If you are explaining, you are losing
Darien Fenton is losing this morning; the Herald reports:
The Mad Butcher had "the wind taken out of his sails" by comments from a Labour MP who said she would "never go near him again".
Despite Darien Fenton's comments that she chooses "not to buy stuff from those who support Tories", the politician said she was not calling for a boycott of the Mad Butcher chain, which Sir Peter Leitch founded.
The debate began three days ago when, after hearing Sir Peter advocate John Key on Radio New Zealand, Ms Fenton posted on her Facebook profile: "So, Mad Butcher. You have a choice, but so do I."
When others asked Ms Fenton to explain her comment, she called Sir Peter a sycophant and said: "[He was] sucking up to John Key big time. I'm never going near him again."
Ms Fenton said she was upset that Sir Peter had recently been complimentary towards Mr Key and that the Mad Butcher had invited the Prime Minister to join him to watch the Warriors play at Sunday's NRL grand final.
Oh dear; Darien Fenton's SMOG (which we blogged about on Tuesday) has hit the mainstream media, and she's backing up the truck big-time. Unfortunately for her, her words have been recorded for posterity.
And if Darien Fenton thought that Sir Butch would go away and be quiet, she's made a big error of judgment; read on:
Sir Peter told the Herald from Melbourne that he did not know what to say when he heard what Ms Fenton had said about him.
"I honestly don't know what to say, to be fair - and it's not often that I'm lost for words. I don't know what I've done wrong.
"I'm very disappointed and it's just taken the wind out of my sails. I'm absolutely gutted by her comments."
Sir Peter said he supported Helen Clark when Labour was in power and took her to Warriors matches.
"The National Party never complained that I supported Helen Clark," he said.
"I've done nothing with John Key that I didn't do with Helen Clark - I've been a little bit more vocal."
In response to Ms Fenton's claims that he was "sucking up to John Key big time", he said: "I thought freedom of speech was one of the things people went to Gallipoli for. But obviously in her opinion, it's not."
He also said it was unfair that she was taking her frustrations out on the 37 Mad Butcher stores which he sold in 2007, but still promotes.
Ouch! How much the world has changed in three years since Labour basked in the Mad Butcher's friendship with Helen Clark. That must now seem light years away for the embattled Labour Party, languishing as it does in the opinion polls.
Sir Peter Leitch is a great New Zealander, and is revered in some communities. Darien Fenton made a huge mistake by attacking him via social media; one of the biggest SMOG's that a Labour MP has scored, and there have been plenty to choose from.
Darien Fenton can make a strategic retreat, but the damage has been done. And there's one final irony; many of those who revere Sir Peter Leitch, and who have benefitted from his philanthropy are people from lower socio-economic areas; people who work in low wage jobs, and who are members of unions such as Unite and the Service and Food Workers' Union. And where did Darien Fenton work before she became an MP?
Whaleoil is right; explaining IS losing. And this morning, Darien Fenton looks like New Zealand's version of The Biggest Loser.
13 comments:
Lesson to be learned - Taming the Wild Tongue. Stop and think before speaking or posting stuff on FB:
James 3:3-8 New International Version (NIV)
3. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
4. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
6. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind,
8. but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Fenton quoted;
"It was a reaction and it was silly.
"But the last thing I wanted to do was offend people, that's not what I do," she said.
"It was an impulsive and silly thing to say."
Well should someone who easily overreacts on impulse and emotion really be allowed in Parliament? In the position, essentially, as one of our "elders"? Hmm , I think not.
As for her middle statement, how could she have thought that the Nations reaction to attacking an NZ Institution would be anything but one of offense?
Freedom of speech goes both ways.
Wow. Social Media training 101 required for all Labour MPs by the sound of it.
Why are they so undisciplined? It must be the stress of the polls, and having to maintain the illusion of united support for an ineffective leader.
@ Adze; I think that any pretence that Labour is united behind its leader has long since vanished.
@ Anon - you're quite right; Freedom of speech does go both ways. And a part of freedom of speech is the freedom to rebut an opinion with which you don't agree.
Where's Robert?
Fenton has behaved like a mindless cow. Is she fit to be anywhere near the House of Representatives? Her ilk do not represent any values I espouse. She has shown her own sense of self worth by trying to belittle a man who is clearly her moral superior.
Cadwallader
PS Undoubtedly the comrade from Riverton will being gearing-up to be snide.
Oh nellie, Bobby will not comment on anything that he has to concede idiocy on.
Bobby is a sniper, and never wrong.
Ah cadwaller,, should I describe my brother as a "snider"?
Did you know that a snider is a type of rifle??
Yes it is so.
ergo, my bruv Bobby is the snider of the left, taking potshots at random, but due to his myopic sight, misses the target more often than not.
Thanks Lofty. I note the day has progressed and there's not a sign of RG. He like the typical leftie slime he is could never deign to admit he was wrong...let alone apolgise.
Cadwallader
Gawd if her face wasn't pruned up enough as it is form all that sucking on a lemon they teach em in bludger school, the Old SMOG of epic proportions is gonna feel like something a little larger than a carrot
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