A simple plan for the Dotcom's Internet Party to succeed in the US

Kim Dotcom has been tweeting about his plans to start a US version of the Internet Party.

The Internet Party NZ was a rank disaster, of course, as its founder split and distracted the left, discredited serious discussion about surveillance and security with clownish, over-the-top allegations, and the "Moment of Truth" rally failed to deliver on anything specific other than his Mega infomercial moment.

So unsurprisingly, Dotcom's tweet that he would be "Hillary's worst nightmare in 2016" drew immediate sarcasm from social media wags (@ThomasBeagle shot back "Is that the same way that you were John Key's worst nightmare in 2014?").

But I've got a simple plan for the Internet Party US to get a ton of publicity and momentum: the giant German voluntarily travels to the US to face trial. 

Dotcom maintains he has a clear, logical defence, and one which will prove nefarious goings-on in Obama's White House. So go ahead Kim: make your case on US soil. Face your accusers. Press will be queuing out the door.

On the other hand, if Dotcom campaigns remotely, the Internet Party US will be a footnote; a colour story for sites like TorrentFreak. It likely won't get enough publicity to get a fundraising machine going (and there would be a need for funds. Despite apparently making $40 million from the sale of shares in Baboom and Mega and other activities while on bail, Dotcom says he's broke. That's not optimal given North America is a much more expensive place to campaign than NZ).

No doubt Dotcom will maintain he won't get a fair trial in the US, where he faces criminal charges for copyright violation, money laundering and racketeering, as well as a civil action brought by record labels and movie studios.

But he has a smart, media savvy attorney. The eyes of the world's media would be on the case. And it's not like he stole military secrets.

And at the end of the day, Dotcom being denied bail in the US, or ultimately being convicted, would not be a bad thing for the Internet Party US.

If you're true to your politics, risking or incurring jail can be the best possible boost for your cause. But although martyrdom is one of the most potent forces in politics, it allows little scope for playing Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare.

ckeall@nbr.co.nz

Follow @ChrisKeall