Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: Morning in Auckland

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  • Paul Williams,

    I caught one on Campbell Live last night. "Was PH being racist?" (or words to that effect) and the "no" vote outnumbered the "yeses". It made me depressed.

    And this is the crowd Key's playing too which infruriate me. He's PM, he has responsibilities to encourage an inclusive and tolerant society, not play to the gallery.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • 3410,

    the "no" vote outnumbered the "yeses"

    57/43, if memory serves. John looked a bit stunned.

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole,

    57/43, if memory serves. John looked a bit stunned.

    I'm not surprised. Must be quite a shock to such a liberal presenter to discover that he's got such a non-liberal following.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    Percentage too, although to my non-mathematical brain that doesn't mean much. However, Campbell said (iirc) 13,000 people responded.
    Blerg.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Hilary Stace,

    I thought that was quite a heartening poll. I thought the no vote would be much higher as that is the group who are having their comfortable sense of the world challenged by this huge negative public reaction to PH, and so are motivated to respond to such polls.

    They are probably the same group of people who think it is OK to hit children, and would vote to bring corporal punishment back into schools, were they asked.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    You could be absolutely right, Hilary! Good point. I've been looking at some comments on line - not my usual reading spots - and some of the things said make my stomach turn. However, I'm also noticing that some of the spelling/grammar/punctuation is of a very low standard, so I'm guessing there's not much intelligence going into the mix....or am I being altogether too precious? Or something?

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • artig,

    I wonder if Stephan Pastis has been reading the news about PH and his apology.
    Pearls before Swine

    BoP • Since Oct 2010 • 41 posts Report Reply

  • Kyle Matthews,

    However, I'm also noticing that some of the spelling/grammar/punctuation is of a very low standard, so I'm guessing there's not much intelligence going into the mix....or am I being altogether too precious?

    In a thread attacking someone for making racist judgements, I'm not sure if spelling/grammar/punctuation should be used to make judgements about people's intelligence.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    ...13,000 people responded.

    at 75c a txt (I think)?
    where does the money go?

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Jacqui Dunn,

    @ Kyle: No, maybe not. But I didn't actually attack anyone - it was an over-all observation. The comments themselves were often incomprehensible, so either fuelled by fury or an inability to express. Whatever the driver, still rather dismaying.

    Oh, I've just re-read what you said. The whole thread.....? Not my post per se? Yup.

    Deepest, darkest Avondale… • Since Jul 2010 • 585 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Firstly, she thinks Henry is sorry. Seriously?

    Secondly, she thinks he didn't mean to offend anyone. Again, seriously?

    For me, that takes quite a lot of the shine off her resignation offer.

    Yeah, me too. (Especially the second.) Maybe she does know Henry and finds him to be misunderstood or what have you, but this isn't the time to say it publicly.

    I agree with Matthew Poole though, that it seems unlikely the email statement and leaking was an attempt to take the heat of Henry (or if it was, it was incompetent).

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    "Was PH being racist?" (or words to that effect) and the "no" vote outnumbered the "yeses". It made me depressed.

    Other non-scientific polls (Herald, Stuff) have indicated between 33 to 40% think Henry did nothing wrong, but most people think he did. I think there could be an overlap, with a group of people thinking what he said was wrong, but not willing to say it was racist, because they may feel like that is too harsh. That is, if Campbell Live's question was changed to "Was PH wrong to say what he did?" it may well have been over 50% 'Yes'.

    There'll be a group of people who don't support what he said this time, but still want to like Henry's on air persona and to support him. They'll therefore rationalise what he said so that it was 'wrong', but somehow not actually racist. This allows them to accept his apology and go back to watching him in two weeks time.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    Other non-scientific polls (Herald, Stuff) have indicated between 33 to 40% think Henry did nothing wrong, but most people think he did. I think there could be an overlap, with a group of people thinking what he said was wrong, but not willing to say it was racist, because they may feel like that is too harsh.

    Although I do understand the point of any discussion about the polls and what they might tell us about race relations - or at least the views of respondents - objectively, Paul Henry's comments are racist. He disaparaged people, several people in fact, on the basis of their race. He might want to argue he's not a racist (cue the Tui billboard) but I figure you are what you do.

    So whether Pete of Papatoetoe or Helen of Hataitai agree or not doesn't matter to me. And... at the risk of getting all political again... neither should it matter to the bloody Prime Minister!

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Parks,

    Paul Henry's comments are racist.

    Yep, and clearly so, in case I wasn't clear on that.

    Wellington • Since May 2007 • 1165 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    So whether Pete of Papatoetoe or Helen of Hataitai agree or not doesn't matter to me. And... at the risk of getting all political again... neither should it matter to the bloody Prime Minister!

    You know, Paul, if you want to go there - it should also have mattered to Jacinta Adern. It should have mattered to Phil Goff. It should have mattered to Helen Clark, and Trevor Mallard and Shane Jones and Darren Hughes and Russell Norman and Rodney Hide and every other fucking politician who has every been on that waste of space load of shit.

    But it didn't.

    And perhaps politicians should stop talking to Press Gallery journalists working for news outlets that push lying Yellow Peril bullshit with nauseating and monotonous regularity. That alone might improve the signal to noise ratio significantly.

    You really don't want to get me started...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Now if only TVNZ would apologise to New Zealanders like Andi Brotherston has apologised to her colleagues.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • jo kerr,

    Point well made Simon. All the more reason why the PM's initial reaction was very poor. Henry mightn't give a toss about race relations or our international standing, but the PM should have both constantly in mind.

    So should the state broadcaster.
    When North Korean state television is quoted, the world's media take it as representative of that state.
    India's media are likely to do the same with TVNZ and New Zealand.

    Since Apr 2010 • 24 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha,

    Yep. India lodges formal complaint

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Paul Williams,

    You know, Paul, if you want to go there - it should also have mattered to Jacinta Adern. It should have mattered to Phil Goff. It should have mattered to Helen Clark, and Trevor Mallard and Shane Jones and Darren Hughes and Russell Norman and Rodney Hide and every other fucking politician who has every been on that waste of space load of shit.
    But it didn't.

    Craig, that's simply a false equivalence... Clark's comments on Henry have been documented earlier in this thread. I'm not at all sure what you think Jacinta's said other than on Twitter etc where she's been clear and unequivocal, Trevor too.

    I might be missing your point but honestly, I think only Key's got this wrong and that's astounding for a PM.

    This is a significant moment where his judgment has entirely failed him.

    Sydney • Since Nov 2006 • 2273 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Yep. India lodges formal complaint

    Oooh, bitch slap.

    You know, Paul, if you want to go there - it should also have mattered to Jacinta Adern.

    If he said that to her I'd agree, but he didn't so, would you like to ask her opinion? Please do, then if you think her answer is inappropriate, go ahead drag her down to the PM position. That is, as long as it's her giggling and joking with Paul Henry then I'll understand that comparison .Meanwhile I'll call bullshit there.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Craig Ranapia,

    Craig, that's simply a false equivalence... Clark's comments on Henry have been documented earlier in this thread. I'm not at all sure what you think Jacinta's said other than on Twitter etc where she's been clear and unequivocal, Trevor too.

    Simple matter of fact that an endless stream of Labour politicians have been perfectly happy to go on Breakfast while Paul Henry's racism, misogyny and homophobia has flowed like a backed up urinal for years. OK, blah blah it's fucking different for everyone except John Key -- I get that you hate the man and I'm not exactly over-impressed with him myself. But you know something: I'm officially zero tolerance for anyone who's been happy to enable and legitimize the man.

    If he said that to her I'd agree, but he didn't so, would you like to ask her opinion?

    I've e-mailed both her and Simon Bridges, asking if they plan to make themselves available for Breakfast in future. As soon as I get an answer, you'll be the second to know.

    Until then, bullshit right back at you. Every politician who has consented to be Henry's stooge has been a class-A enabler (yes, Prime Minister -- you too), lending him respectability and influence he never deserved. Fuck the lot of them.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report Reply

  • Rich Lock,

    Other non-scientific polls (Herald, Stuff) have indicated between 33 to 40% think Henry did nothing wrong

    If only there was some way we could round up these racist scum and put them on a special train to a re-education gulag on Stewart Island or somewhere else unpleasant and remote.
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    What? I'm only saying what we're all thinking, right?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report Reply

  • Andre Alessi,

    What? I'm only saying what we're all thinking, right?

    Well, I for one was certainly too afraid to say it.

    Devonport, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 864 posts Report Reply

  • Graeme Edgeler,

    Yep. India lodges formal complaint

    Turns out Paul was right:

    Except for the dips-hit bit, of course. And the thing about Satch. And...

    ht: dannews

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    I've e-mailed both her and Simon Bridges, asking if they plan to make themselves available for Breakfast in future. As soon as I get an answer, you'll be the second to know.

    If you had started with that I'd say good on you. Instead you say everyone else is just as bad for having been on it before. Give me an example that equates to what the PM just sat through. Remember he categorically said he'd be back on next week thinking Henry was going to still be there.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

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