Armstrong on Goff
March 24th, 2011 at 8:03 am by David FarrarJohn Armstrong writes in the NZ Herald:
The Labour Party will not be judged by what Darren Hughes has or has not done in his private life.
It will be judged according to how Phil Goff handles the crisis which has enveloped one of Labour’s bright young rising stars and consequently the party as well.
Goff’s management of the crisis has already begged a major question. Why did the Labour leader not immediately stand Hughes down from his roles as Labour’s chief whip and education spokesman two weeks ago when the MP told him he was the subject of a police investigation?
It is a surprise that Phil Goff, Labour Party Leader, did not take the advice of Phil Goff, Leader of the Opposition. Here’s a quote from PGLOTO in 2009:
Opposition leader Phil Goff said today Mr Key should have sacked Dr Worth last week.
“The matter could have been dealt with rather more promptly,” Mr Goff said.
So let us compare the cases of Dr Worth and Mr Hughes.
- Dr Worth’s leader is informed of a Police complaint. He briefly investigates, and then sacks Dr Worth. All of this occurs before the Police complaint is even made public. PGLOTO claims the matter should have been dealt with more promptly.
- Mr Hughes’ leader is informed of a Police complaint. PGLPL does nothing at all until the matter becomes public.
John Armstrong notes:
Had he gone on the front foot then – rather than being forced to fess up yesterday in the face of rapidly snowballing media inquiries – Goff would have got some plaudits for being upfront.
He would also have got marks for consistency. Back in 2009, Goff launched into John Key for not immediately stripping Richard Worth of his ministerial warrant after the Prime Minister had been apprised of allegations of a sexual nature made against the then National MP.
Goff now risks being marked down for double standards.
Rather large double standards.
Goff’s political management accordingly starts to look misguided at best and downright stupid at worst.
I’ll be generous and say they are thinking with their hearts, not their heads.
UPDATE: Phil Goff just interviewed by Sean Plunket on NewstalkZB. Goff said it is up to the Police to decide if Hughes’ behaviour was appropriate. Plunket pointed out that no their job is to decide if his behaviour was criminal. Goff does not seem to understand the difference.
March 24th, 2011 at 8:07 am
Breathtaking hypocrisy on Goff’s part. His lamentable tenure as socialist leader are coming to an end; his days are numbered.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:07 am
“The Labour Party will not be judged by what Darren Hughes has or has not done in his private life.”
BEEEEEEP!!!! Thanks for playing, yes they will. AS WELL as how Phil In has misshandled the entire shabby affair.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:14 am
Armstrong nails it in one.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:17 am
Dazza must resign from parliament immediately. Goff should probably do likewise. This episode will cause massive damage to Labour. There is much more on this to come – the charges are extremely severe, and more people may come forward with similar stories.
Goff will take Labour support to an all time low on the back of his weak and hypocritical leadership.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:20 am
David,
John Key didn’t fire Richard Worth. You might want to correct that innacuracy.
[DPF: Worth resigned under threat of sacking. That is still a sacking. In employment law we call it a constructive dismissal.]
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:20 am
liarbor was a massive train wreck already…I never thought it could get any worse for them. Oh dear what a shame…
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:28 am
Yup the chickens are coming on in to the roost.
It appears that this is the tip of the sordid iceberg just starting to melt under the suns disinfecting rays.
What was it that other little mincer jeavan (or however you spell it) said yesterday in the media? Something about if Hughes is involved it will be grubby.
The longer it takes hughes to fall on his sword, the harder it will be for his party to keep the ranks closed.
Goff is a gone burger over this one, bloody hypocrite.
Full moon must be aghast at the use of her home in this, as it should bring intense scrutiny on the allowance issues re housing I would of thought.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:29 am
The Labour Party will not be judged by what Darren Hughes has or has not done in his private life.
Armstrong is living in motherfucking fantasy land if he seriously thinks Hughes’ shenanigans don’t reflect badly on Labour.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:29 am
Oh good lord monty no. they must stay as long as possible. With what we pay them we deserve every second of entertainment they give us.
taranaki you might find David actually has a better glue about happened with Worth than most of us.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:33 am
taranaki – you are playing with semantics. John wanted Richard’s departure from Cabinet and Parliament and got both in short order. If that is not a firing, what is?
And IMO Phil Goff mucked himself up further by trying to blame the Beehive (aka John Key) for the leak, thus giving John a few useful ‘chance’ cards for the future.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:38 am
I would like to raise the issue of all this mid-week late-night boozing and socialising involving MP’s.
We elect politicians to do a full day’s work and be fit for another day’s work the following morning. It defies belief that after some six hours drinking from the early evening to the early morning that an MP is sufficiently “on-deck” the next day to perform his job.
I think alcohol plays far too great a part in the life of MP’s and they can get away with all-night drinking and carousing because they are not being held to account, and their work-load is so light.
And finally, Hughes’ home is in Levin, many hundreds of people commute daily from Levin to Wellington and back again, why is Hughes not doing the same? And does the taxpayer pay the cost of his being a boarder at Annette’s King’s Hataitai home so he can stay on in Wellington to piss it up all night?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:41 am
This is where the real humour is.
Phil Gaffe walks his silly new walk but can’t bring himself to walk the talk. Has there ever been such an unbelievable fuckwit in charge of that party?
Then he blames the government for the leak – a clear indication that he remained supportive of this being kept hidden under the carpet for as long as possible. Fuckwit.
It just gets funnier and funnier although, by and large it seems that the public at large are generally no longer interested in his next blunder or episode of blatant hypocrisy. Judging by the polls, he is just no longer of any interest at all. That’s a shame because he’s certainly funnier than anything else on TV at the moment.
I wonder if that’s why Armstrong is the only person in the media to rip into him? Oh no, there is of course another reason.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:41 am
Well said Chris2, very relevant.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:49 am
We all remember the indignant righteousness which Labour lambasted Key over the Worth affair. Just imagine for a moment how it would have played out if the incident for which Worth had to resign over, took place at Bill English’s house.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:53 am
Was Annette King at home at the time? The incident happened in the “early hours” of the morning, so I’m guessing she wasn’t still at work and hopefully she wasn’t out on the town like Hughes had been. What did she hear? What did she see? If a crime had been committed or she suspected one might have been committed then did she ring the police? What did she tell Goff the next morning?
And on a different note, isn’t it kind of weird for Hughes to be bringing men back “home” when his flatmate is almost old enough to be collecting national superannuation. Does he have to explain that she’s not his mum and to just ignore her – that she’s quite happy watching TV while Hughes and youth pop away for a bit of poking.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:57 am
I’ve found a column written by Bill Ralston after the Richard Worth incident and after Neelam’s Choudary’s links to the Labour Party were revealed. It’s well worth a read, and certainly exposes Phil Goff to allegations of double standards in his handling of this latest drama.
http://keepingstock.blogspot.com/2011/03/of-phil-goff-and-high-standards.html
Whatever the outcome of the police investigation, Phil Goff’s leadership on this issue has failed IMHO.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:59 am
As an aside. I find the media reporting of this interesting in one aspect. If an 18 or 19 year old is done for drunk driving, or some motor vehicle related incident, he or she is referred to in the press as a teenager. Go onto stuff.co.nz, type teenage driver in the search feild, and you will get a number of examples.
Yet in this instance, the (for want of a better term) object of Hughes’ affections has been reffered to as a “young man”. Now we see sensationalist headlines in the media more often than not. So why is the media, who often fall over themselves looking for the most sensational headline, not reporting this as “Senior Labour MP investigated for sexual advances on Teenage Male?” instead of young man? You don’t normally see this sort of caution from the media.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:00 am
What is the bet that Armstrong does not vote Labour?
Why does the Herald not allow the public to comment on Armstrong’s article like they do anything the allow someone like Coddington – the traitorous cow – to rubbish ACT?
The Herald is a bias left wing rag.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:04 am
When I was at Police College as a recruit the instructors drummed into you time and time again that to keep out of trouble in the police you must stay away from the three Ps – piss, property and prostitutes.
It is so true, for all walks of life. It was as relevant in 1930 as it is in 2011.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:05 am
My recollection is that Key was overseas when the story broke and that his statements of condemnation were published and led immediately to the resignation. My recollection is also that Goff was more more informed about the matter than Key because the complainant was a labour party activist who was probably reporting to Goff or an intermediatry on a regular basis. There was talk of a set-up. None of that excuses Worth. He fucked up and he has gone. My concern is that if the reports on Goff’s knowledge and involvement at that time are correct (and given that the reports came from MSM the jury must still be out on that ), Goff’s hypocrisy will destroy his credibility as a leader of integrity for all time. [ And before everyone elso chimes in, I will add “.. if he ever had any.”
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:08 am
The fourth P is politics Gooner.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:10 am
One of the rare moments when DPF and I are on the same page.
I’m not disappointed with Goff, because, to me, he has always been a disappointment. The sooner he goes the better.
(But if Cunliffe is the answer then National shouldn’t be too worried)
I feel sorry for Darren, but, in my opinion, no MP should be able to survive just the fact of allowing an 18 yo to accompany him home in the early hours of the morning (given that Simon Bridges left the pub at midnight -smart man, it always gets tricky after midnight!)
And I must resile from my first comment yesterday, one that drew 20 demerits, as I had not realised Darren does not discuss his sexual orientation. If I had known that, my sentiments at the comments above me on that thread would have remained unsaid..
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Thanks, I2. I start typing before seeing your post. QED.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:12 am
or ‘Pansies’.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:14 am
“integrity” – its a laugh in this case.
But here is another interesting point.
Annette King’s house had a search warrant served on it.
That means that they must have asked the owner (the ex minister of police) for permission to search and it was denied – requiring them to have to get a formal search warrant.
Why the hell would a ex minister of police (and deputy member of the party who’s ginga ninja is the subject of the complaint) refuse to co-operate with police?
Would love to know if she is getting tax payer funded accomodation allowance for DH – esp as he only lives an hour 1/4 down the road.
This could take her as well as goff and ginge down the river. Well, labour needed fresh blood anyway.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:14 am
“if Cunliffe is the answer ” the question would be a really dumb one
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:15 am
davidp
“Was Annette King at home at the time?”
I believe so according to the press. Getting her beauty sleep.
No doubt dreaming of the impending super full moon, health industry ethics and conflicts of interest, and all the while blissfully unaware of whatever fossicking around may or may not have been going on in the basement.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:17 am
@ Chris2 Parliament/the Beehive is a difficult environment. Alcohol is part of it but the whole atmosphere can be challenging – most people live away from home, work long and odd hours, you are or at least think you are doing important things with other important people who all have similar livestyles and interests. What surprises me is not that there are “scandals” just that there are so few of them.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:17 am
We are witnessing the slow agonizing death of Phil Goffs leadership. If over the next few months Helen Clark doesn’t allow the tenants of one of her numerous residential investment properties to renew their lease and the decorators are sent in then it will fairly clear who is coming back to put Phil out of his misery.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:21 am
thedavincimode>I believe so according to the press. Getting her beauty sleep.
Then has King ever had one of these conversations with Hughes:
1. “Please, don’t be so loud next time. I have to get up early to go to work.”
2. “Next time you bring a boy home, could you make sure he isn’t wearing his school uniform.”
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:22 am
They would have got the warrant in advance just ‘in case’ co-operation was refused. Standard practice with tricky ones.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Seems that labour are not all standing behind Mr Hughes:
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/71135/political-career-of-hughes-in-the-balance
“Sources within the Labour Party have told Radio New Zealand News there have been previous occasions when his private activities have caused concern and his judgement is now under question.”
So how does this gell with Goffs comments about this was the first time he was aware of complaints etc..
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:34 am
Can we please desist with the sexual innuendo?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:38 am
tankyman – stories have been swirling around for many months but Phil is technically correct about this being the first complaint to be laid. A small distinction and semantically correct but too cute for the general public and likely to backfire IMHO
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:39 am
This will damage Labour as the Garret fiasco damaged ACT, but despite this and being berift of any decent policies to lift NZ’s performance, they will continue tol poll at around 35% which roughly correlates to the percentage of people in this country hitched to welfare.
@Chuck, yes it was a disgraceful piece of journalism from Coddington. Just a rant from a bitter and twisted woman.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:41 am
It is a surprise that Phil Goff, Labour Party Leader, did not take the advice of Phil Goff, Leader of the Opposition.
Ah, sarcasm.
Goff now risks being marked down for double standards.
This is not news. News would be Goff being marked down for consistency. When’s the last time Phil Goff was ever noted for standing on principle?
I’ll be generous and say they are thinking with their hearts, not their heads.
Faint praise for the man aiming to be the next leader of New Zealand mishandling a minor issue of no consequence for the country.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:42 am
All very icky.
Boozing 32-year-old man with teenage boy, fresh out of school.
Did he drive home?
Complaint serious enough to warrant police investigation so that suggests some kind of coercion or force.
Annette King condoning such activities in her home and then requiring a search warrant.
Does Darren pay her board? Is it funded by us?
Phil a total hypocrite. And then ludicrously whining that it was a leak from the ‘Beehive’.
And why does Labour keep appointing gay men to education? Yes I know etc etc so don’t need any lectures but it is still a strange pattern.
Labour really is the gift that keeps on giving. Trev must be gnashing his teeth in his hospital bed. This could have been his finest hour.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:47 am
I really do wish right-wing commentators would stop employing phrases like this against the left-wing, together with “have you no shame”, “have you sense of decency”, “have you no honour”, and so forth, Oh – and “hypocrisy” too.
You must use language that left-wingers understand deep in their bones:
you will lose votes and the state power to control the masses
That would work, or (and this much less likely I admit):
Vote:in private you won’t be able to guilt people out about their choices that you don’t approve of.
March 24th, 2011 at 9:50 am
I agree with other posters, this will destroy Goff’s leadership. How could he not see this coming? Surely he must have known when he first found out that it would blow up. Why not just bite the bullet and bring it up then? Hard to believe he could be leader of the main opposition party and yet have such poor judgement.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:57 am
Labour “sources” aren’t sounding overly confident.
You’d have to wonder of Goff can survive it too. It could go two ways:
Vote:- the BBQ gang use it as an excuse for the final push
- Goff survives because no one else is prepared to take over the mess
March 24th, 2011 at 9:58 am
LGF – ha ha. That was the funniest comment so far on this thread.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 9:59 am
“You must use language that left-wingers understand deep in their bones: you will lose votes and the state power to control the masses”
We want to help them why Tom?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:06 am
@ the big cheese…snort!!
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:07 am
http://tvnz.co.nz/politics-news/criticism-goff-over-hughes-probe-unfair-ardern-4082471
wwwaaaaaaa it’s unfair – stop picking on Goff. – My little pony.
Yeah – he did nothing to make this worse. Its all Keys fault.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:08 am
Gooner was at Police College in 1930? Blimey!
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:08 am
Then well shot John. Right between the eyes.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:09 am
DPF,
While Nov 26 is a long way off, we’d all put money on National winning, and perhaps Labour getting a 2002 National Party style drumming at the polls. I’d be interested in your thoughts on comparing English’s leadership in 2002 vs Goff’s in 2011.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:09 am
Gooner was Shore Patrol for Noah James.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:13 am
For Gooner …. Were you really at the Police College in 1930 and if you were then, on behalf of us all, congrats on your discovery of the elixir of life and could we have some too please.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:15 am
The only thing better than Goff would be Cunliffe or little David Parker with his squeaky voice.
Vote:But they will wait till after Phil has lost the election so they can manfully ‘rebuild’ the party.
March 24th, 2011 at 10:24 am
Goff’s double standards here are one thing. Another that angers me is the media’s.
Leaving aside their (over)reaction to David Garrett’s dramas in September, his comments on voluntary sterilisation pale in comparison to what Hughes has allegedly done. And the radio/TV stations’ coverage of Hughes pale in comparison to the witch hunts and Nazi comparisons they did on Garrett.
And let’s not forget Petra this morning taking pity on Ardern and Bridges for the plight of their “friend”. What bullocks.
I guess asking for consistency from the media is asking for a lot.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:27 am
@ KiwiGreg @9:17am, yes you are entirely correct. I wonder though if the MP’s of today have bigger ego’s than those of yesteryear. Up until the early 1980′s most MP’s entered Parliament having already achieved some measure of success in an unrelated profession.
Here with Hughes we have someone who boasts of joining the Labour Party whilst still at primary school, being the first “youth” MP (sic) to make the transition to “the real thing” and whose only previous work experience before being elected an MP was working for his predecessor in her office. Hughes has never had a “real” job in his entire life. Someone like this can never truly claim to be a people’s representative, because he never has been one of the people.
In the old day’s an MP could make a cock-up and all his pals (Muldoon, Thompson, et al) would rally around and say the person was “unwell”. Ha, who remembers the time in the early 80′s when then Police Minister Keith Allen was secretly filmed staggering home from Parliament to his Hobson street flat! No sex involved, just good-old fashioned heavy social drinking! I think Farrer lives in that apartment block now !
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:30 am
Must be bad when Radio Left wing reports Labour Sources “Previous occasions”.
Mr Hughes, 32, went on leave from Parliament on Wednesday, after confirming a complaint had been made against him by a man, aged 18.
Sources within the Labour Party have told Radio New Zealand News there have been previous occasions when his private activities have caused concern and his judgement is now under question.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/71135/political-career-of-hughes-in-the-balance
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:33 am
Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t Worth go to Key and tell him that he was actually guilty, while Hughes went to Goff and claimed he was innocent?
[DPF: Not at all. Worth in fact was not charged with any offence and as I understand it, also maintained he did nothing wrong]
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:36 am
^^^Comment of the thread right there.
Labour and their hard core fan base don’t realise quite how out-of-fashion staunch, socialist unionism is, and they don’t want to know. More fool them…
And it’s half your age plus 7, Darren!
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:50 am
So let us compare the cases of Dr Worth and Mr Hughes.
Yes, let’s. What was Dr Worth sacked for, DPF? John Key never told us. Perhaps you could let us in on it?
[DPF: As you say Key never was explicit, but it seems clear it was for inappropriate behaviour. Worth was not charged but we do know he allegedly got his office to fly a woman down to Wellington, whom he had designs on. That is not illegal, but certainly sackable]
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:57 am
“Hughes went to Goff and claimed he was innocent?”
What Hughes said was that he did nothing wrong.
What is clear that Hughes had a lot to drink till very late at night with an adolescent and invited him back at that late hour?
Do you think what ever an MP does as long as they are not found guilt in a court of law they should keep there jobs?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:58 am
@Psycho Milt, could it be because it was the hourable thing to do? Could it have been an attempt to return to the days of real accountability?
Could it have been because he was an ass, in allowing himself to fall for a honey trap set up by a dishonourable crowd? Which proved a lack of judgement and non fitness to hold the office?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 10:58 am
Milt
Vote:What does it matter Milt it was quick and decisive that’s all that matters. We are waiting for Phil to act with the same authority.
March 24th, 2011 at 10:59 am
Psycho Milt: for embarrassing the National Party. For allowing himself to be in a position where he brought them into disrepute, irrespective of whether what he did was illegal.
How does that standard match up against Mr Hughes?
Ryan: I’m pretty sure that Worth didn’t tell Key that he was guilty. He said that he did have a relationship, he did send text messages. He said it wasn’t illegal, he wasn’t guilty. Key said “tough luck, you’re an idiot, you’re gone. Go on your own or I’ll sack you.”
Again, compare and contrast with Hughes. Definitely did “it”. Question whether it was illegal. But no question that it was poor judgment. What will Goff do?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 11:17 am
For Gooner …. Were you really at the Police College in 1930 and if you were then, on behalf of us all, congrats on your discovery of the elixir of life and could we have some too please.
Apparently Kris Faafoi graduated top of the class that year.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 11:19 am
I don’t think it is in National’s interest for Goof to lose the Labour leadership and I think Key and Co, appreciate that…His successor would enjoy a honeymoon taking him up to the election.
The media’s attitude of referring to an 18 year old man and trying to put the best slant on this sordid matter (Soper virtually fawned over Hughes) does them no credit…. The victim of this predation was a schoolboy 4 months ago. He was selected to represent his electorate among the elite leaders from other colleges. He probably idolised the then cabinet member who selected him. He was unlikely to be used to heavy drinking and his parents probably felt “if we can’t trust him with an ex Cabinet Minister who can we trust him with?”and that is a question other parents may well ask themselves next time Labour members select a child to take part in aYouth Parliament.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 11:30 am
We know that the media (and in particular the Parliamentary Press Gallery) read this blog so I have a question for you.
Who told Phil Goff that the “leak” came from the Beehive.?
You have been collectively accused so now would be a good time for you to obtain some much-needed cred and either fess up together with your sources or start interviewing each other aggressively as you would any poor sucker of the general public who might have said something controversial. Who leaked? Was it from the Beehive? If not where was it from?
Phil has laid down the gauntlet guys (yes you Barry Soper et al) have you got the balls to pick it up?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 11:31 am
RRM: “And it’s half your age plus 7, Darren!” – does that rule of thumb apply in same sex relationships?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Louche – awesome, I hope to drop it into casual conversation some time today.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 11:48 am
Hughes’ political career is doomed. Sordid sex allegations like this don’t go away irrespective of the outcome of any Police investigation. The NZ public has been given a small window into how Mr Hughes conducts his private affairs and will vote accordingly.
The Labour Party has been in tatters for some time and will continue to devolve until a broom sweeps clean. I haven’t supported the Labour Party or the Left in general for a number of years now but I am still frustrated to see what the party has become. My proud Union ancestors would be gutted.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 11:52 am
Of course it does not, yet no one wants to talk about the elephant in the room.
[DPF: deleted by DPF and 30 demerits. Your other comments deleted also. I won't have you conflate two seperate isssues here]
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 11:57 am
The Labour Party doesn’t have a lot of good raw material to work with (although you wouldn’t describe this one as particularly “raw meat”)
From Stuff
“Labour list MP Maryan Street said Hughes had her “unqualified support” but would not comment on what might happen after the investigation.”
Talk about having a bob each way – a bit like trying to describe her as a talented Labour Politician – a total contradiction of terms.
I’m just waiting now for Chris Carter to leap to Darren’s defence with a profound statement like “You are only picking on him because he is gay”
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 11:58 am
Well said Chuck, more sunlight required here.
Just who is getting the protection??
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 11:59 am
RightNow,
Perhaps as in Goff’s double standards on transparency on MPs and investigations…
Louche whips lead to backflips
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 12:02 pm
[DPF: As you say Key never was explicit, but it seems clear it was for inappropriate behaviour. Worth was not charged but we do know he allegedly got his office to fly a woman down to Wellington, whom he had designs on. That is not illegal, but certainly sackable]
So, a Minister of the Crown was sacked for reasons that were never explained, but that apparently consist of some undefined “inappropriate behaviour.” This is supposedly excellent leadership.
I expect that if Goff were to dismiss Hughes as education spokesman (hard to see how he’s going to avoid it), Kiwiblog’s comments threads will be full of the usual imbecilic mouth-frothers declaring that Goff must reveal the facts of the matter – a refusal to do so from Goff would, in light of the above, constitute excellent leadership?
Psycho Milt: for embarrassing the National Party. For allowing himself to be in a position where he brought them into disrepute, irrespective of whether what he did was illegal.
How does that standard match up against Mr Hughes?
Oh, I expect that Hughes will find himself in much the same boat as Worth or Garrett – voter repellant that the Party wants off its list asap. Honour and repute has little to do with it. Anyway – what exactly did Worth do that embarrassed the National Party and brought it into disrepute? Why don’t you tell us all exactly what it was? If you can’t point to anything he did, why are you maligning his character?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
Blokes being sleazy with adult women. Not good but we’ve all had to deal with that. C’est la vie.
Vote:Blokes being sleazy with teenage boys. A step too far for most Kiwis especially if you are in a public position, spokesperson on education and visiting schools, and Senior Whip responsible for the conduct of your fellow MPs.
March 24th, 2011 at 12:16 pm
Gauntlet? Wouldn’t deign to touch it with forceps.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
Shane Jones, back in the game.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
I just heard Willie Jackson mention on air that there is a Stuff poll on whether Hughes will survive.
Vote:Lets see if we can get the nos 90%.
March 24th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
FFS Milt, you’re losing your grip on this one. Key can do what he chooses. His cabinet is his pick – his chosen team. If he isn’t satisfied with them for whatever reason then he can get rid of them. Is it just possible that Key doesn’t believe that his cabinet members (sorry) shouldn’t be trying to take advantage of their positions to get a root? Isn’t that enough? It doesn’t matter whether anyone disagrees with; its his prerogative and he wears the consequences of getting the decision wrong.
That differs from your sad-arsed bloody mob who require a summit meeting and are so paranoid at the prospect of giving some arse the flick whether that be Peters or Field, that they will swallow umpteen gallons of public shit before doing what is actually in the party’s interests. In this case, someone in a senior role and with significant responsibilities including education and party discipline, has allegedly taken an 18 yo home after a big night on the piss following an event at which he might readily be perceived as a senior party representative. In the circs, given what happened with Worth, Key would have dumped Hughes straight away as he would be entitled to do if Hughes was in his cabinet.
And yes it is good leadership to effectively say I will not tolerate this from my people because it reflects badly on what we are trying to achieve and will scare the natives. And no I don’t need to know all the gory details about Hughes – that’s for the cops and possibly then for the courts.
Its too late for Gaffe now though; he’s fucked it up yet again. He was so busy looking over his shoulder that his silly new walk propelled him straight into a king-sized turd.
It is quite easy to see the contrast in fundamental philosophy here; one bred in the private sector where there is accountability and responsibility and your job is on the line, and the other where dynamite is required to dislodge a piss poor performer.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
Okay, thanks. I can see the double standard, then.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
Interesting how Hughes got into Parliament in 2008 – through the back door.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 2:01 pm
Breaking news banners on both Stuff and NZ Herald: Embattled Labour MP Darren Hughes stands down from his portfolios … More soon
Watch this space…
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
No, no, I get it. It’s just that it’s not funny.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
From Stuff:
Too little, too late Mr Goff
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
As an Otaki voter, I can confidently say that regardless of the outcome of the investigation, even IF hughes remains on the list, He does not have a shit show of ever winning Otaki again. Good Times.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 2:22 pm
Note the key bit in that press release were made public – so no issue if no one knows then Mr Goff? How does that go with the demand to front foot?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 2:33 pm
@ GPT1 – that’s why Goff and co were trying to shut it down. He now admits that he was wrong to lambast Key for delaying over Worth which is very charitable of him, given the circumstances!
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 3:19 pm
Yes, an interesting mea culpa but it was a stretch at the time – something that was pointed out by a number of pundits. I think Labour is really struggling with opposition – they haven’t grasped that just because National did it does not necessarily make it wrong or a story.
Hell National got nowhere with Clark in the first three years and given her caustic tongue had better ammunition than anything they’ve had on Key.
And for that matter wasn’t it just yesterday that Goff was saying he would hold the same standards he wanted to Key? He already hadn’t at that point. What’s changed?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
And yes it is good leadership to effectively say I will not tolerate this from my people because it reflects badly on what we are trying to achieve and will scare the natives.
Not tolerate what from his people?
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 4:17 pm
tankyman – the Police will get a warrant anyway, they would not wish to be turned away at the door and give the people on the premises time to destroy or remove potential evidence. Annette was lucky she did not have her front door smashed in (it might have been anyway).
Assuming the victim was aligned to Labour he must have been extremely upset to go to the cops (though mum probably persuaded him to) knowing that it could influence an election. He needs to learn to keep better company – like join the Young Nats.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
Don’t see many journos digging 2 years back in Hansard to tease out conflicting statements made by Key. National are in the treasury seats at the moment – so you’d think their most pressing need would be to hold our law-makers’ to account? Maybe i’m just to0 much in to the idea of democracy though …
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 5:21 pm
Milt, in Worth’s case, using his position as leverage for his interest in horizontal pole vaulting.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:44 pm
Maybe i’m just to0 much in to the idea of democracy though …
So, ‘nothing to see here move along’? Your attempt at diversion is quite frankly pathetic.
Vote:March 24th, 2011 at 8:55 pm
Milt – I think it’s pretty clear what Worth did. Certainly I never had any doubt:
– engaged in extra marital relations with a woman
– inappropriately propositioned her when it was unwelcome
– as noted above, had his office fly her down at least partly to give him a chance
This was all very public at the time – don’t you remember Goff releasing most of this to the media?
Are you completely unaware of this stuff, or are you saying that this stuff didn’t justify his sacking, and that therefore there must have been something else? Genuine question – this stuff seems enough to me to sack someone for, but I’m assuming you already know about it since it was all over the media, so there’s something I’m missing?
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