Thu, 11. October 2012
Abbott in the Gutter
I was somewhat disgusted back in 2006-2007 when I observed the vicious nature of the hatred displayed by many ALP supporters campaigning against Prime Minister, John Howard. I was a staunch Howard supporter and when he was defeated in the 2007 election, I made a mental note that, whatever happened - however bad the new ALP government turned out - I would never participate in the same type of bitter vitriol against them and I would never allow myself to stoop to their level of hatred.
I never expected the same thing from supporters of the Liberal Party; I never expected the leadership of the Party to tacitly encourage their supporters to wage a similar "win at all costs" war of vulgarity and bitter malevolence; and I never expected the campaign of utter hatred to be far worse than theirs was; but it is.
I've been aware for a while that there is a vitriolic campaign against Prime Minister Gillard to denigrate her personally and when Tony Abbott appeared in front of those "Ditch the Witch" protesters last year, I began to feel repugnance towards him and towards the ugly mobs who act on his behalf with no discouragement from him. Since then it has deteriorated and some of the comments and images that I have seen on Facebook are not pretty.
The day I became certain that Tony Abbott was the wrong person to lead the Liberal Party
Despite this creeping feeling of disgust that I was beginning to feel towards the campaign by supporters of the far right, I was shocked when I read the text of this speech by Anne Summers and saw some of the examples she included:
http://annesummers.com.au/speeches/her-rights-at-work-r-rated/#.UHVPix3evTA.facebook
No woman in public life should have to endure such gross sexual discrimination and workplace misconduct. The fact that it is directed at the first female Prime Minister brings shame on Australia.
Tony Abbott could have turned his back when he saw the mysogenist signs. Instead he stayed, effectively endorsing anti-feminism.
I don't like ALP policies but I don't hate their politicians; Rudd never appealed to me and some of the tacky things he did disgusted me but I never hated him; and I don't much like Gillard's policies but I will not hate her. What I do despise is the vitriol which I have observed towards Prime Ministers over recent years and the way it has taken an awful turn for the worse since we elected a female Prime Minister. Suddenly, anti-feminism and sheer hatred seems to be commonly accepted.
The Liberal Party that I have supported for over forty years has lurched to the right with policies I sometimes disagree with. Tony Abbott is the wrong person to lead the Liberal Party. I distrust him and would prefer to see him replaced - but I don't hate him. I just wish he were not there telling us that the end justifies the means.
The right wing haters are propped up and goaded on by Alan Jones, leading the mob with their intolerant and repulsive comments about Gillard. His personal comments about her father appalled everyone - except Jones' audience of haters, who continued to applaud him.
Anything goes with them.