Can you please stop calling (National MP) Chris Finlayson Tinkerbell?
It is deeply uncool, and manages to be homophobic and misogynistic in one handy package. I'm sure you don't really want to be a prejudiced idiot, so perhaps if you stopped acting like one that would be a good start.
That is all.
18 comments:
I'm sure you don't really want to be a prejudiced idiot
What makes you think that? He'd be kicked out of the Labour party!
Well I know quite a few people who are in Labour who aren't prejudiced idiots so I think there could even be hope for Trevor.
You should actually write directly to him and say this. So should anyone else who objects. I often email MPs when they use language I feel is discriminatory and they almost always respond well.
Well said.
I thought it was deeply uncool and wondered what Charles Chauvel, Chris Carter and the rest of Rainbow Labour have to say about it.
but they tell you not to get personal on their Red Alert site. hypocrites, eh! or is it Red Blert?
Thank you.
It doesn't matter who says it and to whom it's directed, it's not just deeply uncool, it's childish and offensive.
It's not appropriate for any MP let alone one who may aspire to be in cabinet again.
I think now that Heln has gone, some of the boys are playing up again. She wouldn't have allowed this to happen and you know H2 would have stamped it out right away.
Bullying is never good.
Well I know quite a few people who are in Labour who aren't prejudiced idiots so I think there could even be hope for Trevor.
Nah... If you're not a prejudiced idiot, but are willing to enable and reward an 'attack dog' who is because you just don't want to dirty your hands directly then you're worse than a prejudiced idiot. You're a coward and a hypocrite.
I feel kind of icky agreeing with Cameron Slater, but where the hell are Chauvel, Carter, Maryan Street et. al.? Their silence speaks volumes.
And sorry for the tangent, but could someone tell Hone Harawira and his enablers that the only thing that's like rape is rape?
That's not anti-Maori (I believe this blog called out Chris Trotter for equating criticism of Winston Peters to a media gang rape), it's anti-arseholes who trivialise sexual violence for rhetorical effect.
Wow. What next from Trevor? Calling Hone Harawira "nigger"?
Could you provide a link to where he's said this? I'd like to see it so I can complain to him and know precisely what I'm complaining about. Also. I agree that it doesn't matter who he is or who he works for. It's wrong to use that kind of homophobic and misogynistic language.
I am told he has used it several times against Finlayson - as has Clayton Cosgrove.
Hansard has one reference from Mallard here - http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/Speeches/c/6/c/49HansS_20091015_00000749-Mallard-Trevor-Questions-for-Oral-Answer.htm
Note that most interjections do not make Hansard unless they are responded to.
I blogged on this issue a few weeks ago at http://www.kiwiblog.co.nz/2009/10/mallard_on_finlayson.html
Trevor claimed in the comments it was "Nothing to do with Finlayson’s sexual orientation"
Hansard:
http://www.parliament.nz/en-NZ/PB/Debates/Debates/1/e/d/49HansD_20091015_00000029-Questions-for-Oral-Answer-Questions-to-Ministers.htm
There seems to be a bit of a nasty streak among Labour's senior MPs. Mr Mallard makes quite mysogynistic references to Ms Tolley and Ms Bennett. Frequently Labour MPs make reference to Mr Brownlee's weight. Not so long ago Mr Cunliffe mocked Ms Wong's accent in the House.
I think the Labour Party would get a lot more respect with the public if they stopped engaging in personal abuse against their opponents.
ah tim, come to spread your little lies here as well? mr cunliffe did not mock ms wong's accent intentionally, and immediately apologised for his slip. as mr mallard's alleged references to ms tolley and ms bennett, can you provide evidence please, because i suspect that criticisms about their performance are trying to be deflected by claiming that sexist slurs are being used. and since you always seem so strong on balance at other blogs, how about you provide evidence of the homophobic and sexist slurs shouted across the house at helen clark and other labour MPs? not that this excuses any such behaviour by labour MPs, and the example that julie has highlighted is certainly not acceptable.
Tim Ellis
I think the Labour Party would lose less respect with the public if they stopped engaging in personal abuse against their opponents.
Stargazer:
I could (to my shame) reel off a list of nasty, mean-spirited and flat out hateful interjection thrown in all directions in the House. (And despite what Mallard claimed in comments over on Kiwiblog, Finlayson isn't someone I'd have cause to pink as a Parliamentary poo thrower.)
But as DPF noted, these interjections seldom show up in Hansard unless they're the subject of a point of order. I'd also be careful about naming and shaming, because while MPs can slander people at will under privilege, it doesn't work both ways.
From SHG's Hansard link (to save anyone else from having to scroll through the entire day's QT:
" Hon CHRISTOPHER FINLAYSON: I am seeking to grow the arts budget. I have made it clear on a number of occasions that the Government has very real responsibilities to fund the arts and that, in addition, the increase in funding from private and corporate sources will encourage an explosion in the arts.
Education—National Standards
12. Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) to the Minister of Education: Does she stand by her reported statement that—[Interruption] Tinkerbell, can you settle down?
Mr SPEAKER: That is not acceptable. I ask the House to come to order. The member asking the question often interjects when other members are asking questions. I ask him to just ask his question."
Given that the only Tinkerbell I am aware of was a fictional fairy in Peter Pan, what else could Mallard be inferring? For him to deny that he was referring to Finlayson's sexual orientation is a blatant lie IMHO. And it does the Labour Party no credit whatsoever that no Honourable Member from that side of the House has publicly chided Mallard for his homophobia.
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