Media Bias
I was appalled listening to Paul Holmes interview the PM on their regular Monday morning slot.
I have no problem that the PM gets a weekly slot, and other party leaders do not, because the idea is the the Head of the Government can talk about what the Government is doing.
But the very first question Holmes asks her is what she thinks of National’s suspension of Maurice Williamson. Hello. That is not a Government issue. The PM does not get free air time to be a political commentator.
Even worse is that Holmes’ next question was to ask her whether she thought the suspension was a loss for Bill English. How can she avoid responding to a patsy worthy of her most ardent backbencher, so obviously she says yes it is. Never mind that English is the one person in NZ who can realistically defeat her as PM, which might make her less than an impartial observer in all this.
This is just calling out for a BSA complaint.
September 8th, 2003 at 8:20 pm
I agree it was a gift question, but The PM is right in saying it was a loss for English. Can’t blame her for telling it like it is.
September 8th, 2003 at 8:30 pm
The poll on stuff.co.nz shows 75 precent of people also think it was a loss for National’s ‘leader’.
September 8th, 2003 at 8:33 pm
Naturally I disagree it was a loss. In fact it is the perfect result if one looks at it clinically.
1) No potentially messy by-election
2) Williamson stays out of Caucus
3) Williamson has an incentive to behave
4) A strong example is set to others as to the unacceptability of divisive behaviour
5) No court action
6) No potentially independent MP in Parliament attacking National
About as good as it gets.
September 9th, 2003 at 6:26 pm
Yes But Bill English opened his mouth, I assumed after he had thought of all that,and said he would go. Either Bill did not have the stregth of conviction to follow through or he had not thought it through. Either way English looks weak, again.