Posts by Paul Williams
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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.
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For me, that takes quite a lot of the shine off her resignation offer.
It is possible that both individuals are as stupid as these comments suggest. Henry clearly so.
If you don't mean to offend people, best to avoid making blatantly racist comments for a laff or justifying them as "what everyone really thinks". No they don't.
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But the NZ Indian community sound pretty genuine.
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.
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I was unimpressed by Brotherston's contribution but figured it was mandated by her higher-ups. The "he's edgy but lovable" line had worked previously. And, like Giovanni and Bart, I can't help but wonder if her disquiet over her role only overwhelmed her when management changed tack - perhaps they didn't tell her first?
Sadly, the only genuine commentator throughout this is Henry himself, everyone else has been angling.
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I think you're talking about ethnicity, aren't you? Race is more physical in focus, hence the link with health (though not without significant change).
I am, I misread your initial comment.
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Sacha said:
I think someone pointed out on a previous thread about this that health is where you want to know race in some cases rather than ethnicity
Education too. It's one of the few single factor correlations affecting participation and outcomes. In Australia, Indigeniety is stongly correlated with low-levels of participation and achievement. My memory, eight years on, is that similar but less dramatic trends apply in NZ.
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he is from the dire tribe...
Ian, another PAS golden moment,thank you.
As much as I hate the media hounding people and invading their privacy, couldn't we justify these intrusions on the basis that they entirely resemble the abuse he's visited on others?
On the other hand, I'm sick of the media being the story. Mostly that's what I dislike about Henry, Lhaws and the rest of this mob of dissemblers.
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BTW, the news is now high profile in the online edition of the SMH and includes this paragraph which neatly sums up the inadeqacy of the PM's response:
Mr Key took the comments in his stride, but they sparked complaints to the television network, the resignation of another of the show's presenters and were condemned by New Zealand's race relations commission for showing appalling ignorance.
"In his stride" is a far more generous description than I'd describe.
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To be fair, Paul - I spend years wondering why Helen Clark wasted her time being the stooge to Henry's buffoonery. It was painful watching her visibly trying to stop herself from cringing or rising to the troll bait on a regular basis; and Key didn't get any better as leader of the opposition. (I would, however, buy tickets for Simon Bridges & Jacinta Adern giving him a tag-team bitch slap.)
I'm not feeling so forgiving of Key. His reaction wasn't what I'd expect though I concede your point; politicians have to be careful dealing with the media. However, Henry's comments were plainly racist and Key should have simply, clearly and immediately said something as mild as "that's not at all appropriate Paul". And, in anticipation of the Clark and Field and Clark and Peters response; I agree, she too should've called bullshit more quickly as well.
Key's success is a lot to do with his very obvious, and clearly genuine, personability. Just 'cause I'm a Labour supporter, I don't have a problem with that, I actually think there's a real democratic benefit to having a PM who's as accessable. I also accept that going on popular(ist) chat shows is part of the deal and treading a cautious line is necessary.
I also insist the PM stands up for our enviable political legacy of tolerance and diversity. It's one of the many things I feel unflinchingly proud of about NZ. I expect the NZ PM to always take on racists, sexists, homophobes and any other intolerance head on. He didn't do that today and he damn well should have.
Now I'll shut up about this so that the other debate can continue.
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That's a crap apology. An apology should be specific and include no qualifications. I expect no more of him, he's TVNZ's pet baffoon and I suspect they quietly encourage this.
Prime Minister John Key says Breakfast host Paul Henry's comments about Governor-General Sir Anand Satyanand were "just plain wrong" but they won't stop him from appearing on the show again next week.
At his post-Cabinet press conference today, Mr Key was asked his opinion on Mr Henry's comments.
"Well fundamentally, they were just plain wrong," said Mr Key. "Clearly, not only is he a New Zealander, he's a very fine one."
Asked whether he encouraged Mr Henry's comments by joking with him, Mr Key said: "I don't think I can be held responsible for what Mr Henry says.
And this is bullshit too. Key was laughing along with him. Faux rage hours later is not credible. I expect more of my PM.