Ralston on dirty tricks
June 14th, 2009 at 11:57 am by David FarrarBill Ralston writes:
He may have resigned but Richard Worth is not the only victim in this debacle. When you play in the muck you will get dirt on you. It’s a lesson Phil Goff forgot last week and it must take the gloss off the Mt Albert by-election result.
Goff made the mistake of personally championing Choudary’s allegations, and making it all about him.
It is obvious that Goff’s office first leaked the rumour to the Press Gallery that Labour had already warned Key of allegations of sexual harassment by Worth of another woman, who we now know is Neelam Choudary.
Leaving the Korean woman’s allegations to one side, it is also now apparent that the Choudary affair was largely a Labour set-up.
Personally I don’t think Goff was part of the set up. I think the most likely explanation is it was a group of Auckland activists. They took teh stuff to Goff and at first he did not think there was enough to attack Worth on – so instead he just sent it privately to Key. When Key’s COS came back and said he denies it but has been wanred, Goff was happy to leave it there as he probably himself doubted it all stacked up.
But then when Worth was dismissed as a Minister, Goff could not resist the chance to get it out there, so they leaked its existence. And at first it worked, until it became apparent how little proof there was, and that the picture drawn of the complainant was so misleading. Goff should trusted his initial instincts to not go public with it.
Finally, however, thanks to the efforts of some bloggers and journalists in the gallery, more ugly facts emerged. Goff had sought to keep her name secret. For good reason. It soon became apparent Choudary was not just an ordinary low-level member of the Labour Party, she had tried to become a Labour MP last year.
By offering herself to the bear pit of Parliament she plainly demonstrated she was no shrinking violet incapable of fending off the blandishments of an aged Government minister.
Indeed. Tracy Watkins in the Dom Post sums it up best:
Meanwhile Mr Goff milked the woman’s status as an immigrant who was confused and distraught at Dr Worth’s intentions. When first asked by The Dominon Post if he knew the woman before she came to him, Mr Goff agreed he had, but only for a short time. By the next day, he had put it out there that she was a Labour Party member. When she was revealed this week as Auckland woman Neelam Choudary, it became clear she was no low-level member. She is prominent in Auckland Labour Party circles. The image of a frightened and traumatised woman doesn’t square with the recollections of reporters who came across her regularly on the campaign trail with Helen Clark.
Nor does it square with some of Mr Goff’s colleagues. The woman described as “strikingly beautiful” by Mr Goff is forthright and supremely confident, according to some. Her husband was convicted of an immigration scam.
It is interesting that Goff’s colleagues are quoted on this. Some of them are not too pleased I dare say on the handling of this.
Back to Ralston:
From the beginning, when she first received approaches from Worth, she had kept Goff in the loop. The Labour leader even endorsed the idea she should meet Worth.
We also found out that Choudary had been active on the ground in David Shearer’s by-election campaign in Mt Albert. Hence the inevitable conclusion Worth and the Government were clearly being set up by the Labour Party.
We’re still yet to hear why Choudary was seen having coffee with Worth a month after she alleges the texts and phone calls stopped.
I now find it impossible to give her and Goff’s allegations any credibility. She has insisted Key keep secret the content of the texts that Worth supposedly sent her, so she has made it impossible for the public to verify her claims. Certainly on the basis of the few innocuous texts released so far there is no evidence of any sexual propositions or harassment.
From what we’ve seen so far in the Choudary affair, Worth is guilty, at worst, of being a silly old fool.
No one has come out of this business with their reputation enhanced by what now must be seen as a Labour Party dirty trick.
Goff has ducked for cover, after a couple of weeks of drip-feeding juicy tidbits to the media and taking the moral high ground. That can only be seen as an admission he was wrong.
Yes when Goff won’t front up to media, you know things have gone wrong.
June 14th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
You and I disagree over Goff’s motives. I believe he deliberately laid a political trap for John Key right from the start. Going to The PM privately gave him a fig leaf of respectability over the whole murky business. Harold Wilson did the same thing to Harold Macmillan over the profumo scandal. Macmillan’s failure to deal with it properly as revealed in the Denning report helped put the skids under the Macmillan Government. I believe Goff was trying a similar trick here. And it was looking good before things began to unravel.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Agree tvb. Not so much that it was a trap for Key but it was definitely something that Goff was keeping within reach to use at a later date. I don’t think Labour intended to release the information this early on in the piece though.
Were they waiting until Worth actually came up with a Board position before they were going to let this one loose or was it to be saved up for use in the next election?
Well the nasty party have their first victim. Who is their next prey – Nick Smith or Paula Bennett I reckon.
Hope the Nats are now using encrypted emails and not printing things out. There is no level that Labour will not stoop to get back on power.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
One day David (and I do respect most of what you write and do) you will grow some balls and get off the fence. I believe that Goff totally knew the plan from the outset. Even Ralston who has in the past been less than happy to attack anything labour is nailing it when he says Goff is dirty on this. Stupid, dishonest, underhand and dirty. So now we have Goff and Mallard. Mmmm. Methinks that sitting at the feet of the master manipulator was not spent learning. The disappointment would be heartfelt in NY right now.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Yes I too believe that goff is in this up to his eyeballs.
Vote:It is impossible to believe that this was not a thought out plan from the start, to believe that events overtook goff is a step too far.
The dribbling out of lies, & innuendo, the indian connection (that is worths penchant for things indidan) all stack up me to be a carefully crafted… but badly executed campaign.
I am pleased that goff has been found out for the liar & charlatan that he so obviously is, along with his so called advisors, bully boy etc. but I don’t hold my breath that the MSM will persue this with any vigour.
I have faith though in the average NZ’r that the memory of this disgraceful conduct will carry over to the next election, after all this type of action is a large part of the reason liarbour lost and is now the OPPOSITION.
June 14th, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I actually believe that those on the right side of the fence, have to to everything in their power to keep Goff as leader of the opposition.
The following would be the best ever leadership structure for labour, that National could pray for.
1.Goff
2. King (after all is revealed in Hawkes Bay)
3. Mallard
4. Jones (Immigration stories to come)
5. Cunliff (This is going to be beautiful
The rest does not matter. I believe that this leadership group would be unbeatable on their quest to destroy labour for at least 4 terms, if not more.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Yes, Labour are sinking to deeper lows all the time as they immerse themselves more and more in the sewer.
Firstly it was digging the dirt as per Mike Williams and the H Fee backfire.
Now its going one step further and fabricating the dirt on Worth.
Labour are very much “the ends justify the means” party. Any means, no matter how low and dishonest the ends, they are completely sanctified if it gets them closer to the reigns of power they believe are rightfully theirs.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Trully amazing, Kiwi’s are sick to death of this crap but liarbore just keep digging! I hope National have a 12 year plan.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
I would also like to know how complicite the mainstream media were in letting this farce go on. Obviously Brian Rudman knew who she was. Who else – and why would they not have sprung Goff on the obviously lie in his desciption of the poor innocent “victim” – Choudary. Also the fact it was Phil Goff’s office that leaked to the press gallery that questions should be asked of John Key re any previous complaints.
My point being that how can these card carrying EPMU members call themselves journalists when in actual fact the bloggers are outing the villains and these “journalists” are just playing catch up so as not to look so biased. Particularly both TV1 and TV3. At least there are a couple of opinion writers who are prepared to look under the covers. But even then, they are opinions after the fact.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 2:29 pm
When Key’s COS came back and said he denies it but has been wanred
Interesting version of events . . .
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 2:45 pm
Shady, this has been my complaint for awhile. While in the states, the corporations who have significant defense contracts with Uncle Sam own the new media which has an affect on the quality of reporting. Blatant conflict of interest. Here it is the same except in the other direction. Unfortunately in both countries the average person doesn’t have a clue what is happening.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
This whole saga bought on by Liarbour is unbelievable really, what scares me more is that the vast majority of Liarbour believers / members will not even see this as lacking integrity / morals etc…….. Again, am not saying that Richard Worth never did any silly stuff…
I find it despicable that Liarbour are happy to have a leader like Philin Goof as the party leader, important though, that actually he is the perfect opposition leader…. There must well be a number of Liarbour party members questioning Philin Goof as a leader, surely!!!!
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 2:48 pm
This was a trap set for John Key. Goff aquiesed to the Mata Hari sting. He then (after a time) advised Key of allegations against Worth in a PRIVATE conversation where he insisted the privacy of the complainant be protected. The conversation was so important he took notes. He then held the info until the second complaint forced his hand, so the contents of the allegation were leaked to a compliant press. Key was then asked if he had heard of other allegations; this was the trap. Key could have said no or give a qualified reply (believing it was a confidential matter) and been caught in a lie or be called ‘slippery’. He said yes; the trap failed, and Goff has been on the back foot ever since. The left are trying every way which way to pin something of this sordid affair on Key without success; their frustration shows.
Vote:Compare Worth to Andrew Symonds; obey team rules (and prescribed standards) or you are off the team – quite simple really. No employment court here where you can make excuses for stuffing up and claim hurt and humiliation.
June 14th, 2009 at 2:50 pm
Wow
kiwiblog is a strange place sometimes.
You know there is a possibility that Goff intended to do the very unusual thing of trying to keep it quiet and not use it for political purposes. If the media did know about it then it was probably because someone gossiped about it, not as part of a masterplan but just in the way that us humans do from time to time. And since then Goff has been replying to questions and successfully defending himself against an accusation by Key that he lied when it is clear that Key was the one who got it wrong.
And you guys are all absolutely convinced that there is this conspiracy on the part of Goff to undermine the government when all he had to do was announce it in Parliament.
How about names places and statements to back up your allegations. Otherwise why not just acknowledge that Parliament is a place where gossip spreads like wildfire and this was particularly salacious gossip.
[DPF:Oh of course Goff's office leaked it. Half the gallery are saying so. An incredibly small number of people would have known about this, and none would leak without permission from their party leader]
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Re: Whafe…One wonders why, then, given that Worth has done some silly stuff, you don’t have a witty little nickname for him as well: Dick Worthless could do the trick, though it’s not nearly as penetrating as Liarbour and Philin Goof.
Anyway, the absence of Goff from the media is only a problem because up to now he’s been a complete media whore, traipsing around with that little smirk thinking he has got the dirt on an opposition member. If he had stayed out of it, done his job and stopped being a complete idiot about the whole thing, his absence could be seen as integrity. Fat chance that.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
While I think Goff’s handling of this has been shameful, I am not yet convinced that there was any setup.
It seems unlikely to me that Worth would start sending improper texts to a stranger out of the blue. It is far more likely that this thing developed slower than that: they struck up an acquaintance, spoke together a few times, all innocuous at first. This would be why there is a significant body of communications between them.
When the texts and emails began (allegedly) to get become inaapropriate, it would not have been unreasonable for Choudray to have a word with Goff about it – they were after all, well-acquainted. It seems that Goff at this time did nothing, and perhaps merely told her not to be shy about giving Worth the brush off.
It was only after this that Worth’s behaviour became so allegedly obnoxious and allegedly corrupt (offering her a job).
Choudray went back to Goff, who did exactly the right thing – took the matter to Key. I do not find it strange that Choudray (a maried woman) did not want to make a public fuss about it.
After a grilling from Key, Worth ceased his inappropriate behaviour (at least toward her).
And there the matter would have ended.
BUT, then came the second allegation and Worth’s resignation / sacking.
At this point Goff could not resist wading into things and trying to make political points out of it. He was probably desperate to score some sort of hit on Key. That desperation led him into the error of getting involved.
Goff’s behaviour slipped at that point from honourable to despicable, and there is no need for me to detail that here.
But a setup? Possible. But I do not think there is the evidence yet to justify that accusation.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
I don’t know, micky – in your scenario, Goff ceases to be underhanded and manipulative and becomes simply incompetent and completely gormless. Of the two, the second actually sounds better.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Tha statement made by Barry Soper on radio gives the lie to some of the speculation above. He insists that the allegations were deliberately leaked to the Press Gallery by the labour party. My take on that is that he was told directly since he would be a prime target for the inf. And anyway the timing was too coincidental for it to be anything but directed.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
>No one has come out of this business with their reputation enhanced by what now must be seen as a Labour Party dirty trick.
I disagree. Key has come out of this having done the right thing, by sacking Worth. And looking like a nice guy who was happy to engage with Goff and with Choudary up until the point where both were proven to be scammers feeding him a line of bullshit.
What I’m interested in is if Goff, when he talked to Key, was straight about Choudary. If I were Key and Goff had spun the same story to me that he spun to the media, of a shrinking wall flower of a woman afraid to say “no”, then I’d be taking away Goff’s PM-phoning privileges.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Rachael Rich Bennett will be next, she cannot help making cockups.
Vote:I was surprised the tanned tubby westie was not fired after not telling the boss about a gang member then believing that a woman who wasted public money was the best person to give advice on families.
Or does lots marriage practice make perfect ?
June 14th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Oops, I meant the first sounds better in my previous comment. D’oh!
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
WE won’t have to wait long for the next scam, set-up, or desperate ploy.
I just hope that Key continues to tell the truth, front up to any mischief in his own ranks, and keep smiling honestly.
That way the left will end up being completely frustrated, and even more bitter and twisted.
As for MS appearing on here with his attached troupe of quislings. Go away silly person, before you lot look any sillier.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
s.russell “When the texts and emails began (allegedly) to get become inaapropriate, it would not have been unreasonable for Choudray to have a word with Goff about it – they were after all, well-acquainted. It seems that Goff at this time did nothing, and perhaps merely told her not to be shy about giving Worth the brush off. It was only after this that Worth’s behaviour became so allegedly obnoxious and allegedly corrupt (offering her a job). Choudray went back to Goff, who did exactly the right thing – took the matter to Key. I do not find it strange that Choudray (a maried woman) did not want to make a public fuss about it.”
Goff did NOT do the right thing! The supposedly obnoxious behaviour supposedly stopped in February (although she was allegedly seen with Worth at a cafe on 31st March). So why would Goff take the matter to Key almost 2 months later in May if the behaviour had stopped? It just does not make sense at all – unless (and I hate conspiracy theories) – unless it was part of a sting. Also – did Worth REALLY offer her a job? There is absolutely no substance to that accusation either.
The Korean woman’s complaint was relating to an incident also in March I believe. I don’t know, but it is just so smelly its hard to believe the two complaints are unrelated.
And this all happened after the budget – not to damage the government on the budget, but to damage the government in Mt Albert and give Labour a morale (ha!) boost. With our darling complicite lefty Media decimating Melissa Lee for gaffes that were so minor (even Shearer admitted on Agenda that they gave her a hard time) and not front footing the issue with Goff/Choudary’s role in Worth’s downfall.
Oh and while I’m at it – National Party HQ – you hung Melissa Lee out there – disgusted!
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
Key has learnt a lot from this episode. The main lesson is never to trust Goff again – he could probably have had a confidential phone call with Clark but Goff has disgraced himself with his conduct.
The lefts gutter activists think they are very clever after the Mt Albert effort where they could all focus on a small target and will be looking for the next assignment so we won’t need to wait long before the next load of muck.
Lets hope JK is a bit more streetwise…
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 5:10 pm
Glut M – Pretty hard for MS to look any sillier, cant get much silly than a chicken with its head cut off….
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Key’s main mistake was to give the impression he believed Richard Worth. There is one rule when dealing with philanderers – they will always lie regarding their philandering. They have to – they do it all the time to their wife/partner and they will do it every time to save their skins. The second lesson for John Key – beware of the Leader of the Opposition bringing gifts. He is out to get you what ever way he can. I guess John Key washed his hands of Worth when he realised that Worth was economical with the truth regarding his behavior. It was at that point Key dropped Worth. One thing one must NEVER do and that is lie to John Key. He will drop you like a hot spud no matter what.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
“Oh and while I’m at it – National Party HQ – you hung Melissa Lee out there – disgusted!”
Vote:Yep me too shady, Melissa is a lady, unlike the females that have a tendency to be associated with the Labour mob.
June 14th, 2009 at 5:58 pm
I think it a great attribute that John Key will not tolerate liers…. It is how it should be!
I mean when you go back and discuss honesty with the former PM, it leaves a very scary definition to the word honesty…..
When working for a very LARGE global company, I got sick and tired of the constant lies. In the end it is a scary thing trying to have a discussion with a group that lie do much, they actually believe their bullshit…. And they then can fully argue their points with what they call truth, yet it is all bullshit……
This is pretty much how the Labour party works….. They actually believe there own bullshit…. Very scary….
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 6:45 pm
Oh of course Goff’s office leaked it. Half the gallery are saying so. An incredibly small number of people would have known about this, and none would leak without permission from their party leader
Soper does not constitute ‘half the gallery’; as a generally pro-national journalist he’d be the last port of call for a Labour leak. The story broke when Key made a comment to the press gallery when they were barraging him with questions on his way into the house; he went into more detail inside the house. Sopers inability to remember events in our very recent history and his tendancy to swallow National party spin speaks to his abilities as a reporter, not to what actually happened in the real world.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Danyl, you cannot be serious. Barry ‘Springbok’ Soper pro National! Far from it. He has always been and always will be a Labour cheerleader.
Barry himself said on ZB the leak came from Labour and was passed to the press gallery. Being as he is so pro-Labour, when he says something like this it is hard to discredit him.
Helen has gone now so by definition Phil can leak
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
“Soper does not constitute ‘half the gallery’; as a generally pro-national journalist”
Barf..
What utter self serving crap.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 7:15 pm
When will people understand you can’t believe a god-damn thing the media says?
There is not a single thing they say that isn’t cleared and approved in Labour’s offices.
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Pushme
If you believe this there is this bridge that I would like to sell to you …
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
yes the moon landings did’t really happen and the cia killed marayln
Vote:June 14th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
It’s weird – I couldn’t stand Goff as a minister under Clark. I’ve long held a grudge with him over leaking the confidential MFAT notes supposedly linking Dr Brash to the ‘gone by lunchtime’ statement. I reckon it showed poor judgement on his behalf because it was totally for political gain not the good of the country.
After following opposition politics for years… I’m sympathetic to opposition leaders. & frankly after Helen Clark … a swine flu infected used vacuum cleaner is a more appealing Labour leader. So I’ve grown to like Goff (which is probably more than what most lefties can even say). He obviously has passion for politics.
So the whole Worth affair has disappointed me on so many levels.
- Goff; my initial impression of you was closer to the mark – politics before country.
- Worth; naive & dodgy enough to be entrapped like this.
- Worth was a good link between National and the Indian community. So the Indian Community has lost a voice.
- Given Worth’s efforts to establish links with ethic groups – you’d think Labour would want this sort of politician in parliament. But instead a labour activist of Indian descent sort of bring him down. A sad tale indeed, because no one wins.
It just goes to show Labour haven’t changed from the Clark era when they released info. about Brash’s affair.
Vote:For the sake of New Zealand, Labour needs a culture change. Labour MPs need to speak out about such shameful practices and stop toeing the line. Otherwise they’re all going to be tar with the brush of Mallard, Goff, King and co.
June 15th, 2009 at 12:04 am
Rachael Rich wrote:
Here here. Danyl must have a short memory!
From what I understand Barry and Helen Clark had quite a close relationship. But that’s not to say he’s impartial.
Vote:June 15th, 2009 at 7:44 am
The leaked MFAT memo was Goff putting politics before country. But its political implications were too big for Goff to ignore. There was a cost. Goff never managed to sell the Skyhawks, and National went for an outsider to head the Department. Following the Worth affair I doubt that John Key will trust Goff, and he will be much more calculating in any dealings with Goff.
Vote:June 15th, 2009 at 8:30 am
NX I seem to remember Barry Soper being a contender for Helen Clark’s Chief Press Secretary position back in 2005 I think it was. As for Danyl’s comment – the only time Barry Soper is EVER critical of Labour is when it would be ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE not to be. Otherwise – he will down play Labour’s mistakes and hammer National.
Vote: