Over the top language
August 28th, 2009 at 6:06 am by David FarrarNZPA make it clear that amongst the insults Tau Henare used to describe Rodney Hide, he called him a cunt.
Now I am no prude, but that is shocking language for an MP to use, especially about another MP. And to say it in front of media on the record is incredibly bad judgement.
I like Tau. He a passionate guy who stands up for what he believes. And his ability to wind up New Zealand First last term was priceless. But his use of the cunt word is pretty inexcusable. Never mind it was about a Minister in the National-led Government.
It’s one thing for a non MP like Matthew Hooton to use the term to refer to Helen Clark’s former Foreign Minister, but Matthew isn’t an MP.
Now Busted Blonde at Roar Prawn reports that Tau has done humble pie on Facebook, which is appropriate.
Tags: Rodney Hide, Tau Henare
August 28th, 2009 at 6:52 am
Anatomically speaking, if one of the sad fates of the said body part is to be penetrated with force, I’d suggest that under Key’s stewardship the title best goes to those who were under the illusion that he had the leadership qualities to deal properly with Maori representation in Auckland and the anti-smacking referendum.
No, David, It is we who are the c**ts.
With thanks DPF – Lee MWT http://monkeyswithtypewriter.blogspot.com/2009/08/if-this-is-leadership-id-hate-to-see.html
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 7:19 am
I am sure Hide has been called worse. Sticks and stones and all that.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Your moral relativism is showing David. Perish the thought we might be deemed a “prude”. If it is ok for anyone to use that term then it why is it not ok for everybody? One law for all and all that.
Conversely, if it is not acceptable for some to use why should it be for any others?
Just asking.
[DPF: It is about context. I would never use the term at my workplace but sometimes in social settings friends may use it as a friendly term of abuse. When talking to the media, it is never appropriate]
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 7:38 am
“……….has done humble pie on Facebook, which is appropriate.”
Get a grip, David. I’m surprised you don’t reommend he writes an apology by way of graffiti on a brick wall in Remuera.
The ONLY response which is ‘appropriate,’ as you put it, is for the idiot to be required by the speaker to stand in the house and issue a grovelling apology.
[DPF: he didn't say it in the Hose though and I don't think Lockwood wants to be responsible for what MPs say to the media]
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 7:46 am
The nasty party.
While Henare can get away with calling the right wing cunts the moment he it does it again to some fascist on the left it will do serious damage to National.
Henare should never get a portfolio.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Brian Smaller said: I am sure Hide has been called worse.
Is there worse, Brian? Well, “nigger”, perhaps? I wonder how Tau would react if Rodney called him that.
I’m right with Tau on the substantive issue, but the use of a misogynist term like that by any politician is unacceptable.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 7:53 am
Tau’s behaviour is completely unacceptable in a democratic government, in this one however I’m sure that it will be okay,
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 7:55 am
toad – when people call you names it is just expellation of gasses out of another orofice. Unless you want it to ‘hurt” it wont.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 8:03 am
I reckon Tau and Rodney should just “take it outside”.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Go easy on Mr. Henare folks, he’s just another arrogant hori with his snout in the public trough, and proving to the world that his IQ hovers around that of ambient temperature (or below)
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 8:34 am
The other day a reporter claimed that no reserved Maori seats would leave Maori without representation on the Auckland council.
Vote:Does one laugh or weep at such stupidity?
August 28th, 2009 at 8:36 am
Rodney won, Tau lost! And hardly surprising if “cunt” is the level of Tau’s debating of the matter.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 8:39 am
That Tau Henare is in the NZ parliament is only another measure of how low NZ has sunk as a country.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Huge kudos for Rodney in the way he responded too. He just ignored it like an adult would. But Toe’s not an adult.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 8:52 am
“Is there worse, Brian? Well, ”
well yes there is. I think the fact you greens have been praising JK this week….well, quite frankly I’d rather be called a cunt
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 9:16 am
Toe has single handedly reminded the Auckland voters of why its a bad idea to have Maori seats or any form of governance that has unelected positions.
JC
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 9:41 am
Humble pie on facebook is bullshit.
He must put right as he uttered that’s an apology.
I see one Wayne Scott is complaining about tau in the Dompost this morning.
Vote:Threatening to not vote national unless John Boy sorts out his manners.
Don’t know what he expects as he’s just following in his leaders footsteps in bad behaviour.
maybe John should give him a smack!
August 28th, 2009 at 10:14 am
He doesn’t want to be responsible for what they say in the house either. Can it be “a situation of some formality” if someone is throwing around words like “cunt”?
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 10:15 am
“While Henare can get away with calling the right wing cunts the moment he it does it again to some fascist on the left it will do serious damage to National. ”
So now we are communists and facists. Also suggest you look up Goodwins Law (look it up).
To be fair Hide’s parties ‘leaking’ of the fact he had an ultimatium before consultation had been completed was a pretty c of thing to do. Not that I would use such a word to describe someone in public or to the media, but if I had strong feelings on the issue (which I dont) I could think of some interesting ways to describe Acts behavious on the entire issue.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Redbaiter (7308) Vote: 13 0 Says:
August 28th, 2009 at 8:39 am
That Tau Henare is in the NZ parliament is only another measure of how low NZ has sunk as a country.”
I also think he admirably demonstrates why Maori still rate themselves as the ‘underclass’ in NZ.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 11:10 am
What is it with Maori MP’s?
Vote:Many are otherwise sensible on most issues but when it comes to Maori issues they go completely nuts
Do they think Obama would have even been elected if he behaved like that regarding black issues?
Please move into the 21st century
August 28th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
“But his use of the cunt word is pretty inexcusable.”
Congratulations David for not using those horrid stars. I recently had to haul Cactus over the coals for starring out the “U” & “N” in C-U-N-T in a blog post.
I think as Kate points out Henare is a dead weight in the National government anyway so anything he says is pretty irrelevant.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
..ooohh maybe he should be given some demerits..I have an excess..he can have some of mine….
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Bryan Spondre said: I recently had to haul Cactus over the coals for starring out the “U” & “N” in C-U-N-T in a blog post.
And she responded:
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
How the hell is it that everybody can get away with writing the word CUNT when the last time I used the word to describe either Delahunty or Bradford (cant remember which one) it cost me 20 demerits?
I would have thought in that case it was a statement of fact.
[DPF: As I have said before I don't think it is acceptable to call people a cunt on this blog. However a discussion over an MP calling another MP a cunt will inevitably have people refer to the c word]
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
There was a bit of humour used by rodney hide to deflect questions on the issue in parliament. Annette King pointed out Hide had been called a “dot dot dot dot”, so Rodney Hide raised a point of order and took great offense to being a “dot dot dot dot”.
I thought it was funny the Tau was defending himself in that he needed to “protect his carreer” and public position. You are a list MP Tau: no one cares about you, no one votes for you.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
I hope that Tau will get a good pension when he is not selected in 2011.
Nobody else will have him “again”.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
“and took great offense to being a “dot dot dot dot”.”
he’s obviously read Philu’s comments
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 1:14 pm
@Toad – yes I think Cactus has learnt her lesson
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
What puzzles me is where was the gain in Tau’s explosion of personal invective over a totally predictable political decision by Rodney. Having worked alongside Winston Tau would well know this is the way the game is played. Is he playing to some section of the electorate by speaking a language only they appreciate?
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Where is Shonkey, he should be kicking arse. Is bloody National thick, did they not learn anything over the last decade. We had to put up with name calling, swearing and bulling from the socialists, parliament was slowly going down the shit hole. I don’t except these folks to be choir boys but if they want to play in the sewer the shit will begin to stick. I was hoping the government would set an example. How can you expect the house of parliament and the laws that come from this place to be taken seriously when those in it think they are on the farm. One of the reasons the socialist were so despised was how they acted in parliament, wise up National you risk following the path of mediocrity, show some backbone, let the socialists play in the cutter, that’s where they come from.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Tau should keep his mother out of this argument, and likening Rodney to her is a new low for parliamentary behaviour.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
As is usually the case with people of insufficient education/ intelligence, when pressed, Tau responded with expected paucity of vocabulary. Someone should give him one of those calendars that teach you a new word every day. After a while, he should be comfortable with Readers’ Digest.
Vote:August 28th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
What did Rodney do wrong?
Vote:To say if the granting of maori seats was adopted ,the result would be he would resign his portfolio.
He never threatened to do this once, all he said was that was the end game if the government went with the maori seats.
NO THREATS, just the truth.
If the pollys wanted do this they could, he would have resigned and life would have gone on.
To me the guys atleast upfront.
Not like Mr Keyhole,what a crime to avoid the wishes of the public, Hellen would be proud, me Im just saddened.