YOU OWE OUR PM AN APOLOGY, SIR
This week Australian Agricultural Co CEO David Farley compared Prime Minister Julia Gillard to ‘an old cow’.
This while explaining plans to build an abattoir near Darwin that – wait for it – specialises in slaughtering old cows.
‘This plant is designed to process old cows,’ Mr Farley (pictured above) said in a speech at a conference on Thursday.
“So the old cows that become non-productive, instead of making a decision to either let her die in the paddock or put her in the truck … this gives us a chance to take non-productive animals off and put them through the processing system … So it’s designed for non-productive old cows – Julia Gillard’s got to watch out.”
Adelaide’s InDaily reported his remarks, which were apparently met with laughter by the crowd.
Yesterday Mr Farley told SMH that his comments were tongue in cheek and taken out of context.
Taken out of context, or just taken out of the conference? To recap: “So it’s designed [to slaughter] non-productive old cows – Julia Gillard’s got to watch out.”
That is some context, Mr Farley.
I’d go into all the levels of wrongness here, but I hope I don’t have to. Any right thinking person, regardless of their political views, can see that an apology from Mr Farley is in order.
Calling any woman – PM or otherwise – an old cow fit for slaughter is unacceptable, especially coming from the CEO of Australia’s largest beef cattle company. This on top of Sydney radio host Alan Jones’s recent declaration that our PM should be put in a ‘chaff bag’ and thrown out to sea.’
Honestly, it’s time to call this sort of abuse what it is – misogynist, disrespectful and unacceptable.
Enough.
Earlier this year The Hoopla ran an article listing the “top ten” insults aimed at our PM.
We should add to that list the comment from Grahame Morris ( former John Howard chief of staff – turned lobbyist). In a Sky News report in April, referring to the PM, he said: ”Australians ought to be kicking her to death.”
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127 Responses to this article
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Buttercup August 4, 2012
It is amazing and very sad the way our prime minister is denigrated almost everyday from so called stalwarts of society. Obviously Australian society has not matured and I don’t think sadly is ready for a female prime minister unlike other nations.
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CA August 9, 2012
If the poor little abysmally performing PM can’t cop this, then she should quit politics. She can dish it out, but she can’t take it. He didn’t call her an old cow; he told what happens to unproductive cows on a functioning farm.
In parliament this ‘lady’ has called someone a ‘mincing poodle’ and told some of the most poorly paid people in society she doesn’t care about them by supporting Craig Thomson.
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Caroline August 4, 2012
I wonder how the abovementioned Mr David Farley would react if a subordinate spoke to, or about, him in a similar manner?
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MichelleP August 4, 2012
The fact that the mainstream media went apoplectic over the whole Bill Shorten pie incident (hardly even news) yet seems to have let this one go through to the keeper outrages me even more! It seems JG is fair game for totally unacceptable commentary.
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Mez August 4, 2012
Hardly worth mentioning? Are you serious? The way a person treats those serving them tells you a lot about that person. In this case it shows Shorten as an arrogant, foulmouthed bully who believes himself above the workers he pretends to respect.
Can you imagine Mr Howard speaking to a shop assistant this way?
I think it was disgraceful.
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soozy August 5, 2012
Your Mr Howard expected North Sydney Council to mow his lawns while he was in residence a short distance away in Kirribilli. NSC didn’t report as they had too much style – unlike Ms Fame Seeker Shopkeeper
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Heather August 4, 2012
Fair comment Michelle. I saw the Bill Shorten thing 10 times in one evening and had to read this article to find out what had been said about the PM.
Even bloody Germaine couldn’t keep her mouth off the PM. Enough is enough. -
Alison a August 4, 2012
The best revenge is victory! So come on sisters let’s make sure she trounces Abbott in the next election.
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WENDY GREEN August 4, 2012
I’m with you 100%, Alison!
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Mez August 4, 2012
The battle cry of the 28 percenters!!
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Marie Hume August 4, 2012
This is disgusting.
OUr organisation, WEAVE Inc has an open letter which that has been developed in consultation with feminist activists who are concerned and troubled that the public and political discourse of late is reflective of the language of violence against women.We believe that this speech reveals a concerning acceptance of abusive tactics in public life.
If you would like to add your name to the letter visit our website. -
Gai August 4, 2012
Just plain rude!
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Julie August 4, 2012
Candidates for Australia’s most revoltting man – David Farley, Ray Hadley, Andrew Bolt, Paul Henry Any advances? Time to call time on boofhead behaviour ladies. AS music is the thing this week I suggest as an anthem- We’re not gonna take it, no we ain’t gonna take it, we’re not gonna take it any mooooooooore.
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Paula August 4, 2012
In my view, if women want equality then a female Prime Minister should have to cop the same abuse as a male PM. People don’t seem to remember the Howard years and vitriol directed at him. If we’re going to make a public outcry about political hate speech, let’s challenge it whenever directed at women OR men. I’ve written about it here http://dragonistasblog.com/2012/08/04/equality-these-days-means-having-to-take-abuse-too/
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Kelly August 4, 2012
Oh boo hoo Paula. So Howard had to put up with “eyebrow” digs and Tony Abbott with his big ears? Cry me a river. That does not make it right and it DOES NOT compare to being allocated the same fate as a cow that has passed “her” used by date.
Furthermore, where does this bloke get off calling someone else a used cow? I’ve seen the pictures of him … talk about a bloated old bull !
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moiby August 4, 2012
I agree. I don’t care what your political persuasion is, nobody deserves that kind of stuff.
As an aside, it’s not only appalling but also unfair that men don’t cop the same criticism re not understanding the demands of parenthood and so forth.
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Vicki August 4, 2012
It saddens me that instead of sticking to the issues and debating them in a constructive, informative manner, prominent apparently educated people resort to personal insults and sledging. It is not only demeaning for our Prime Minister and for the people that made the insulting remarks but for all women in our society regardless of their circumstances.
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Veronique August 4, 2012
I have written to the Australian Agricultural Company expressing my disgust at this disgusting, misogynistic and cheap shot.
Everyone should.
http://www.aaco.com.au
info@aaco.com.au-
Prawnfraser August 6, 2012
I agree Veronique, I’ve just done the same and sent an email through the Australian Agricultural Company website. David Farley insulted ALL women with his remarks. Whatever his political views, at least the office of the Prime Minister needs to be respected.
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Prawnfraser August 6, 2012
I agree Veronique, I’ve just done the same and sent an email through the Australian Agricultural Company website. David Farley insulted ALL women with his remarks. Whatever his political views, at least the office of the Prime Minister needs to be respected.
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VRog August 4, 2012
That comment, and that old windbag Jones’s comment, is pure misogynist douchebaggery. Absolutely reprehensible.
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Bernadette August 4, 2012
And through it all Ms Gillard continues to purport herself with dignity and concentrates on the job at hand- being the PM. More power to her, I say. I continue to be impressed by her, and today unimpressed by the rude, name calling nay sayers.
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Do a better job August 4, 2012
I agree he should apologise and no woman should be spoken about in that manner but really she has done a shit job and hope that the women of australia have more brains then to re-elect her just because she is a women. So what about her gender, do the job properly instead of the lies and broken promises she has delivered so far.
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WENDY GREEN August 4, 2012
Name three (lies and broken promises) …
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Kelly August 4, 2012
That is your opinion, “do a better job”. I think she’s doing well given the circumstances. I will not vote for her because she’s a “women” but because she is a heck of a lot better for our nation than Abbott … and that has nothing to do with his ears.
Furthermore, I demand greater respect for her because she is the Prime Minister.
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debbiep August 4, 2012
Mr Farley wife must have a hard time if he refers to women like this .
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Jane August 4, 2012
Wow this is so horrible – in fact it’s beyond horrible – I have just written an email to info@aaco.com.au
The fact that PM JG still keeps going is amazing – she is tenacious and to be admired in the face of ‘all odds’! -
Caroline August 4, 2012
@Paula,
Regardless of your comment on the Howard years, I remember only too well some of the industrial relations matters that I had to deal with whilst working at a certain company’s workplace – including the illegal denial of Union Representation during disputes. Eventually, I ended up on WorkCover suffering with anxiety and depression. Give me a break, Paula. Exactly how many employees were on worse employment contract as opposed to those that benefitted.
Worse still, my husband’s employment contract is non-Award based. This meant that instead of the full Fair Work awarded payment increase that took place recently, his pay went up by CPI – 1.1%.
I believe that at least Julia Gillard is attempting to provide a fairer resolution for Australian workers. Could former Prime Minister John Howard claim the same?
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Leharna August 4, 2012
When you look at the board and senior management of AAco, it isnt at all surprising that the CEO finds it amusing to take pot shots at professional women. There isnt a professional woman anywhere to be seen. Nature of the industry, possibly, but for every farmer there is a farmers wife doing just as much if not more work keeping the family business going.
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Paula August 4, 2012
Wow – lots of hypocrisy going on here today.
Do you honestly think it’s OK to level hate speech (including burning of effigies, being called a t*rd, being said to have a tongue up Bush’s ar*e) at one PM because you don’t like his policies, but not at another because she’s a woman?
Put your politics aside for a moment: would you want your son or daughter to be treated like this? No. But you’re suggesting that if your son was PM and had policies you didnt like, then it would be okay to treat him that way.
Sheesh.
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Carz August 5, 2012
@Paula, you have just pointed out the difference. People abused Howard for political decisions he made. People abuse Gillard because she is a woman.
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Tara Moss August 4, 2012
Hi Paula,
How is being upset by sexist remarks made by a CEO in a speech 2 days ago in any way excusing or even referencing the appalling things said during Howard’s term more than five years ago? I don’t follow your logic. All hate speech is appalling, regardless of who it is aimed at. Our political debate is sullied by this kind of sexist abuse. It’s fair to call it unacceptable because it is. An apology from Mr Farley would be appropriate.-
Prawnfraser August 6, 2012
Tara, fantastic article, thank you. As well as emailing David Farley, I’ve just logged a question for tonight’s q & a. Could I suggest all hoopla readers do the same?
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sue bell August 4, 2012
I thought it was illegal to advocate the murder of someone. Surely some legal action can be taken against them, especially Alan Jones.
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Andrew McNabb August 4, 2012
I wonder if the same people who denigrated John Howard over his years as PM think it’s awful what is said about Julia Gillard?
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Jenny MacKinnon August 4, 2012
It’s *worse* if you look at it in context – it says Julia Gillard should be slaughtered!
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Douglas August 4, 2012
Remember that Jones didn’t say it once. He said it FIVE TIMES.
ACMA should drag him and 2GB off the air forever – for the public good.
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Dirty Pierre August 4, 2012
Wendy Harmer – agree 100000% …. to be fair … I think Graeme Morris is the only one to apologise
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Meghan B. August 5, 2012
Grahame Morris did not apologise for “kick to death”. A television presenter from the station on which he made the comment apologised purportedly on his behalf.
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Sean the Bookonaut August 4, 2012
The change I have observed, is in the profile of those abusing Julia Gillard. There have always been those who hurl insults at politicians, protesting in various unsavoury fashions.
What we are seeing here are high profile supporters of the coalition and interested parties willing to engage in hate speech, personal slurs and misogyny on a regular basis. They do it because its working, because it inflames the electorate.
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Linda August 4, 2012
The backlash is alive and well. The misogynists must be so frustrated that a woman is staying focussed getting on with the job that they have nothing else to revert to except childess, ridculous remarks relating to everything except policy and achievement.
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Annie Also August 4, 2012
Re the quote by Kate Ellis. I have to say that if a ‘quote’ is printed then denied outright then it is necessary to take the benefit of the doubt if someone’s word is being questioned.
To repeat (doubtful) negtive insults is just as insulting, IMHO. Just as if you are watching abuse/fights etc and you do nothing you are guilty of condoning the act.
There are enough negative commentators on the otherside of politics without adding to them from supporters of exPM and current PM. -
JoanneH August 4, 2012
To Paula,
Last August it was reported from Parliament House that Christophe Pyne, and Joe Hockey followed the PM like two schoolboys, with Hockey bellowing “Please release me, let me go, ‘cause I don’t love you anymore…” and Pyne doing his best to affect a menacing gravitas, was taunting repeatedly “your drowning Julia, not waving, you’re drowning Julia,”
Parliament House sources said those antics –directed at the nation’s first female PM – usually flare up when the Coalition has had a bad day, revealing the behavior is not even a political tactic, more a venting of frustration and rage.Add to that bully-boy behaviour constant sly remarks from Tony Abbott, – “she says yes when she means no,” ” Slagging & bagging,” ” she wont lie down and die” etc.,and even you must see she gets more than a fair share of misogynistic attention. The ABC TV show ‘At home with Julia’ was interesting, – did Janette and John, or any other political couple have to put up with anything as demeaning, and embarrassing as that ?
I hope everybody contacts the Australian Agricultural Co. Board, regarding David Farley’s boorish remarks. It was sad to read that his words invoked much laughter. Julia shows the strength and grace a PM needs while putting up with Tony Abbott and the ‘haters’ who seem to have battalions of Media behind them.
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Douglas August 4, 2012
Remember the storm in a teacup when the PM chose not to curtsy to the Queen?
#TheirABC ran a headline in the online ..ahem.. “news” site, reading,
“Off with her head!”
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My say. August 4, 2012
Perfect. Lets clean it all up, so that when Mr ‘sell his a** to get into power’ Abbott will never have to face any of this type of behaviour. You watch.. we are laying a bed of roses for Abbott and the Liberals . Also, remember Once elected imagine what he ( Abbott) will do to stay in power.
As for an apology , why change someone and make them into something they are not. If Farley apologises now it will possibly be insincere.
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Mez August 4, 2012
I beg your pardon, my say, but If you’re prepared to believe anything that comes out of Tiny Windsor’s mouth then you need your head read.
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Melanie August 4, 2012
I have been disgusted with the misogynistic comments on forums, particularly Yahoo, against Julia Gillard. There seems to be a tacit acceptance to insult the PM for her gender rather than her politics. David Farley is just another in a long line to make such comments and every time women remain mute or support such language we encourage it. I wonder how far Australia has evolved, there still seems to be a paternalistic outrage that a woman could actually hold the top job in the land.
Whether on likes or loaths the politics of J.G one can only admire her for her pure bloody minded grit to stand up for herself and bravely go where no Aussie girl has gone before. I just hope the trail she blazes isn’t so littered with gender put downs that no other woman would ever want to follow her path.
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Quiet August 4, 2012
Gee hoopla, edit your work it is “owe” you got it wrong on the email and got it wrong on the title
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Sharyn August 4, 2012
Fan of Julia or not, I completely agree that it is inappropriate to describe the PM in this fashion. Her role is not to play fashion muse, her role is to do her job like any other PM before her. Unfortunately when a woman gets to a position of authority or power, she is a threat to the men around her so they think it is perfectly ok to attack her personally – her looks, clothing, beliefs, relationship and family status are all nitpicked at. I mean, we don’t see certain male politicians being put down or described as being the fat and ugly so and so’s they are, so why disrespect the woman? She is a woman who has had the strength and intelligence to get as far as she has, so why don’t we for once be proud that a woman got this far in this misogynistic society of ours rather than ridicule her for being a woman who stands by her beliefs and not just done what everyone else thinks is the path she should have followed- marriage, religion, kids?
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Mez August 4, 2012
Tony Abbott is vilified and ridiculed constantly. Constantly. I’m so sick of the hypocrisy. As long as it is a GreenLabor supporter or one of their elite leftards then it’s game on but as soon as the shoe is on the other foot they pull the righteous victim card.
The ALP ripped Rudd apart! Remember? As long as it suits their agenda then it’s ok. Gotta love the morally superiority of Labor! Their unions have screwed and stolen from the lowest paid workers but I can’t hear them screaming about that.
I can’t see an article decrying Catherine Deveny’s tweets hoping that Mr Ramadge dies of arse cancer. Another joke from that funniest of leftards? Just another step up from tweeting that the eleven year old Bindi Irwin should get laid? Hysterical!
Personally, I couldn’t care less what’s said about Julia Gillard. The greatest insult of all is that she calls herself Prime Minister.
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My say. August 4, 2012
Thats right Mez, Who cares hey. As long as those that sprout out these words dont mind the words coming back. eye for an eye etc etc etc. Will you be the first to call Farley wife an ‘old cow’ and tell her to get back in the unproductive paddock. Cause it is a shame that you didnt think all this type of talk was bad.
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My say. August 4, 2012
Tara, I wouldnt be bother sending it after reading the (only) comments on the story in the Daily telegraph all agreeing with Farley http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/pm-compared-to-cow-by-cattle-chief/comments-fndo2j43-1226442663527
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Serin August 4, 2012
This is a misogynistic culture ladies- I married an European he socialises with me wants to be in my company at weekends laughs at my jokes and stays and talks to the women at bbq’s or other social get gathering(I did tell him that the Aussie blokes will think (and tell him) he is “P Whipped” or Gay for this)- he did not care, when they predictably did. He mucks in with the housework (not just the mowing) and even gets on with his MIL.
When you have people accepting that a team of women athletes (some who are currently the only Gold Medal winners at the Olympics) travel in a second class way to the event than their male counterparts travel business, it says it all! A lot of our men are still groomed from the womb to the tomb in this country, in a culture of entitlement!
Women s are often treated like chief cooks and bottle washers- (even professional women with stay at home husbands!). Sorry but its true! A lot of my friend’s husbands will not spend the weekend with their wives- and often they are off with the blokes (nothing wrong with that on occasions- but this is the norm).
I think Aussie men on the whole- need to grow- up, “ the lovable larrikin” gets a bit much after about 25. Responsibility, Professionalism, and Wisdom and Getting to really “know” a woman- be it as a work mate, as a friend, or lover and confidant (not as one of your mates- too often we think that is the same and settle for that). Start as you mean to go on women of Australia- don’t settle for second best in the way the men in your life treat you. I can truly say I never did and I have worked as a young person in many a male dominated sphere, having spent time working for the defence force here as a young women. Assertively, I have demanded to be treated as an equal. Back in the 70’s I instigated a roster for the blokes I worked with for the t/trolley- they thought they were recruiting me to solely do the tea I was at the time hired as a PA. This attitude Might make you some male enemies, but Hell, were though sort worth being a friend?
Lets not kid ourselves it is not going to be easy- a lot of our rights have been erodes and things have seemingly gone backwards- Europe in the 8o’s (I lived in London) seem to have more pathways for professional women to climb the ladder- than often is the case in Australia 2012 -
Paula August 4, 2012
Hi Tara – You may have understood my comment if you had read those to which it is a response.
My point is that if we are going to defend a female Prime Minister from hate speech, then we should equally defend a male from the same vitriol. When I point out the abuse levelled at John Howard during his tenure as PM, the general response I receive is “but he deserved it”.
That’s an unacceptable response. No PM deserves such treatment and I have no doubt that many of the people calling for apologies to Gillard may owe Howard an apology for extreme ways they may have described him in the past (if not still).
My additional point is that not all gender-based epithets are sexism or misogyny. I explain this further in my post.
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Jo Johnstone August 4, 2012
My partner calls me ‘un-Australian’ because I am a proud world citizen – I certainly don’t mind when he says this after watching the way some of our politicians act – it’s embarrassing, childish and disrespectful. These people are representing all Australians which doesn’t say much for the voters who elected them.
Hopefully Julia can stay aloof with the knowledge that her supporters are disgusted with the latest bullyboy comments.
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Caroline August 4, 2012
Mez,
Can you support all of your aforementioned statements?
In particular, “Their unions have screwed and stolen from the lowest paid workers but I can’t hear them screaming about that.”
Now, back to Tara Moss’s original article, please.
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Mez August 4, 2012
Caroline, do you live under a rock? No, seriously.
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amd August 6, 2012
That would be a “No, cannot support those statements then”, I take it.
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Paula August 4, 2012
Wow, Wendy, there’s a lot to unpack in your response.
I read it to mean that vitriolic abuse of Howard is acceptable when it comes from a member of the public and is attributable to that person’s view that he was dog-whistling or aligning with extremists.
Whereas the views of a neanderthal company executive who may or may not have criticisms of Gillard’s policies, some of which may align with extremist views (live cattle exporting anyone?), are unacceptable because he used a gender based epithet. Is that what you’re saying?
That its okay to protest against the government usually emotionally-laden language if you’re an individual but not if you’re a company representative?
And I have no idea why you’ve even brought Keating or Abbott into the discussion.
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Mary August 4, 2012
Making wrong assumptions about a women because she is childless insults women who are unable to have children. Do the people who use this as an insult to Julia think that women (and men who are aslo unable to have kids)are unable to use their brains, or have no emotions or are unable to make executive decisions. I ask them the same question about athiests and also about being unmarried. What difference does it make to her ability or inability to do her job.
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Tara Moss August 4, 2012
Amazing to see the attacks here. It doesn’t matter how you vote. This isn’t about what parties you prefer, it’s about unacceptable public statements made my business leaders in speeches. When you take your comments or jokes too far, you can apologise. It would be appropriate for Mr Farley to do so.
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Andrew Ferrier August 4, 2012
Mr Farley is living proof of Darwin’s Theory about man being descended from Apes. In his case the descent is more a gentle slope..
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Mez August 4, 2012
Tara, the level of loathing for this government is unprecedented. That Julia Gillard is a woman is of no consequence. Every man in public life is subjected to vile comments and Tony Abbott is one of them. Mad Monk is a favourite. Deriding the man’s faith, which is hardly in the extreme fundamentalist league, would never be tolerated if he was a Muslim instead of a Catholic. Ironic that the ALP is the preferred party of Catholics ignorant of their dark underbelly.
Fighting to have her reelected is a waste of breath. She won’t even be there. Rallying the troops to support a woman because she’s a woman is pathetic. Most women have no idea of her relationship and political history and I bet the majority would rethink if they knew … maybe not. Labor supporters seem to be able to justify all sorts of weird things.
Anyway, here’s why her days of leading to soon to be annihilated ALP are numbered.
If you want to back a woman then you should look at Julie Bishop. Also an unmarried, childless woman in her 50′s but one who has some morals.
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My say. August 5, 2012
Ha Ha Mez, the Kangaroo Court. Let have the balance with add FACTS and Look up Independent Australia , Jacksonville. Read from 1 to 19 . Or Vex news on HSU.
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maureen walton August 4, 2012
What if someone said the same insult to their wife or daughter I bet they would then be demanding an apology. Julia Gillard is someones Daughter, Partner or Friend. So I would demand and expect an apology, because he has insulted all women.
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Mez August 4, 2012
‘He has insulted all women?’ Hardly. I’m a woman and I’m not the least bit insulted.
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Mez August 4, 2012
Just so I can get this right … when an insult is hurled from a leftard, it’s witty, creative and warranted. When it’s from the 82% of Australians who are fed up with the fiscal ineptitude, waste, lying and shady deals then it’s an insult? Is that the way it works?
So when Keating called Andrew Peacock a “painted, perfumed gigolos” that would be ok.
When he called Richard Carelton a “24-carat pissant” then that would be ok.
His long list of insults to the opposition, including ‘dullards, mugs, a rabble, a joke, dummies, dimwits, desperadoes, mindless, useless, idealistic, unprincipled… a motley, dishonest crew. They were cowboys, animals, they squealed like stuck pigs and couldn’t raffle a chook in a pub or run a tart shop.’
When he said of John Howard:
‘What we have got is a dead carcass, swinging in the breeze, but nobody will cut it down to replace him.’ That’s ok?
When man-on-the-land, TOny Windsor referred to Abbott as a rabid dog, I don’t recall any outcry. Any farmer knows it was a thinly veiled threat. Rabid dogs get a bullet in their heads.
Is there an article here about the Larissa Behrendt tweet about Bess Price? Is there one of outraged disgust about the wish that Melinda Tankard Reist be anally raped with a coffee mug? No? But they’re so funny!
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Mez August 4, 2012
Oh, and when the thoroughly decent John Howard is still referred to as a war criminal and baby killer then that’s ok too?
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Serin August 4, 2012
Are you a childless woman over 45 who has been compared to an un- productive Old Cow? Your feelings could be different if you fit those demographics Mez.
We women who have not become parents either by choice, or a factor of nature- do not get much empathy at all. AGAIN it is the notion that (giving birth) is the only role that can make a woman truly productive in life! Women, Pregnant, and tied to the Kitchen sink is the social role valorisation and the prominent paradigm – of a lot of males of the ilk of Farley et al. What century are we in again?
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Mez August 4, 2012
There’s much more to worry about with Julia Gillard than whether she has given birth or not, Serin. If you look deeper than what the love media tell you, you’ll discover the ‘real Julia.’
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Maye August 4, 2012
All these messages give me hope. From day #1 the vitriol towards the lady who happened to gain 50% of the vote in the election, and then bring about a win by using her negotiating skills with good people, brought out in the other 50% the horrible truth. THEY LOST AND THEY CAN’T TAKE IT.
Good men and women see Julia for what she is – a damn good Prime Minister, soldiering on under intolerable circumstances. -
Rhoda August 4, 2012
I think I was more outraged by Germaine Greer’s comment. Still don’t understand it. David Farley is just one of the mob. No reason why he should be more polite than the rest of us. Not an intellectual is he?
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Maddie August 4, 2012
Mez, gee an awful load of comments and so much detail, sounds like you are on a certain political payroll.
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Mez August 4, 2012
Absolutely not, Maddie. I’m working at my computer tonight and flicking around when I want a break. I voted labor for over 30 years. The moment I laid eyes on Rudd I knew things weren’t right. The media were mad for him. The cunning little poster boy only schmoozed with Kochie and Kyle and Jacki O and wouldn’t face the hard questions anywhere else. I started snooping around the Internet and realised that Labor is not ‘for the working man’ at all. That’s just a smoke screen. They’re for the unions, not the worker. The work choice campaign was to save the unions, not the worker. There were no single mothers crying and being threatened. She was an actress born with a silver spoon in her mouth – I know.
The ALP is all smoke and mirrors and the Internet has finally exposed them for what they are. Judging by the polls, I’m not alone.
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Tara Nipe August 4, 2012
I agree that previous Prime Ministers, including PM Howard, copped abuse. I also agree that the rise of social media in the interim has meant a greater exposure to, and publicity of, abuse and the use of epithets directed at our politicians.
Here are a couple of the insults directed at PM Howard by other politicians when he was in government –
By Paul Keating:
He’s like a lizard on a rock, alive but looking dead
A desiccated coconut
What we have got is a dead carcass, swinging in the breeze, but nobody will cut it down to replace him.
…the brain-damaged Leader of the Opposition…
But I will never get to the stage of wanting to lead the nation standing in front of the mirror each morning clipping the eyebrows here and clipping the eyebrows there with Janette and the kids: It’s like ‘Spot the eyebrows’.
From this day onwards, Howard will wear his leadership like a crown of thorns, and in the parliament I’ll do everything to crucify him (speaking of his 1986 leadership)
And by Mark Latham:
Howard is an a-se-licker. He went over there, kissed some bums, and got patted on the head.
Description of Prime Minister John Howard’s trip to the United States: John Howard has forgotten how to be a good Australian, not some yes-man to a flaky and dangerous American president.
On the government: There they are a conga line of suck holes on the conservative side of politics.You know what I don’t see? Suiggestions that he ought to have been killed, kicked to death, drowned in a chaff bag, slaughtered like cattle.
However you feel about the commentary on Prime Minister Gillard’s attire, her physicality, her areligious outlook, her marital status, her childlessness, I think it’s hard to argue with the fact that there are unprecedented physical threats to her safety from people in public positions who should know better.
It disrespects the role, and it does not reflect well on the speakers. And, as it’s directed solely at Prime Minister Gillard, in a way unprecedented with other PM’s, I stand by the position that it comes from misogyny.
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amd August 4, 2012
As always, I will state that I personally do not trust Ms Gillard at all (a person lying straight to your face will do that for you – and yes it was a lie, the lie was the only reason she was elected, and no it is not ok for pollies to lie simply because they have gotten away with it before) . I will also state that current polls reflect the view I keep sharing (that Labor must ditch her and the deeply unpopular CT she forced upon an unwilling nation or Abbott will win in a landslide.
However, having said all of that, these comments are offensive and totally unacceptable. Whether or not people have gotten away with this sort of thing in the past is irrelevant. What he said was misogynistic, hate-mongering and just plain wrong. For once I find myself on the side of Ms Gillard. It’s time all politicians grew up and started acting like decent human beings. And yes, an apology would be a start.
(And then, hopefully Ms Gillard wil also apologise for lying to us, offer her resignation and repeal the tax she promised us we would never have.)
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KathyA August 5, 2012
Have to say Tara (Nipe) reading through that list of insults is pretty sobering. Sad to think how low they go. In the words of my beautiful nan ” they need their mouths washed out with soap & water. “
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Sara August 5, 2012
I believe there is a certain respect that is due to the office of Prime Minister, no matter who is occupying it. It is distressing to me to see the types of comments that are directed to our prime minister, and to be honest, if I heard those comments at my local pub directed at any woman I would be horrified. Nonetheless, the person who has worked long and hard to get the right to lead our country, whether that person is Julia, Kevin, John, Paul or Bob deserves our respect. The country voted for them, we live in a democracy, and we have to respect the process. Political alignment or opinions (and who cares about opinions anyway?) should have no relevance to human decency and treating people how you would like to be treated. There seems to be a shocking lack of compassion, empathy and perspective, even in these responses. How unfortunate.
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My say. August 5, 2012
So, all these comments comparing what happened to previous MALE PM are giving the excuse that this type of talk is acceptable. Good, bring it on.
As we advance in education the dumber we seem to be getting.So, You productive old cows get back to your kitchens and keep an eye on your kids. -
My say. August 5, 2012
BTW those who want to constantly talk about politics and Gillards LIES. But you will vote for Abbott a known and continual liar. hypocrites.
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Serin August 5, 2012
. Of course while we hang to the past with these pollies- we are forgetting to look at their “in the moment performance”. We are getting the Broad Band roll out in small rural areas- as microwave producing towers are being placed in small communities- with not much hope and chance of stopping it. It will probably be fibre optic in the cities, underground of course, but country can take their risks with these towers.
I think the whole, who did what, in the past, sometimes has to be left- in the past- there is no undoing it- but it stops all of us keeping the pollies accountable in the here and now. There has to be something in what I am saying, as when interviewed by media and being asked about their own policies or performance in the here and now- the pollies will when in a fixed spot be like little kids- well they(their opposition) did this in……. Instead of addressing their own performance (or lack of) and hand in the current political landscape. Retrospective politics, blaming the other side, after such a passing of time, seems to be the distraction of choice by all sides of pollies., Their dodgy moves should not be forgotten- but let’s not make it truly distract from the here and now performance. THAT in my mind- IS WHAT THEY WANT,
What Farley a so called-”Professional” Big Business- man said, should offend most, if not all, mature minded people. Even if it is that we are just offended at his, and many others, calibre of comment and argument. We all deserve in 2012 a rising of the intellect of our political scene. We, as a nation, are pushed to Learn or Earn- why is this not so for our Pollies??- Often their debate is worthy only of the “Shelter sheds domain (if that)”. Not to mention so boringly predictable
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Marnie August 5, 2012
Lighten up ladies. It was just an off the cuff joke. It wouldn’t have worked with anyone else well known except Julia and it was funny. You are all so busy being outraged at the tiniest hint of sexism, you are losing your grip on reality and doing women in general a great disservice. We don’t all want to be known as humourless, man hating feminists. We want to laugh unashamedly at sexist jokes against male or female because they are funny. Julia would know it was an off the cuff joke and except it as such, if she didn’t she wouldn’t be the woman she is, and wouldn’t be fit to run the country. Sometimes I wonder if they are putting too much testosterone in your Lattes.
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anon August 6, 2012
A feminist is simply a person who believes that women are equal to men and should have equal rights to men. Are you saying you don’t want to be known as a person who believes that?
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VRog August 6, 2012
@Marnie: I don’t know if you are actually a male troll trying to be funny, or if you really are an Australian woman living in our society, but that was possibly one of the most misogynistic things I’ve ever read.
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JoanneH August 5, 2012
Mez….You sound like some of my born-to-rule Liberal relatives. They are still grieving after 2007, and loathe Julia, especially as she took away their chance to vote Kevin Rudd out. They speak about her in a degrading way (along with Boat people and Aborigines), an attitude which seems to be encouraged by Alan Jones and the News Limited blogs where they get their political information from. The nastiest insult to John Howard came from his own side – Senator George Brandis, who call him a “lying rodent” (what on earth would have caused him to say that!!).
For those who repeat the Liberal/media mantra that Julia is a liar, there is a simple explanation; before the last election she made a promise without knowing that she would be facing a hung Parliament, and the prospect of having to work with Independents and the Greens.There is a gulf of difference between a broken promise in the context of altered circumstance, and a deliberate decision to mislead.
If a person reluctantly becomes divorced is it fair to accuse them of lying when they made their wedding vow? and should they be labelled a “liar” for the rest of their life? -
Kate S. August 5, 2012
It’s a pity that people don’t see that abuse is NEVER acceptable.
But we’ll never get there, I guess.
I think that Julia Gillard cops a lot that is gender based and that is appalling. I read the list of things that have been said about her and felt sick to my stomach.
I’ll be writing to that company in protest. Why should anyone have to continually face such verbal violence and abuse?
Victoria, where I live, has had an exponential increase in family violence in the last few years, That’s no wonder when women face such demeaning treatment at the highest political and business levels.
It permeates the entire culture, guys and gals. As above so below. Can’t you see that?
.
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just saying August 5, 2012
A gen y sky commentator called her a muppet
In the global context it reinforces the arrogant australian male as an uncultured pig
excuse the deragotory remark but thats a fitting term
corporate australia namely 1/3 is white anglo male -
Jane August 5, 2012
All of this text reminds me how bogan Australia can be – it’s embarrassing. Men in roles of prominence are mouthing it, and women are backing it in order to be accepted by the culture we live in. We are a laughing stock to anyone overseas, a bunch of sheep run by a load of rednecks. I think the very fact Gillard doesn’t publicly lower herself to this level gives her remarkable credibility.
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just saying August 5, 2012
The dregs of the middle class make up our political class from both sides
Watching Kitchen Cabinet with Annabel Crabbe it was interesting what Julie Bishop said about Joe Hockey and the garage in his apartment
She wouldnt go in there as it was disgusting like a college dormitory as they had fun parties with fellow politicians….
What age are these men and how emotionally stunted are they to still behave like this in adulthood??
A journalist once said that the conservatives were boring to socialize with and i can see why
Obama has grown up like many other world leaders
Thats Australia for you!!
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just saying August 5, 2012
The bogan elite rule in Australia
Sport Politics Media et al
enjoy
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jean August 5, 2012
The scripted Julia is a disaster
The real Julia is a warm and funny and a great negotiator
Wake Up Australia!!
Maybe this CEO should give himself an uppercut
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mary August 5, 2012
Many years ago i went to a conference where there was a gen y ceo who showed images of naked women between the slides of his presentation
fun=blokey
they became senior staffers in govt later in their careers
well educated creeps with the maturity of teenagers permeate our organisations
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Jane August 5, 2012
Give me a fearless boat refugee to one of these aussie beefcakes anyday – open the gates & let them in!
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Mumabulous August 6, 2012
Tara you are right to draw out attention to the abuse aimed at the PM. It is a sad reflection of the level to which public debate in this country has fallen. Prior to the last election I had the car radio tuned to MMM and the boofheads on the Grill Team had asked the question of whether Julia was hot or not. Listeners were invited to call in with their comments. You can imagine the torrent of inarticulate bile that swamped the airways. eg “Man – she’s a pig dog”. I can take a bit of political incorrectness in good humor but this was beyond the pale. Could you imagine female callers being invited to discuss Tony Abbott’s appearance in budgie smugglers? Needless to say my radio dial is now permanently fixed on ABC 702.
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Dafid August 6, 2012
Mez you may be a woman but you sure arent a lady.
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amd August 6, 2012
Just to be clear, before I post the quotes directly from Tony Abbott that I am about to post – I am NOT a fan of Gillard. However, it is not acceptable to level misogynistic hate filled abuse at her. Still, we must be free of her or it is very clear that Abbott will win in a landslide (I won’t vote for him, but I won’t reward outright lies with my vote either – and many angry voters WILL vote for Abbott if Gillard and the Carbon Tax are still in the running:
As I have said before: Let us be very clear – the reason Ms Gillard was voted in was that she promised the nation no Carbon Tax. Had she admitted to a Carbon Tax (which she clearly knew was a strong possibility) she would have lost the election. People are furious at being lied to, at the deliberate and conniving nature of the lie and at the financial damage it is now causing them. Labor deeply misjudged the mood of the country. Ms Gillard was shown to be quite untrustworthy when she ousted Rudd, but we gave her the benefit of the doubt when she said the words that sunk her party: “There will be no carbon tax under the government I lead”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApCwoj35d3M
When this proved to be a lie, the nation turned on Labor. I have heard excuses ranging from “All politicians lie/The Greens made her do it/I don’t care if people have to pay more its for our own good/It’s not a lie, she just changed her mind. Of all the excuses, the last one is the most laughable. An election promise is just that. Allowing politicians to continually make promises they intend to break is a very bad idea, and it is high time they were all made accountable for their election promises. Which is exactly what is happening to Ms Gillard.
Labor/Greens believed they could force the tax upon us, and have time to repair the damage done by the lie and convince the nation to accept it. It is very clear that this has not happened.
Ms Gillard must step down and Labor must repeal the Carbon Tax. Accept that this was a huge error of judgement. If Labor continues to ra Ms Gillard and the Tax we were promised we would never have down Australia’s throat, then they might as well vote for Abbott themselves.
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amd August 6, 2012
And, having said all that – I beg of you, don’t vote for Mr Abbott, the anachronistic, virgin-loving Catholic. I plan to write neither of the above if they are our only option. The Greens are now out of the running completely, of course, thanks to the Carbon Tax:
Direct quotes from Abbott: “I think it would be folly to expect that women will ever dominate or even approach equal representation in a large number of areas simply because their aptitudes, abilities and interests are different for physiological reasons.”
“The problem with the Australian practice of abortion is that an objectively grave matter has been reduced to a question
of the mother’s convenience.”“If half the effort were put into discouraging teenage promiscuity as goes into preventing teenage speeding, there might be fewer abortions, fewer traumatised young women and fewer dysfunctional families.”
“I think that it’s very important that we empower people to reject this kind of rampant sensuality.”
LIZ HAYES: Homosexuality? How do you feel about that?
TONY ABBOTT: I’d probably I feel a bit threatened…“Mr Speaker, we have a bizarre double standard; a bizarre double standard in this country where some-one who kills a pregnant woman’s baby is guilty of murder, but a woman who aborts an unborn baby is simply exercising choice.”
“What the housewives of Australia need to understand as they do the ironing is that if they get it done commercially it’s going to go up in price and their own power bills when they switch the iron on are going to go up, every year….”
” I think there does need to be give and take on both sides, and this idea that sex is kind of a woman’s right to absolutely withhold, just as the idea that sex is a man’s right to demand I think they are both they both need to be moderated, so to speak”
And finally his view on women remaining virgins: ”the greatest gift you can give someone, the ultimate gift of giving.”
Unfortunately, if Labor refuses to ditch Gillard and the CT we are going to end up with this man in charge.
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mary August 6, 2012
This CEO is a member of that exclusive club called
The Stupid White Mens Club
Lindsey Fox also has very backward ideas about women sadly
Listening to his ideas at The Melbourne Press Club are appalling
MILF mothers are gen y’s version of sexist attitude
google to find that meaning
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mary August 6, 2012
http://m.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/footy-show-apology-did-more-harm-20090512-b18l.html
Lets not forget these public sporting figures who are still in the media with a football show
This gang rape was REPUGNANT!!
So sad
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mary August 6, 2012
Furthermore now defunct MTR melbourne radio station female staffers have confirmed that the remarks towards our PM were and are sexist
Öne çaller on that show rang Steve Vizard and wanted to put a gun in her mouth and shoot her!!
aside from the other repugnant açtions they wanted to do to her
ugh
Melbourne has class and the radio statiön FAILED
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FerrylBerrryl August 6, 2012
‘Hate Speech’ is a term usually used to refer to speech that incites hatred towards a marginalised group. As rich, heterosexual white, Christian males in 2012 Australia John Howard and Tony Abbott can hardly be described as marginalised. I have no issue with calls to show some respect on both sides but to equate hate speech with negative speech is to deny thousands of years of institutionalised discrimination and violence towards women.
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tina August 6, 2012
Would these comments fit under the Tony Abbott free speech mantra??
hmmmm
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tina August 6, 2012
Some phd student will write a thesis about Julia Gillards time in govt and the sexist commentary towards her
Her time as pm has exposed the sexism that corporate Australia still breeds with a blokey culture
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Marnie August 7, 2012
@VRog No, not a male troll – mother of five, grandmother of twenty and certainly not misogynistic. Just heartily sick and tired of women who have no sense of humour picking fights at every word uttered by a male. Julia’s a big girl, she can take a little bit of a ragging. She doesn’t need a band of women making her job ten times harder by screaming “unfair” at every perceived injustice. We KNOW what men are like, but we are women. We don’t NEED to fight petty little fights. We can just smile at the immaturity and go on to better things. Being equal to men is NOT good. In the past we have always been better than them. We knew and they knew it but no-one said it. Now women have reduced their standing to be “equal’” and you cry foul. Men of the past wouldn’t have put women down the way they do today but you wanted equality now you’ll just have to mix it with the big boys and cop it on the chin when you get put downs.
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Gabriella August 8, 2012
I cannot believe the palaver and confected outrage over a throw away comment made by a farmer to a group of farmers in Adelaide a few days ago.
It was not said in parliament, it was not an event broadcast on national television — it was a handful if words that have had attached to them, by the perpetually-offended, an inference that was not intended.
Did the farmer say”Julia Gillard is an old cow?” No — the farmer implied or suggested that governments, like old cows, have their use by date — Ms Gillard is currently leader of the government so she’d better look out.
But of course inference is very subjective and those half-dozen words have been overblown to a point where the farmer is now vilified, insulted, pilloried and verbally pummelled. Am I allowed to say it’s whole lot of hoopla about handful of words said to a roomful of people?
My husband told me yesterday it was Tuesday — I was outraged because I inferred he was complaining that our sex life wasn’t really very good. But after blowing my stack I realised he was actually suggesting that given that it was Tuesday I should be getting out of my pyjamas — see how the gap between imply and infer can be the source of so much angst?
Ladies, especially those who’ve had children, and Marnie Im sure you qualify on this, remember what labour was like? Remember? well that’s hurt, and why is it that we women are given the task to bear the children, because we’re tough homo sapiens would have been extinct otherwise.
The phrase “grow some balls” is invoked to tell us to have courage. But on that point I agree with Betty White who said, and I may be a little inaccurate because I am a little old and bovine but she said words to this effect: ” grow some balls — they are the most delicate, fragile things if you really want some courage – grow a vagina — those things at really take some pounding”
Woman up ladies!!!!!!
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mary August 8, 2012
Gabriella
Excellent point
We are getting a tad too precious darlings!!
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liza August 12, 2012
WoW !
I have just returned from a short stay with friends who have moved near Warwick.
The sexist attitudes appear to be strongest amongst the religious groups who are in abundance in this part of the country.
my friend Jenny is an amazing Volunteer fire fighter and goes out in all weathers and all times. Having farmed closer to Sydney jenny reckon that this bunch can never have left their acreages and really would rather that she makes the sandwiches. They hold barbecues for the neighbours but are never invited back So much for godfaring persons.All goes together I guess Gay hating,woman hating , Abbo hating . Give me Julia any day -
Fifi August 17, 2012
Wow what a lot of hoopla over nothing. I`m sure in his statement I read something about aliens plotting to overtake us as well……….because that is the way I want to twist & misconstrue what he said.
Maybe, just maybe? he was implying that her time as PM is up & she needs to move on? Nah couldn`t be huh; let` read more into it
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ChristopherJ August 18, 2012
Gillard is not old, is not a cow, and is very productive.But I wouldn’t get too worried and I doubt she would, as these things can attract a vote for her.
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LORRAINE COLLOPY August 25, 2012
Is Mez the respondent Tony Abbot’s Mum?only the love of a mother would be so blind to the vitriol he uses when referring to Prime Minister Gillard this being her actual title !!!
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anon August 26, 2012
In what universe is a gender based insult not sexist?
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jane September 23, 2012
amd, I think you should lay off the lies. Julia Gillard said at 8.00pm on the eve of the election, that she would NOT introduce a carbon tax, but was open to a carbon price and an ETS. Guess what? There is NOT a carbon tax, but there is a price on carbon emissions to be paid by the 500 biggest emitters which will transition into an ETS ion 2015.
Mez, when you can produce evidence that disgusting cartoons like those of the criminal conman Larry Pickering were ever disseminated about John Howard, I might have a miniscule amount of respect for your opinion.
Gillard has not lied to the Australian public about children overboard, knowingly lied about the presence of WMDs in Iraq and committed this country to an illegal invasion of Iraq, based on what he knew very well was a BIG FAT LIE, nor has she bailed out her sibling’s business with public money, or allowed any of her ministers to get away with embezzling $50K in phone card charges.
Then there’s the Regional Rortnerships scandal, the AWB bribery scandal and the Vivian Solon, Cornelia Rau, Dr Haneef, Mamdouh Habib and David Hicks scandals.
And let’s not forget Abbott’s role in the Get Pauline Hanson Slush Fund.
