The saying that "Hakka only matter at election time" has been restated by Chen Pan, who does historical and cultural research, to indicate that at election time, politicians catch the "Hakka bug." The candidates make promises, meet and commiserate with Hakka, learn a few faltering phrases of the Hakka language.
所謂「客家出頭天，只在選舉時」，文史工作者陳板稱此現象為﹘﹘「選舉客家癥候群」，開支票、接見安撫、學兩句蹩腳客家話…… 等等輸誠舉動，無非是要爭取客家的「關鍵性少數」票源。