The Real Issue
Michelle Grattan, overdosing on irony:
If it emerges that the Coalition is not telling the full story of its contact with Ashby, that will reflect very badly on it. But the government should be careful: in its quest for a smoking gun, it should beware finding itself on the wrong side of the real issue.
“The real issue”? ABOUT TIME. So we’re going to finally discuss politics in terms of actual policy? No more of this horse-race personality politics bullshit? Can’t wait. “The real issue” me, please, Michelle.
It’s pretty sensational to have a police inquiry into a Speaker, and a bit unfortunate when you’ve wooed him to be your man.
Sigh.
So, any police inquiry even if it’s on trumped up accusations generated by a malicious opposition is sensational, but the trumping up of the accusations isn’t?
If I was a conspiracy theorist, I would say that the Coalition got away with the whole Godwin Grech affair and are now trying it again.
This is why I have stopped listening to Michelle in the mornings, stopped watching ABC 7.30, stopped paying attention to the political journalists in this country. They just soooooo much want to be THE story, rather than just reporting on the story.
I really want to know what JG did to set the usually impartial Grattan off on her quest for vengeance, because Grattan’s been borderline irrational on Gillard for a year or so.
Really bizarre and disappointing.
I used to respect the work of Ms Grattan, but her apparent hatred of our prime minister has done her analytical skills no favours. When I see articles by her now, my response is usually WTF???
A similar exercise in unwitting irony was played out on ABC News Breakfast this morning on 1026am, when Marius Benson got the HS political editor on ( a rightist mouthpiece as usual on this show) to talk about how the commentary seems to be detracting from the focus on the Budget. They then gave us a scintillating summation that the HSU is being investigated, and Craig Thompson etc etc Slipper blah blah Gillard leadership in doubt etc blh etc. Errm, some theory about the commentary detracting, there, fellows?
““The real issue”? ABOUT TIME. So we’re going to finally discuss politics in terms of actual policy? No more of this horse-race personality politics bullshit? Can’t wait. “The real issue” me, please, Michelle”
Interesting that you think that sexual harassment of an employee by his boss is not a real issue. You obviously do not take sexual harassment seriously. Shame on you.
We can all see what you did there, “Rad”.
“The real issue” is that an employee was sexually harassed by his employee, not that the employee has drinks with another colleague. So I am perplexed as to why you would rather the media ignore this issue? Hence your description of this issue as No more of this horse-race personality politics bullshit .
Very sad that you describe media reporting of a sexual harassment case as this horse-race personality politics bullshit. Once again, shame on you.
Rad is right. A former coalition member has been accused of sexual harassment.
The leader of the Coalition was once charged with indecent assault.
There’s been a disturbing rise in sexism in the national conversation. Including snide comments like “make an honest woman of her”.
A female politician and PM “ought to be kicked to death” according to a Coalition associate.
What is it with the right and sexual disrespect.
It goes to judgement.
Everyone knew Slipper was bad news. While there is a double standard between judging political parties in this country, and judging right-wing political parties in Queensland (!), Slipper was a backbencher and a member of the speaker’s panel – nothing more.
Then he was nominated by the Government for the role of Speaker of the House of Representatives, not only a job which entails ensuring the orderly conduct of the House of Representatives (something he does very well), but also interacting with international parliamentary organisations and promoting world’s best practice in parliamentary affairs. A representative of the parliament, as it were.
The fact that this Government has been so extraordinarily bad at politics must somewhat reflect on their judgment in other areas, such as policy, which I agree should be the main issue.
I’m still trying to get my head around the convoluted language, but I think I’m hearing the Opposition say, “prove that we were involved” in the James Ashby allegations rather than denying they were. This rings alarm bells for me.
Rad for radically insane.
Ravenred asked “I really want to know what JG did to set the usually impartial Grattan off on her quest for vengeance, because Grattan’s been borderline irrational on Gillard for a year or so. ”
Here’s an extract from http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/
“Gillard (is) known to dismiss convoluted Grattan questions with the word “Next!” “
Rad, the problem is there was no sexual harassment of Ashby. He is claiming to have been uneasy about the supposed tape of Slipper cuddling someone else in 2003, a claim that he has spread over Tony Nutt who is suing the media and Ashby for defamation.
He also claimed that the cab vouchers were handed over blank, they were not.
I suspect he was fired for campaigning for the LNP during the February election and cannot charge unfair dismissal as he hadn’t worked long enough.
Now all the right wing little dickheads need to dry up.
Rad, the problem is there was no sexual harassment of Ashby. He is claiming to have been uneasy about the supposed tape of Slipper cuddling someone else in 2003, a claim that he has spread over Tony Nutt who is suing the media and Ashby for defamation.
That is not true. Ashby is claiming a lot more than just seeing a video. There are text messages, showing with the door open …. etc.
You should be ashamed of yourself as well. Ashby is claiming that he was sexually harassed by his boss, and all you can do is attack the victim and make excuses for the Boss.
Sexual harassment is a serious issue, and victims claims should be taken seriously. Not dismissed
So, to recap, Michelle Grattan writes today to tell us that Gillard and the ALP are not doing well. Well, I for one am absolutely astonished. Tell us more, Michelle, please tell us more. Tell us all about the polls and the leadership and what has the senior sources in the party so gravely worried. All of your faithful readers wish to hear more about your very serious concerns for the ALP’s chances of reelection. Don’t disappoint us.
A fine trollday effort from Rad.
The real issue in politics is WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT ACTUALLY DOING THAT AFFECTS OUR LIVES. A scandal involving Slipper does not actually affect us at all. There are legal processes to investigate the claims. Those are on foot.
The fact that the media think that this scandal stuff is “the real issue” is the problem. It’s why people don’t know what the Aged Care policy was, or the NDIS. It’s why the Coalition has gotten away with not having anything even approaching coherent policies on any of the issues they damn the ALP for.
This focus on horse-race personality politics bullshit to the extent that it drowns out almost everything of substance, the things that actually do affect us all, is harming our country.
…all of which evidence Radpipper has examined firsthand and verified as unimpeachable. Errm hang on what was that Rad…? You say you read it in the papers? Oh really….
Now be fair. It is not right to accuse Rad of being partisan and only interested in this matter because it is an enemy of the Coalition who is the accused. Rad has always had a strong zero toerance stance against sexual harassment. It is why this year he demanded the resignation from the race for the Republican Presidiential Candidate of Hermann Cain after a litany of former staff came forward with sexual harassment accusations. That was why he howled for the removal of Troy Buswell, the Liberal Western Australian treasurer, EDIT EDIT EDIT, inter alia…..
I thought the real issue was that juliar doesn’t have any babies. Come on, let’s not get distracted by pecadillos!
Very sad that you describe media reporting of a sexual harassment case as this horse-race personality politics bullshit.
I agree with annabel crabb that it’s far too early to be predicting the outcome of anything, and far too easy to hypothesise vast conspiracies, and everyone has an opinion … but I have my uneasy doubts.
It is entirely possible that ashby was a naive babe in the woods who EDIT
Annabel Crabbe was great on that QI rip off last night.
I think she has found her true calling.
Not sure if I’m correct, but I thought, contrary to the reportage of the issue, that the action being taken is for sexual discrimination, not harassment. The Political Sword has an article that mentions it.
http://www.thepoliticalsword.com/post/2012/04/23/Dumb-and-dumber-never-get-between-a-cliche-and-the-lazy-Australian-media.aspx
It appears that in a harassment case, warnings, complaints, mediation and conciliation efforts have to precede action such as that being taken by Ashby. It would appear that hasn’t happened in this case otherwise it would be all over the MSM.
It really is a shame about MG on RN in the mornings. I usually listen to her and FK about 15 minutes before I start my 1st job (I drive around a lot in my employment) and it often gets my day off to an un-neccessarily irritating start.
“There are Real Issues, Virginia.”
National purpose, vision, the common weal, silly little things like national infrastructure, rural road, national rail, decentralisation, sustainability, social justice?
I’m sorry it’s taken me this long, but I think it’s time I rounded up a few choice statements that the south bank moralist made about another recent high-profile sexual harrassment/discrimination suit:
She’s complained before
Were the victims just a means to Fraser-Kirk’s end?
It could be cheaper for all if we just hardened up
You launch a public campaign for $37 million and want privacy?
Victims miss out on the cash Fraser-Kirk offered
And he’s probably Jack the Ripper, too
I think there’s a fairly consistent theme there. And it’s not the one appearing in more recent coverage of a different scandal. At least, to my simple eyes.
What do you reckon, Rad? Is Andrew on-side with your anti-harassment crusade, or is it a case of shame on him too?
Slipper’s a woose.
The Speaker of the PNG Parliament is on the run after an arrest warrant was issued after he allegedly pinched $2.4 million of development funds.
Now THAT’S a speaker scandal for you.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/png-speaker-jeffery-nape-eludes-warrant/story-e6frg6so-1226346194480