political correctness” remains to be seen.
But you never know – perhaps Captain GetUp has superpowers after all.
