Chauvel uses the Chris Carter defence
October 11th, 2011 at 8:45 am by David FarrarKate Chapman writes in the Dom Post:
LABOUR MP Charles Chauvel has accused National affiliates of hacking his email and trying to paint him as a gay “rich prick” after a Right-wing blog claimed that he asked fellow lawyers to put their names to a self-congratulatory letter he penned.
Don’t you love it how Chauvel tries to turn this into an issue where he is the poor oppressed person. I have never ever made an issue of his sexuality. In fact as most people know I have always championed civil unions, gay marriage, gay adoption and in fact have often handed out demerits to commenters who bring an MPs sexuality into the debate.
But nevertheless Chauvel tries what is known as the Chris Carter defence – they are only criticising me because I am gay.
Yesterday, Mr Chauvel refused to say whether he wrote the letter, saying he did not comment on the content of “stolen correspondence”.
It’s not stolen. I made inquiries when it was forwarded onto me, and am satisfied that it was voluntarily passed on.
He said he had no idea how Farrar got hold of the email but said it was either taken electronically or obtained through a Wellington consultancy firm that was working with the lawyers.
This is Chauvel finding excuses to avoid admitting that he sits at his taxpayer funded desk authoring letters promoting himself, and attacking journalists who do not duly recognise his brilliance.
Mr Chauvel believed Farrar had a copy of polls showing him ahead in the Ohariu electorate and the blog post was part of a smear campaign and dirty politics.
“This is what they have to resort to, try to paint me as a rich prick, or gay, or somehow devious, or all three and try to blacken my character and make me less attractive for election.”
Now this is a wonderful attempt here by Chauvel to muddy the waters by listing two things it is wrong to attack him over, and one where it is legitimate.
In my series of three posts I have not painted Chauvel as gay or a rich prick. But yes absolutely I have tried to paint him as devious – because he is!!! What else can you call his self-authored congratulatory letter to the editor?
The sad thing about Chauvel’s use of the Chris Carter defence, is it actually increases hostility against gay politicians. Rather than just admit he got caught being a self-promoter he tries to turn himself into the victim of some homophobic campaign.
Related posts:
- 10 thoughts on the Chris Carter affair
- Chauvel resigns from Parliament
- Chris Carter valedictory
- More on Chris Carter
October 11th, 2011 at 8:51 am
Charles: nobody cares that you’re gay. Nobody’s raised it except you. Does anybody seriously think DPF would not have published the very same material had it been concerned with Mallard or Parker or King?
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 8:55 am
‘It wasn’t me’ [BUT] “it was either taken electronically or obtained through a Wellington consultancy firm that was working with the lawyers”.
Reason #4837 for getting rid of MMP – Charles Chauvel.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 8:57 am
Frankly, if I’d been been on the distribution list for that thing, I’d have flicked it on to everyone I know (including DPF) with much added mockery. Not because I’m homophobic or up for a class war (a lawyer/political mediocrity is nothing to envy), but because I’m a mean bitch who does not suffer fools and likes to see fools suffer.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 8:58 am
Agreed Ben; and Charles is quite right when he describes himself as “somehow devious”, given the attempts that he has gone to in order to have other people talk him up.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 8:59 am
Well….he is a gay rich prick, but to make it worse, he looks like a smarmy used car salesman.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 8:59 am
Can’t be that rich.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:00 am
The day that someone trots out tactics used by the serial trougher, you just know they have no credible defence for their actions.
Chauvel has been caught with his pants down and this attempt to portray himself as ‘an innocent party’ who has had his ‘personal correspondence stolen’, is truly pathetic.
Now that he has embarked on this line, (the ‘Chris Carter Defence’) he can only expect the derision he deserves.
But I suppose that has to promote himself – no-one else has volunteered.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:00 am
Unless we’re using Labour definitions in which case just drawing an MP’s salary is enough I guess.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:04 am
The delicate Chauvel should be consist with the Chrissie Carter approach and ask comrade Mom Clark for a job in Kabul.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:05 am
@ Brian – what we need now is the “Would you by a used car from this man?” billboards…
Pity I don’t have Photoshop
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:07 am
> I…have often handed out demerits to commenters who bring an MPs sexuality into the debate.
Which kind of proves Charles’ point, that he has been attakced over his sexuality.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:07 am
I guess Charles thinks National/Dunne must be quite worried about how well he is doing in Ohariu.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:10 am
m@tt, does it not worry you what Chauvel has tried to do and has done here?
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Chavel is digging deep into Labour’s (and the left in general) grubby tactics book: attack as the best form of defence, lies, homophobic vilification and of course denial.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:22 am
Charles – once again you are putting your foot in your mouth when putting words into others’ mouths.
A right wing blog isn’t going to blacken anyone’s name by calling them a rich prick.
Unlike the Labour Party, the right don’t automatically assume that someone being rich is a bad thing.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:28 am
Well what do you expect DPF?
Vote:Charles belongs to several “affirmative action”, “do not critisise” or “do not tell the truth about” groups.
He is beyond criticism.
October 11th, 2011 at 9:34 am
I disagree. It increases hostility against gay males in general because it enforces the self obsessed screaming queen stereotype.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:39 am
Pete
Vote:M@tt does not give a toss what Charlie is trying to do. M@tt is motivated by blind prejudice. He has never contributed a constructive comment on this blog. Most of his posts are brief, thoughtless and sarcastic remarks designed to denigrate the centre/right. He will neither justified nor to rate the left’s actions because, as far as he is concerned, the ends justify the means, including deceit such as that displayed by Charlie. M@tt is the arch typical troll and I suspect that David only tolerates him because he is a constant reminder of the nasty days of ad hom politics that the voting public rejected three years ago. M@tt and Ross both drink from the same poisoned chalice.
October 11th, 2011 at 9:43 am
Charles has been even busier than what has surfaced, and to Peter Dunne’s credit he has not gone public with the tactics the little toad has been using. With common sense being so much less exciting than muddle-headed nonsense I guess he figures he has to use what little exposure he gets more wisely than on little Mr Chauvel.
Vote:As I said of the Labour Party play book yesterday: too much negative female energy; gossip, hearsay, clannishness, passive agression, short-sighted bitchiness.
When they finally understand it will be great to see their transformation into a credible opposition with some vision. They were warm with John Tamihere, and look what happened to him.
October 11th, 2011 at 9:45 am
agree with others. this guy using the gay card doesnt help gay peeps one bit.
i had no idea he was gay until now. but reading the posts about him over the last couple of days, i had already decided he was an asshole.
hello, i dont care if he dresses up like buffalo bill and dances in the mirror in his spare time.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:47 am
I take my last comment back. This should be about Chauvel’s behaviour with regards to the issues David has raised, and not my views concerning sexuality issues. Apologies to David for going off the thread topic.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 9:58 am
Well DPF it looks like Charlie The Kid has called you out.
We’re all lined up on the sdieboards awaitn for a gun fight. Let the gun play ensue.
Popcorn anyone?
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 10:13 am
Whats wrong with being a rich prick. I think all rich pricks enjoy it and enjoy wearing that badge. I certainly do.
Its clear Charlie has seen some scary polls and has looked up the Liarbour book of dirty tricks to try and even the game but has shot both feet with both barrels.
Also part three from DPF to come today.
More popcorn please
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 10:20 am
So he puts being rich and being gay on the same level as being devious?
I won’t forget his spiteful, self-aggrandising reply to the Attorney-General’s generous and dignified speech – a Minister, by the way, Trevor Mallard constantly derides for being gay without a squeak from Charles, who sits smirking like a fat frog.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 10:23 am
Charles – It’s only devious if you get away with it. When you get busted it’s incompetance.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 10:38 am
Hey Charles, you were never getting my vote but this sort of pathetic behavior just means I’ll be going out of my way to ensure that everyone I know in our electorate is aware this crap.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 10:46 am
I pride myself on being devious. But Chauvel is giving deviousness a bad name. It will be a sad day when devious people have to hide their deviousness so that they’re not associated with Chauvel.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 10:58 am
It has long been known that homosexuality is considered a taonga within the Labour Party – is Chauvel telling us that deviousness and faux-victim-syndrome are now also given the same status?
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 11:00 am
Blue Coast – I agree.
When Chauvel realised that National voters in Ohariu would be voting Dunne, he would have lost the plot and thrown a tanty. Even if only a fraction of 2008 Shanks voters tick Dunne, he will fly in with an increased majority. This must wind up Chauvel something wicked. Thus the dirty tricks, hoarding vandalism and vile comments on Red Alert.
He is pulling porkies telling the Dompost he is ahead in the polls. Labour cannot afford polls and even if they could they would reveal what I and every other resident of the Northern suburbs know – Chauvel hasn’t got a snowballs chance.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 11:06 am
Quite so BeaB; Charles was quick to take offence at Tau Henare’s “Driving Miss Daisy” quip last week, but his silence over Mallard and Cosgrove’s “Tinkerbell” interjections is deafening.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 11:10 am
How do you ‘paint someone as gay’ when they are gay? is that like painting me as ginger when i have red hair?
i live in ohariu and peter dunnes hoardings are always the ones damaged,more so than the national ones. the labour ones are surprisingly always pristine and undamaged…
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 11:16 am
This is really disapointing. I drove past a Chauvel poster the other day and thought he was actually a pretty good talent for Labour. Now he behaves like this, throwing out petty smears to deflect from his own silly email.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 11:20 am
“Is it b’cos I is black?” (The Ali G version, not the Lewis Hamilton version
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 11:24 am
Grendel says “i live in ohariu and peter dunnes hoardings are always the ones damaged,more so than the national ones. the labour ones are surprisingly always pristine and undamaged…”
+1.
There are 3 hoarding sites on my commute and there is an obvious campaign to trash Dunnes. Labours remain untouched.
I am not saying Chauvel is organising it or condoning this vandalism, but it is not a good look.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 11:36 am
You use a lilac wash and highlight with lavender Grendel?
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 11:53 am
He is quite wrong to play the “it is because I is gay – innit?” card. Dick.
You can see why he would think Kiwiblog is a National Party cheerleading site though…
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 12:04 pm
Well you’re here RRM.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 12:23 pm
And what have we learned from this, boys and girls? If you’re a politician trying to get an astroturf blitz off the ground make sure you’re recruiting folks who won’t leak.
Tomorrow, I’ll show you how to make a fast-breeder reactor from common household bits and bobs.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
The Member Chavuel displays the ethics and morals of alas a number of Members of the House.
Lets face on all sides a number of them are a rumpty crew. They show serious lack of understanding of the levels of ethics and morals of the vast majority of the citizens.
Its like a crap shoot in a water barrel. You dont have to wait long until another bus with an immoral and unethical MO comes along.
Time the lot of them cleaned up their act. If they are serious about representing the citizens then they have to set the standard.
Its called moral and ethical leadership. It aint rocket science.
So either piss or get the pot and let something else do the job
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
He tells kids to shut up on airplanes, and pretends to have a constituency backing his every move. Mr Chauvel – YOU SHUT UP!
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 2:02 pm
Chucky – “Stop digging when you are in the shit ” – any Law101 student would have been told that in Lecture 1. Perhaps you were not listening, as you already knew best. Silly boy.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
Sad thing is, to some extent it’ll probably work given how many people will just assume that DPF said what Charles says he did.
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Interesting that the reporter didn’t see fit to point out that Chauvel wasn’t being straight with his claims about how DPF was presenting him.
Pun sort of intended
Vote:October 11th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
its not easy being the only gay in the village
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