Luke I am not your father
May 8th, 2011 at 11:00 am by David FarrarThe SST reports:
ACT PARTY leader Don Brash’s coup has hit problems with a smear campaign that party insiders blame on supporters of the man he replaced, Rodney Hide.
The campaign has seen widespread rumours of affairs and even a “love child”. Last night Brash dismissed the accusations as appalling, while commentators labelled them a “new low” on the Kiwi political landscape.
I was interviewed for this story. [DPF: have removed the sentence which was here so it doesn't identify anyone]
I’m not sure if the rumours are being pushed by any person or faction maliciously, or whether it is just an old joke that has turned into more wide-spread gossip. Most gossip spreads without malicious intent.
The man named as Brash’s son – who the Star-Times will not name – said the rumours were “fanciful”. He said he was aware of the rumours being spread about him by Hide supporters, and that the “mud-slinging represented a new low in New Zealand politics”.
Hide said he was not aware of any rumours, let alone being behind any smear campaign.
Last night Brash said he was staggered by the rumours, especially given that when he first met the family, the man at the centre of the allegations was already two-and-a-half or three.
“I’m not prepared to discuss this kind of issue, it’s just not appropriate at all. All I can say is categorically, [name withheld] is not my son.”
Heh that sounds so much like a Star Wars quote.
Right-wing commentator David Farrar said the country was headed for a more polarising debate than the bland campaign between Phil Goff and John Key that most commentators were tipping at the start of the year – and it was not just Act supporters shaking things up. Brash’s positioning on government spending and welfare could see some of National’s “soft” vote panic, and switch back to Labour, putting National under pressure.
He said no amount of rumours would shake Brash’s electoral appeal. “He could have half-a-dozen love children and it still wouldn’t change anything.”
Heh I must remember to turn down the hyperbole when being interviewed. The point I was making is that Brash attracts support for his policies on government spending and one law for all, not for being a family values crusader.
Talking of Don, he was on TV this morning with Hone Harawira again – on Marae. It was I think a better debate than the one on Close Up, and I think both of them benefit from going into battle against the other – they are almost in a symbiotic relationship. Don is the anti-Hone and Hone the anti-Don.
May 8th, 2011 at 11:12 am
Less “Star Wars” – more “Billy Jean”.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 11:17 am
Was it majic bullet then?
Vote:The memory fades as you get older.
May 8th, 2011 at 11:35 am
i couldn’t give a shit about the so called love child thing. It sounds like it is bullocks anyway so move along folks, we are in a financial death spiral and I’m more interested in what’s in his main head, not what “came” out of the other.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 11:38 am
Don is the anti – Hone
Hone is the anti – Don.
There is a remarkable balance here. With two largely irrelevant people filling our political screens this past fortnight.
Both funny and odd, and both a little disturbing.
Or ……. is this emergence the beginnings of the beginnings of a disquiet amongst New Zealanders. Leading to a huge political turnover some 20 years from now. Arab spring …. ? Are we heading for the Kiwi spring in 2030.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 11:47 am
KH,
Are you trying to say the debate between Phil Goff and John Key is more relevant to New Zealands future than what Don Brash has to offer?
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Magic’s mum is not my lover, she’s just a girl who claims that I am the one, but the loon is not my son.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Re the Marae interview, I thought Huata’s comments were largely superfluous – talking about how she preferred the Close Up interview because it had more “energy”; what she meant of course was that there was more drama, which made it more entertaining. Obviously she prefers the Paul Holmes school of journalism.
Hooton came across reasonably well so it was a good effort for him for a change, no silly rhetoric like he made a few weeks ago on a Radio NZ panel discussion.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 12:19 pm
Don benefits from every debate with Hone, not because both are at opposite extremes, but because voters can contrast Don’s inclusive common sense with Hone’s racist nonsense.
As for the failed Brash smears, the Team Toxic era in ACT is about to end. That other Mr H’s line, “If you’re going to tell a lie, tell a big one” has served them well for years. But truth always triumphs over lies in the end.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
Hone is a stupid oaf with big opinions and little substance and more than a hint of racism. Is that really who Don wants to be associated with even in the anti role? Doesn’t it risk sidelining the key issue of economic growth and worse, leaving Brash looking like just another actor in the Hone ego show?
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 12:24 pm
I would like to know the name of the man who is making this baseless accusation against supporters of Rodney. I think Don was very foolish and ill advised to take over ACT the way he did. I think the results on ipredict for ACT’s share for the vote show this. It has improved a little but at what cost. If Don had of joined ACT he would have encouraged other quality candidates and I am sure ACT’s rating would be much higher. Having said that I will be voting ACT and renew my membership. ACT got in the position it has by not listening to its members in candidate selection. I cannot see for the life of me why Coddington was ever selected. She is calling Don’s reasoned position on the Maori seats Redneck in the Herald today.
I would like Hooton or this man to show one shred of evidence that what seems to be a baseless rumour came from Rodney’s supporters. It no doubt came from the left who hoped to discredit Rodney indirectly.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 12:29 pm
John, are you trying to imply this smear came from any who supported Rodney and disapprove of the undemocratic way Don came to power. If so, show us some evidence.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
ive always thought simon dallow looked a little bit like a slice off the old corned beef ?
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 12:35 pm
why was it undemocratic? the don isnt an MP.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 12:57 pm
Chuck, with ACT the way it was, Don could not have come to power any other way. To call that way undemocratic is nonsense. He won with the approval of caucus and the board, and Rodney said on TV that he believes Don to be the best person to lead the party.
It is no secret within the party where all the attempted smears currently doing the rounds emanate from. In the past, I too have been taken in by plausible-sounding rumours from the same source. I have even been moved to defend their validity and criticise those who I now realise were blameless.
But now I and others can see the pattern very clearly. It’s a great shame.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 1:09 pm
I wouldn’t respect Brash any less if it emerged that he was a bit of a shagger.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 1:14 pm
It should have gone to a vote of the membership. A caucus vote is fair enough in a large party. It does not work in a party with a handful of MPs. If the board in 2005 had of listened to the membership Muriel would have remained deputy and ACT would have not been in trouble. As I said I am not happy with the way the leadership change happened. I will still vote ACT but I will unlikely be volunteering to donate my time.
As things stand the party is in damage control. Therefore communication is poor. I understand ACT’s policy was for a binding referendum on the Maori seats. I hope that is still the case. If Don can find time it would nice if he could address the question someone else asked on his facebook wall.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 1:35 pm
In the past the spreading of rumours against ACT MPs came from an anti-Rodney faction. I will communicate with you off the blog. I would be very interested in which Rodney supporter you think spread this rumour. I hope you would accept Rodney’s word that he would not approve of such action.
I have explained my reasons in a later post. Because I disagree with you and Don does not make my view nonsense.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 1:54 pm
He said no amount of rumours would shake Brash’s electoral appeal. “He could have half-a-dozen love children and it still wouldn’t change anything.”
Supposed right-wing commentator David ‘Clusterfuck’ Farrar has been the worst commentator on anything related to ACT’s leadership recently, constantly subtly making any sort of issue surrounding Don Brash allude to negativity. One can’t help but feel like he has little conviction for his classical liberal economic views and views Brash with the same sneer as a former 20% National party leader.
[DPF: 20 demerits. Plus you are deluded. My NZ Herald column was pretty damn positive for Don, and in the above I was saying that even if things were untidy on the fidelity front, it wouldn't damage him. This may be hard for you to accept but when Don does something I approve of I ping him for it, and when he does something I approve of, I say so. I'm not really into blind loyalty]
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 1:55 pm
Don’s INCLUSIVE common sense ..Was that a joke? In Europe, he would probably be charged with inciting racial hatred.
Vote:Few would think that a man who has lots of affairs and divorces is displaying common sense , let alone economic sense.
May 8th, 2011 at 2:06 pm
Well I see Trev the Duck is taking some responsibility for spreading the rumour. Over at whale co.
Vote:Says he has been doing some fat checking. Yeh right.
These Labour arsewipes really are crawling around in the c3ess[it of their lives.
May 8th, 2011 at 2:11 pm
Now we can all like this. This weeks top quote.
Brash – the Berlusconi of NZ! Who’d a thought it?
Party vote ACT
Hattip
Sinner Says:
How would such a rumor hurt Brash – let’s face it, given his numerous affairs it would be surprising if he had only one “love child”. More to the point, given his public persona, I’d expect this would only humanise him: I mean, one thing we can be sure of, that “love child” will actually be loved: never on the DPB, never at a state school, never in state healthcare – because Brash would actually loves his child
Unlike leftist liberal scum.
8)
Vote:http://fairfactsmedia.com/?p=7446
May 8th, 2011 at 2:44 pm
@ John:
Well I am “within the party” and it is a great secret to me. I have my theories but don’t go airing them in public, which far too many supporters do, to the great detriment of the party.
You do yourself no service with this innuendo John.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 2:46 pm
Joana….tell me the difference between what Brash is saying and the “I have a dream” speech of Martian Luther King and the views of Nelson Mandela.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 2:54 pm
Best post on this comes surprisingly from someone called Eddie over @ The Standard.
http://thestandard.org.nz/dog-eat-dog-on-the-extreme-right/
Money quote:
So before Brash rolled Hide, Matthew Hooton was already softening up this smear. Amazing that he could read Hide’s mind or predict his bahaviour.
John Ansell, if you are reading this, does this make things clearer?
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Skin colour silly fellow.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
It’s not Star Wars, it’s Star Trek (the reboot) when old Spock says to young Spock, “I am not our father”.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 3:24 pm
Brash has not handled tins sort of stuff well in the past. He does have a fairly messy personal life which keeps pipping up. He does not have the skills of bill Clinton to hose this down.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 3:54 pm
Isn’t it time the board sacked the “Editor” of the Sunday Star Times?
This isn’t news. Even if the person in question was his child it isn’t news. The only it might, marginally, ever, possibly be news is if the person was his son and he was offering no parental support given Act’s tough “law ‘n’ order” stance. Maybe. Conceivably.
First of all it was “I don’t even read the festering pile of freshly steaming turd that is Micael Lhaws’ column each week, let alone edit it”. And now he’s said to some reporter, “Yes, go spend our proprietors’ increasingly hard-won cash on chasing this as a legitimate piece of news”.
Never has such lack of judgment been displayed so consistently by the editor of a national title. And that’s saying something.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 4:36 pm
Do they have an editor any more or even a person worthy of such a name.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Nick
Posted this this morning on the legal fees post.
Viking2 (4,001) Says:
May 8th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Well I see someone?? is trying to run the Brash luv child story. Act and Hide are being blamed by Hooton.
Now I wonder if we should ask Hooton about a certain set of emails that surfaced a wee while back.
I have no idea but Hooton seems to me to have a certain destructive political nature. Everyone else has been blamed one way or another.
Often criminals will return to the scene of a crime.
Now who would have thought eh?
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 4:50 pm
“Don’s INCLUSIVE common sense ..Was that a joke? In Europe, he would probably be charged with inciting racial hatred.”
Which tells you more about Europe than it does about Brash.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 4:57 pm
I’m intrigued by all the affairs this 70 year old is supposed to have had recently.
If true, he must have some spark of life in him and not be as over-the-hill as is claimed by some commentators.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 5:10 pm
From the blog post:
and from the article:
Now, I may be putting two and two together wrongly. But… Well, compare the photos on this page: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10723784
What we need is for Brash to say: “Err, I have a Singaporean son, you know.”
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Talking of Don, he was on TV this morning with Hone Harawira again – on Marae. It was I think a better debate than the one on Close Up, and I think both of them benefit from going into battle against the other – they are almost in a symbiotic relationship. Don is the anti-Hone and Hone the anti-Don.
Wow, what the fuck was up with Donna Awatere-Huata on that interview… I’d have thought she’d take huge offence at the fact that Hone said Maori who stand for parties without being represented in a Maori seat will only be clones of the Pakeha:
http://tvnz.co.nz/marae-investigates/s2011-e25-video-4159084
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 5:19 pm
Dyannt @ 4.57pm
I was thinking along the same lines. Keeping in mind the old adage that any publicity is good publicity especially if it is free then Don has got it made. Given that he only usurped the leadership of ACT a couple of weeks ago what testaments to his libido are yet to be disclosed. Seven months of disclosures of his love children & affairs await us.
By October I’ll wager there will be crowds of middle aged & elderly men sitting at his feet at the steps of Parliament listening to his messages. No doubt they will be touching his cloak, praying to the gods of Viagra & trying to figure out how he can still keep it up at 71.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 5:28 pm
Mallard is posting photos on Redablurt .. he is a right wing plant
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 5:57 pm
Talking of Don, he was on TV this morning with Hone Harawira again – on Marae. It was I think a better debate than the one on Close Up
Following The Nation and Q+A Marae Investigates was the best of the morning – helped a lot by a very competent person running the debate – Jodi Ihaka. She controlled and probed, excellent job, I wish more TV journos could operate to this standard.
Following on from Close Up Harawira was more of the same, he was sometimes eloquent, sometimes seemed disinterested, but the most notable Thimbu emerging from his exposure is that while he obviously sees plenty of problems he hasn’t yet offered any sort of solutions. We’ll see if he is all grizzle and no graft.
Brash was better than last time, less defensive body language and he was better able to explain some of his opinions and policy ideas. And he also admitted he wasn’t up with the play on one question so didn’t fudge it, he just said he couldn’t answer it. I still doubt Act will get a large party vote but he should help the campaign explore some decent substance rather than letting National and Labour play silly presidential buggers.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Marae can be excellent viewing at times…especially when they speak in English, hah.
C’mon David, let the nuts swell a bit, do a Whale & tell us who it is…lol
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 7:04 pm
He does not have the skills of bill Clinton to hose this down.
Oh, that is comedy gold right there. We all know what Bill Clinton did with his hose
I hope I get as much action as the Don when I reach my eighth decade
As for Rodney Hide, he just needs to be purged. He and his supporters have spent the last twelve years destabilising the ACT Party, and now he has been deposed as Leader he wants to keep right on going. It has to stop somewhere. ACT don’t have a factional problem, they have a Rodney Hide problem. Get rid of him.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 7:43 pm
No doubt they will be touching his cloak, praying to the gods of Viagra & trying to figure out how he can still keep it up at 71.
Free viagra for the over 65′s. Gold card accepted.
Vote:May 8th, 2011 at 8:01 pm
Bloody hell are Hone and Don getting a bit too comfortable together ?
Vote:he mind boggles, the Mana Act party.
May 8th, 2011 at 11:46 pm
Haha, Hone is the black smoke on LOST and Don is Jacob.
Just watched the entire six seasons, liked it, though the ending was crap.
First season was O for awesome.
Vote:May 9th, 2011 at 7:15 am
Hooton is being a complete twat. There is no evidence that this is coming from the supposed “Hide” faction. Hide and Brash are longtime friends and while Rodney would have every right to want to make life difficult for Don, he would not go about it this way. Funny that Trev Mallard has been on this nonstop for days – I’d be looking at him first.
Hooton and Team Brash/National should have done their research first before taking over ACT and Brash should have kept it in his pants.
Vote: