The Press on Worth
June 5th, 2009 at 10:00 am by David FarrarThe Press editorial:
During his six months in the job he had distinguished himself by quickly becoming the weakest link in the administration of Prime Minister John Key. The final straw was the police investigation into serious sexual accusations against Worth which made it untenable for him to continue to hold a ministerial warrant. Key, quite correctly, demanded his resignation and has made it clear that if this had not been given he would have sacked Worth.
Labour leader Phil Goff now has the gall to claim that Key has displayed a lack of leadership, as the Prime Minister had known of the issue for a week before acting. Yet Key actually showed a sense of natural justice in making his own inquiries into the accusations before casting Worth adrift.
And never mind Goff sitting on another allegation for up to 75 days before acting.
Effectively sacking Worth was also a stark contrast to Labour’s refusal to sack New Zealand First leader Winston Peters before the last election when accusations of funding irregularities were swirling around him. Admittedly it is easier for a prime minister to punish a member of his own party, but Labour’s refusal to act decisively over Peters for political reasons was a real failure of leadership.
And Goff voted against the Privileges Committee report. He voted to say that Winston did nothing wrong.
Where Key may be faulted is in his initial statement about Worth on Wednesday morning. In it, Key repeated Worth’s own line about “private” matters prompting the resignation.
Although Key would not have wanted to prejudice the police investigation, he still should have indicated that the reason for the resignation was the inquiry into Worth’s conduct and not ill health or a family bereavement.
Which is the point I originally made.
Even if the police inquiry clears Worth, he will clearly not regain a Beehive post, as several of the former government’s suspended ministers did, which reflects a tough streak in Key.
Unlike the previous Government that put fallen Ministers back into the Ministry on numerous occasions.
Key cannot sack Worth from Parliament, although the MP could be expelled from the National caucus. But even if Worth stays on as a lonely National backbencher, his chances of receiving a safe list position for the next election are nil.
Less than nil.
Tags: Richard Worth, The Press
June 5th, 2009 at 10:12 am
When I said that Key made a mistake in not saying the reason for Worths resignation, I was given so a lot of negative feedback. Once again, I think this might have been a suitable response in a corporate environment, but certainly is inappropriate in government.
“Personal reasons”, made me think Worth had some fatal disease and I felt a bit sorry for him.
I agree with you DPF, Key should have said the reason rather than let rumour and innuendo dribble out through the next days.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 10:16 am
People, I think, under-estimate John Key. He has an open, friend, natural manner, a boyish grin, and he doesn’t sound ‘Prime Ministerial’. Of course he has a tough streak. And anyone around him who thinks he doesn’t had better look out.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 10:17 am
Goff should have quit while he was ahead – the preacher’s story is starting to look a little shakey now…
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 10:34 am
Considering this is the first time John Key has had to respond to this type of situation, I think he handled it pretty well. The news about Worth resigning, and then about a police investigation into “a member of Parliament” happened almost simultaneously, and it was easy to put 2 and 2 together. The rest followed pretty quickly.
I wonder about Goff – did he hold the info to try to gain political capital from it? The circumstances and his bleeting seem pretty dodgy – I wonder if it is partially a set-up. We’ll see in the fullness of time, no doubt.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 10:38 am
The final analysis will show the real sleaze ball in this affair is the ever clumsy and never to be trusted Mr Goff. Remember this is the same guy who broke all the rules of decency by blurting Dr Brash’s private musings during a confidential discussion with US diplomats.
So long as people like Goff, King and Mallard continue to front foot for Labour, the party hasn’t got a shit’s show in hell of recovering the confidence of ordinary New Zealanders. These people represent sleaze, corruption, lies, deceit, spin, hypocrisy and political larceny on a grand scale.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Many if not most politicians think carefully about the political ramifications of their every word and action. They choose their comments for political advantage. Just think of Phill Goff’s recent machinations and innuendo.Think of Helen Clark’s shroud waving and deception.
Vote:John Key is not like most politicians. He primarily says and does what he thinks is right and the right thing to do. Political considerations come secondary to propriety and effectiveness for him.
He has handled Dr Worth in a judidicious, timely, fair and balanced way.
He is a leader for our times and a true captain to inspire and bring out the best in all of us.
June 5th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Of course! *slaps forehead* It is all Phil Goffs fault! Why didn’t I see this earlier? Here I was, thinking Richard Worth was a sleazy sexist dinosaur sexually harassing women, and thinking John Key has shown the most appalling political management since Emperor Valens said he was relaxed with the Goths crossing the Rhine, but no! It is all Phil Goff’s fault.
Glad we’ve cleared that up.
Now DPF – show us how new age you are and post some more pictures of Latvian blondes.
[DPF: I only post Latvian blonde photos if I can find some weak justification for it, such as the credit crisis]
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Another premature ejaculation from the left.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Key kept silent about the details and let them come from other mouths. That was both honourable and wise. Having cut Worth’s throat (or induced him to cut his own throat) he did not then start stomping on Worth’s face as well. That was decent of him. Also, by then standing well back, it ensured that the blood was splattered over other people and not himself.
I think there is a subtlety here that many have missed. A minister, like you or I, is entitled to the presumption of innocence. In the face of an accusation like this the right and proper thing would normally be to suspend the minister.
IF he/she is cleared they may return to their job. I don’t have a problem with that at all. It is only fair.
But it appears that Worth failed to tell Key about what was happening, and may even have lied to him about it. THAT is why he would have been sacked and not simply suspended.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Cactus Kate on the subject
http://asianinvasion2006.blogspot.com/2009/06/sex-scandals-and-real-issues.html
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:06 am
@Adolf – dude, your first name is Adolf. Like.What.The.Fuck? Are you a fascist? Or were you unplanned and your parents had a vengeful sense of humour?
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:06 am
As I said on another thread, What difference does it take how long Goff took to tell Key? He did nothing about it anyway.
Did Key need earlier notice to ignore it?
I’d pop back to the drawing board and try and find some slightly better spin David.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:09 am
How long Goff took, how long Key took, what a load of pointless crap.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:13 am
Oh! it is Redbaiter! Quick, everyone, open your nearest copy of Ayn Rand, turn to page 56 and make the first sentence of the second paragraph your facebook status.
I like this game.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Kactus Kate’s column supports my opinion.
A lot more yet to come out in the wash – not just about Richard Worth.
That’s if our pinko MSM have the nuts to persue it.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:45 am
I guess this goes back to the public’s perception of what standards a MP, and a Minister in this case, should adhere to ~
It seems to go beyond merely abiding by the law (which seems to be hard enough in itself for many MPs), at what point do we accept the flaws in our representatives, and at what point are their actions outrageous?
It’s a scandal for sure, and not just one; but as Worth said himself, he has not been convicted of anything. DPF, I’m not too sure about your earlier post title R v Worth; there is a lot to establish before this becomes a criminal matter. I’m not sure what the success of such an action would be, but that’s up to the Police at the moment.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Tom Semmens is the latest incarnation of which green party paid troll?
Why do they bother?
Do they think they’re fooling anyone?
Who gives a crap?
All these questions and more will be answered because of question four.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Oh! it is Murray! Quick, everyone, open your nearest copy of the little book of childish insults, turn to page 56 and make the first sentence of the second paragraph your facebook status.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Goff knew about the allegations last year yet waited until May to approach the PM.
Vote:This was a calculated move by the Labour hierarchy.
In soccer parlance this is what you call an own goal.
June 5th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
@Adolf – dude, your first name is Adolf. Like.What.The.Fuck? Are you a fascist? Or were you unplanned and your parents had a vengeful sense of humour
Wow, now thats a little uncalled for – this whole Goff looking like a sleeze thing must be hitting a nerve, maybe its a little too close to the truth for some….
Oh! it is Murray! Quick, everyone, open your nearest copy of the little book of childish insults, turn to page 56 and make the first sentence of the second paragraph your facebook status.
Cant you come up with ANYTHING original sonic?
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
The rest of the National Cabinet and caucus should take the Worth situation as a warning. The honeytrap situation is a traditional tactic of the Left to cause instability. Liabour will be already seeking a new target and the trap could just as easily be set by the media on their behalf….It seems to me that GOFF now has a public duty to reveal the name of his complainant to the Police who may wish to establish proof of similar behaviour to support the matter they are currently investigating.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Gee Tom S,
Vote:One of our neighbours was called Tom. He used to hang around the school bike sheds with lollies and also liked drowning kittens. Was that you? Afterall, you have the same first name.
June 5th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
Cactus Kate’s blog is required reading. My take is that Goff had already decided that his complaint against Worth had gone as far as it could given the lack of real evidence and the probable complicity of his female complainant in her failure to rebuff Worth. However when the later complaint surfaced he did not want to be gazumped and started grandstanding. Now that his own behaviour is being questioned his protestations and accusations have become more strident; Key’s decisiveness and fairness have left Goff up a creek without a paddle.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
The more this unfolds, it starts looking like a Labour Honeypot sting.
The time delay by Goff was only so they could string Worthless along some more.
Where they have come unstuck is by trying to pull in Key. By acting so decisively and completely the opposite to Clark, they are now more miffed than outraged.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
“up to 75 days”
There you go again David, spinnity spin.
You really have no idea how long Goff has the story, or how long it took the family to agree to him taking it privately to Key have you.
Poor spin (although I’m sure it will fool your acolytes who usually miss phrases like “may or “up to”
[DPF: It is worse than what I said. Goff sat on it for 180 days. He was in the loop days after the three months of phone calls and texts began, and nothing was done to stop them]
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Fuck me Jesus. The kiwiblog right in full flight.
Vote:Accept the fact that Worth is a sleazeball
and Key has fucked up in his handling of this affair
June 5th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
DPF and the National Party must be getting giddy with all this spinning
Vote:Listen to the Mary Wilson interview with Key he was shocking
The guy is obviously making it up as he goes along
June 5th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
“He was in the loop days after the three months of phone calls and texts began, and nothing was done to stop them”
Why stop something he could get political mileage out of?
Sorry Phil you are looking like a dishonest, opportunist shyster the more this goes on…
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
“he could get political mileage out of?”
By sneakily telling John Key in private, ah those devious Labour people must have known Key would do nothing and using their crystal ball also were aware that another case would come out a month later.
Those evil socialists and their seeing into the future skills, what can you do?
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
Shit chronic you’ve got me all turned around on this now, I was convinced you were just a crapweasle by continually repeating the same bullshit line that we’ve all mocked you for one hundred times… but damn, on repetition 101 I’m suddenly convinced that you’re the messiah and I’m going to rush out and join the Labour Party!
You dick.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
Tuija said “Accept the fact that Worth is a sleazeball
and Key has fucked up in his handling of this affair”
The first part of your statement has a darn sight more credibility than the second Tuija. What was Key supposed to do? Rope in a QC and give him terms of reference so narrow that only a certain conclusion could be reached, a la Noel Ingram?
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Oh Murray why do you bother with the same old cut and paste gibbering when you clearly have nothing to add. It just makes you look dim and obsessed.
Are you jealous of me or something? Angling for a date? Praying I might notice you?
I did, so you can be happy now. Not so much an attack dog as a dead sheep.
Perhaps you, Bok Chicken Little and the rest of your weird gang should set up the “Sonic” fan club, where you can all get together and talk about little old me, meanwhile the rest of us can get on with debating political issues without being distracted by your whining.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 1:34 pm
“What was Key supposed to do? ”
“Thanks for that Phil, I’ll look into this issue right away, firstly I’ll personally meet Dr Worth to get his side of the story, and perhaps you can ask the complainant if she would be willing to meet me or my chief of staff. Also if you have any copies of the mails or texts could I have a look at them”?
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Ok Worth has not suddenly become a Sleazeball It is fair to assume that he had these tendencies for a while.
Vote:They would have been known before he was appointed as a minister. After Goff rang Key alarm bells should have rang and decisive action should have happened
Key seems to have made up his response as he went along. And has not handled the situation well
Even the most partisan hack could not conclude that the inteview with Mary wilson was anything other then a train wreck
Still he is learning and hopefully will improve
June 5th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Anyone with any brain would have suspended him pending an enquiry.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
[DPF: It is worse than what I said. Goff sat on it for 180 days. He was in the loop days after the three months of phone calls and texts began, and nothing was done to stop them]
David, there’s one little error here. My pick is that Goff was in the loop days BEFORE the calls and tests began. Classic entrapment. He’s just not as good at hiding it as was his predecessor.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
If that was true Adolf, then why did Labour spend all that effort entrapping Worth and then only tell key privately about it (rather than the press)
Rather screws up that little paranoid theory, perhaps you should stick to bashing Muslims on your blog.
Vote:June 5th, 2009 at 2:25 pm
What cut and paste? Jesus you just really do make shit up as you type don’t you. A fan club is people who LIKE you. When everyone is laughing and you’re not they laughing AT you not with you.
Vote: