If one can paint their opponent as irrational (violent, terrorists, culture haters) then one can make a personal attack of their opponent, causing a distraction of the issue at hand, shifting the blame (and debate), and ignoring cause and effect. Furthermore, one no longer has to listen to their opponent, and one can justify the means to resort to countermeasures (such as in this case subsidies). Its an age old trick with multiple fallacies at work.

If they'd never resort to physical violence with their boat they're like a barking dog who doesn't bite. They need to show their teeth regularly, and seek the confrontation. Nobody wants to end up like Dutchbat in Srebrenica where the opponent knows that you won't take respond to their actions.