DBP Update
The NZ Herald has a useful story, highlighting the four major issues of yesterday:
1) DBP no longer denies he did it, he has now changed his story to one of no recollection
2) The PM has criticised him for leaking the Police report to the HoS (ironic as he was following her example with Doonegate)
3) The Police Minister has reprimanded him for DPB’s attack on the Police, and revealed DBP has apologised to the Police
4) Press Secretary Pete Coleman is taking the fall and facing termination
Another NZ Herald story notes how pissed off his colleagues are, as even they fell for the selective leak he did from the Police report.
And somewhat surprisingly The Press in its editorial has actually called for Benson-Pope to be sacked by Helen Clark.
The Press says “Benson-Pope’s performance throughout the affair has been woeful
December 7th, 2005 at 7:30 am
Benson-dope is nothing more than a liability – attachs will continue for ages. Did anyone notice the “twitching” on the news – I would have thought that this would be a behaviour pattern consistent with lying and stress.
I wonder how many of his “friends” in labour also want him sacked.
December 7th, 2005 at 7:39 am
The focus has now shifted to what was he getting up to on sunday when he leaked a selected version ahead of the general release by the Police on Monday. That mistake is acknowledged but DBP is hanging his press secretary out to dry. No one doubts the presser acted on instructions of the Minister and that should now be the focus of the parliamentary scrutiny of the Minister.
December 7th, 2005 at 7:41 am
This fool is a walking clusterfuck but I see it’s a staffer that’s getting the chop.
Given her history I asumed Hullen had given him instructions on leaking, even if “by definition” she can’t.
December 7th, 2005 at 7:57 am
Had to laugh watching his reactions in the debating chamber on 1 news Tues night, It was like watching a tortured child hiding behind his mothers skirt, That’s right the Fraulein doesn’t wear skirts! If the coverage was linked to a guilt meter it would have hit the red line. Need to do something about that nervous twitch son!
December 7th, 2005 at 8:22 am
So what happens when Coleman tells his employer ‘My boss asked me to do it,’ thereby avoids dismissal and then leaks that to the media?
December 7th, 2005 at 8:29 am
Coleman is expendible, it does not matter what he says, he is a gonner. Hopefully DBP can be trapped into misleading Parliament about his role in authorising the selected release.
December 7th, 2005 at 9:13 am
DBP is going through the shredder, and a good job too. Hopefully Coleman will quickly reach the point at which he cuts DBP loose.
The answer my friend, is swinging in the wind…
December 7th, 2005 at 9:44 am
Tim & AF:
Well, I think this has a way to run. Unlike their political masters, Ministerial Services doesn’t decide serious employment matters via press conference, ‘off the record’ chats and selective leaks to friendly hacks. If nothing else, Ministerial/Parliamentary Services doesn’t like spending any more time than absolutely necessary in the Employment Court or paying out settlements to make unjustified dismissal claims go away.
And, Tim, I just don’t believe that anyone can be “trapped” into telling a lie. The whole “perjury trap” defence is the political equivalent of a serial killer screaming “The Devil and a subscription to Barely Legal made me do it.” Even disgraced former-Tory minister Jonathan Aitken now admits that he didn’t go to prison because he fell into a “perjury trap” baited by the media and his political enemies. He was convicted for knowingly, wilfully and repeatedly lying under oath in an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
December 7th, 2005 at 10:36 am
Hanging his press secretary out is just another example of the venal and cowardly nature of this little bully boy I wish Id gone to the same school where he was a student.Saw and was involved in giving his type a little of their own medicine.And in all cases they can dish it our but they cant take it.Bit like Socialists really
December 7th, 2005 at 10:58 am
Adolf said: “So what happens when Coleman tells his employer ‘My boss asked me to do it,’ thereby avoids dismissal and then leaks that to the media?”
Adolf, I thought you would know the answer to that.
Benson-Pope issues a press release (a day after leaking selective parts of the prepared one to favourable media) saying he refutes the allegation and then a few more days later, after his staffers say they can recall the instruction, says of the 100 or so people who work for him he is one of the 17 who either cannot recall the instruction to leak or says it was never given.
December 7th, 2005 at 2:50 pm
Perjury trap is not a defence Craig it is a way of putting someone on the spot and then they have to lie to get out of it. The best reposnse is to say “I cannot remember”. Helen uses it all the time and Don Brash used it skillfully in the “gone by lunchtime remark”. Ministerial Services has no real power over who works in Minister’s offices, Coleman is a scapegoat no doubt about that. They will go through the motions but he will lay down his life for Benson-Pope.
December 7th, 2005 at 3:24 pm
“So what happens when Coleman tells his employer ‘My boss asked me to do it,’ thereby avoids dismissal…?”
Unfortunately for Mr Coleman, he is not in trouble for leaking the document (which he was instructed to do) but in trouble for denying leaking (or denying being instructed to leak) the document (which it appears he was not instructed to do).
December 7th, 2005 at 5:22 pm
I would the assume the labour party would be treating Mr Coleman with a great deal of respect at the moment, maybe an extra bonus in his severance pay for keeping mum.Just a dumb question, if DBP was to get the big “a” would that force a by election and what would this mean to the present government?.
December 7th, 2005 at 6:01 pm
Now that the “I dont remember.I cant recall.” excuse has been abused to the extreme,the rest of the Labour caucus must be gutted. Their best bullshit lines have been tainted for good!