Obviously not a compassionate conservative
December 11th, 2011 at 9:58 am by David FarrarDave at Big News blogs:
Kevin Campbell is the campaign manager for the Conservative Party. Prior to the election he was very happy in using Facebook to promote the party and most comments were of a political nature. But after the election he appears to have closed ranks after something he posted that many found offensive. Incidentally I was told by a Conservative Party candidate that they were not to use social media during the campaign.
Campbell questioned whether new Green MP Mojo Mathers, who is the world’s fifth profoundly deaf MP, should even be an MP as she didn’t have all her “faculties” – and only people who have all their faculties should be MPs. In other words, because she is deaf, she is unsuitable as an MP. Mathers became an MP after special votes were counted and I think she is perfectly suitable to be an effective MP.
I don’t support her politics, but I certainly also think Mathers is perfectly suitable to be an effective MP. We should celebrate people who overcome adversity and disability, not denigrate them.
Incidentally one of my favourite actresses is Marlee Matlin who played pollster Joey Lucas on West Wing. She’s currently on the Celebrity Apprentice and doing well.
As for Mr Campbell, I presume it is the same Mr Campbell who used to refer to the Prime Minister as “John the Jew”. Need more be said.
Related posts:
- The Conservative Party
- Green Party list
- The Conservative Democratic Unionist Party of the Dominion of New Zealand
- Who pays
December 11th, 2011 at 10:22 am
Given that there are so many mentally deficient MPs, I can’t see any problem with a hearing deficient one.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 10:41 am
If it means a sign language person has to be employed to translate at State Expense then it is as extravagant and wasteful as the speaking in Maori farce. The extra expense should fall on the candidate and her party. If her contribution is to sit quietly at the back of the house and be neither noticed nor heard then she will be making a more valuable contribution than most of the others.
[DPF: Oh don't be ridiculous. Speaking in Maori is a choice some MPs make. Mathers did not choose to be deaf.
I guess you think people in wheelchairs should pay for elevators]
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 10:44 am
I wonder if she is any good at rapping?
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 10:48 am
David Farrar says:- “Obviously not a compassionate conservative”
Not particularly smart or politically astute either. Most public intolerants have the sense to hide or veil their prejudices, but presumably Campbell is from the Herman Cain campaign manager’s school:
I’d have thought deaf people comprise more than 1% of the population, so presumably Mojo (!) Mathers is representative of that sector of the population.
Could present logistical problems though having a deaf MP. Will we require a specially employed signer to perform during parliamentry sessions at great proportional expense, solely for the benefit of one person?
[DPF: It is not for the benefit of one person, but to allow her to do the job she has been elected to.
But as it happens she has said she will not generally need a signer, as she will use a screen at her desk which allows her to lip read the speaker]
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 10:59 am
DPF beat me to it. She will have a screen at her chair in parliament to enable her to both lip read the speaker and read what is said.
She was starved of oxygen at birth, hence her deafness. So she has had to live with this since then. If she got this far in life with being profoundly deaf, then parliament won’t be a problem.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 11:01 am
Sign language is an offical language in NZ. If she needs a signer she should get one. The presence of a signer at all press conferences etc following the earthquake was well received and to be applauded. To suggest that an MP be denied access to an official language is stoneage thinking
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 11:01 am
Watch out for the lip reading No secrets if she can see you talk
Ever been to a deaf party Its a Bit alien for us with hearing to c partying hard in total silence
She will need more than one translator to attend Parliament So extra costs will be over 100,000 dollars Not a cheap MP to have
Christians debatably do not have all their “faculties” they are missing some “reality” so should we exclude them from parliament
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 11:12 am
It looks like Colin Craig needs to do some “internal discipline” and pull Campbell into line and fast. I had a feeling something like this was inevitable…. I like Colin Craig, but have some reservations about some of the other people in the Conservative Party. I also agree with DPF, deafness should not be a barrier to entering Parliament. After all deaf people are taxpayers, and therefore should have representation
Regards
Vote:Peter J
Webmaster for http://www.sensiblesentencing.org.nz
December 11th, 2011 at 11:13 am
Well said Backster.
The cost for the extra services this Green parasite will need should come out of her own pocket or via Green party funds.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 11:27 am
I have a friend who is seriously deaf (and a journalist and actively involved in community issues etc) and while she is please for Rachel’s success she wonders if anyone can survive and be effective in the Parliamentary hot-house etc.
Vote:My friend knows her limitations but is doing well.
I do recommend “Deaf Sentence” by Douglas Adams. Wonderfully funny and insightful at the same time. It’s what the future has in place for most of us so it’s worth being prepared.
December 11th, 2011 at 11:36 am
I wish that all MPs are deaf like Mrs Mathers. The main reason is because they’ll all become very effective in doing just nothing in the house and not to pass any more new laws. We don’t need more laws. Just bloody enforce the existing laws.
Send more ineffective MPs (as the likes of Mrs Mathers) to Parliament please? We need more of them. The lots of them in Parliament, the better for the society, since citizens know how to run their own lives, without the state interference from the work of the so called effective MPs, whom always proud of how many laws that he/she had passed in the house.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 11:37 am
Nookin says:- “To suggest that an MP be denied access to an official language is stoneage thinking”
Just thinking of practical compliance costs. The question I was implicitly posing was, how far should society go in catering for special needs?
From the answers given by DPF and Nick K, it sounds like Mojo Mathers is the self-reliant type, not the needy.
I like her already.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 11:45 am
Not sure what Mojo’s speech is like but for someone whose job depends on two-way communication as a means of getting things done it will be interesting and illuminating to see how things work out. I wonder if in the House, she uses a sign-language speaker in place of her voice, whether he or she will be allowed to make amusing interjections on her behalf during question time, like the others do?
It has to be a good thing having someone in Parliament intimately familiar with a disability like this, we should I expect see some useful amendments and initiatives coming out over the years. Being of the Gween persuasion however is a massive handicap from the get go in terms of getting actual runs on the board so if nothing much happens after all I won’t be that surprised either.
[DPF: She was on TV last night and can speak perfectly well, albeit in a way which makes it reasonable clear she is deaf]
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 11:46 am
We should have people with special needs as MPs. We as a country are wealthy enough to meet the small additional cost. I hope she does not practice the politics of victimhood it seems she does not and asks to be treated as normally as possible. I hope therefore she get a real task rather than be the “deaf issues” person in parliament.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 12:12 pm
We should have people with special needs as MPs.
Yes we should tvb so long as they’re not put there by a quota as opposed to getting there on their own merits.
I expect the Gweens and others might push for a quota however, let’s wait and see.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Which parties currently in the NZ Parliament voted against making NZSL an official New Zealand Language? Only ACT on the basis that if Parliament was making it an official language it should provide funding to support it (rather than make it a cost on business/private organisations as the Act did). So it should provide a deaf MP with assistance in the proceedings of Parliament if they can’t hear. After all, Parliament voted for it.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 12:39 pm
Good grief are there actually people out there debating the merits of having a deaf MP on the basis of its cost to the state?
I mean – in this day and age.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 12:43 pm
She shouldn’t be an mp because she is lacking some very important faculties. Not having her hearing faculties shouldn’t matter, but in an ideal world lacking some mental faculties by supporting the green party should prevent people entering parliament.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 12:45 pm
Kevin Campbell is a liability I doubt even New Zealand First would want him.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 12:50 pm
supporting the green party should prevent people entering parliament.
And Winston and Hone as well CB.
In an ideal world.
Now that’s compassionate conservatism. The whole world would be a better place. It’d be like NZ being the first in the world again. First the vote to women, then banning insane political supporters from interfering. Who could possibly object to it?
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Mojo’s got her work cut out for her. There’s a lot of ignorant prejudice to combat if this thread is anything to go by.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I would be very surprised if Colin Craig reprimands his miscreant loud mouth; these Christian types are filled with hate for virtually everybody so I suppose it is the turn of deaf people.
Seems a bit odd anyone would think this Mathers women required an interpreter and I wish her all the best in her new career.
I noticed DPF asking whether people in wheelchairs should pay to use lifts – well that sort of thing is ACT party policy; our coalition partner low lifes have a view of “why should building owners have to spend money for such a small group of people?”. Dreadful people. Dreadful attitude towards disabled people. Par for the course ACT-wise.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 1:08 pm
There’s a lot of ignorant prejudice to combat if this thread is anything to go by.
Only against the Gweens Will, and who can blame us? Someone’s got to stop them.
I would be very surprised if Colin Craig reprimands his miscreant loud mouth
If I was Colin I’d kick him out of the party. This guy is outrageous.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 1:15 pm
Those who think a deaf person can’t be an effective MP should read up on Lord Ashley of Stoke and his 26 years in the UK Parliament. He went deaf after an operation in 1967 or 69. Retired from Parliament in 1992.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
these Christian types are filled with hate for virtually everybody so I suppose it is the turn of deaf people.
I know a lot of “Christian types”, and I haven’t seen any of them “filled with hate” for any group, let alone “virtually everybody”. Your observation seems to be fuelled by your own prejudices against Christians.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
So say I’m born with a low IQ and can’t read, write or do maths, or a personality disorder which makes me difficult to employ or prone to drug abuse or criminal acts, or was born short and ugly so that I can’t get a mate, or had terrible acne that attracted ridicule and scarred me mentally.
How much should society compensate me for my born defects? The point I’m making is that deafness is just of many ‘special needs’, so I hope that those who are in support of positive discrimination remember to extend that ethos to all areas of society. Within reason.
The fact that I was questioning compliance costs doesn’t mean I’m against them, just that they should be rationalized, and not taken for granted.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
I have no problem with deaf people being elected to Parliament, and their special needs provided for on the basis of their mandate.
However, I do question whether Mathers would have been elected in any way other than on an MMP party list. She may well be a competent representative, but it should be proven by winning a mandate on her own, not riding on someone’s coattails.
I do hope we can halve the number of list MPs in this review, and stop electorate candidates from standing on the list and vice versa.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 1:56 pm
If Lord Ashley of Stoke can get elected to parliament through an electoral system, I see no reason why other deaf people cannot also be elected the same way.
I assume you do not support list seats at all.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Nor candidates getting in through their party? from what I’ve seen many voters don’t know who their local candidates are, they vote in MPs solely on what party the have stand for.
Getting yourself on a party list is often not much different to getting yourself on the electorate ticket of the main parties.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 2:58 pm
BlairM the people wanted MMP so just suck it up or sod off out of NZ.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 3:01 pm
I notice some Nat types seem to be complaining that a lot of their support did not turn out for them.
Vote:So are you right wingers keen on making voting compulsory ?
December 11th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
I know a lot of “Christian types”, and I haven’t seen any of them “filled with hate”
I’m a “Christian type” Fletch and I’m filled with hate but I’m the only one I know of. All the others are loving and peaceful as you rightly observe.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 3:15 pm
The objection to her presence in Parliament has nothing to do with her deafness but, as a Green, everything to do with her being a fascist thug.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 3:35 pm
DPF:But as it happens she has said she will not generally need a signer, as she will use a screen at her desk which allows her to lip read the speaker
The story wasn’t completely clear but it seemed to suggest that the computer was going to be relaying subtitled video. If so, there will be still be someone employed to do realtime subtitleing rather than signing.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 4:05 pm
On January 17, 2010 at 10:40 am Kevin Campbell said:
Brilliant design John & Ken, now you just have to convince John the Jew. You get my vote.
– http://johnansell.wordpress.com/2010/01/11/my-preferred-new-zealand-flag/
Kevin Campbell needs to contemplate what Jesus the Jew would think.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 7:49 pm
tvb (2,248) Says:
December 11th, 2011 at 11:46 am
We should have people with special needs as MPs.
Obviously you have been awol for many years. Most of our MP’s have had special needs, travel, accomodation, self righteousness, and so on, not to mention all the short ones that need ego’s bigger than themselves.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 9:01 pm
I’m impressed that she hasn’t let her deafness prevent her becoming an MP, and even more impressed that she’s overcome the handicap of being named after a pop song by her witless parents.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Most of our MP’s have had special needs, travel, accomodation, self righteousness, and so on
And those special seat coverings some of them have so their bottoms are even more pampered V2.
I imagine many of them wish velvet was in vogue I can visualise the outbreak the instant it comes back in.
Boy. Velvet everything, literally overnight is my prediction.
Vote:December 11th, 2011 at 9:58 pm
DPF,
just to let you know….Kevin Campbell has since e-mailed Mojo Mathers a personal apology which she has accepted.
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 12:14 am
The Conservative Party needs to put the matter of getting a new campaign manager at #1 on the agenda of their next committee meeting. ACT got rid of him pretty quickly as I recall.
cheers
David Prosser
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 7:28 am
Here’s a short video of a profoundly deaf musician; percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
You will notice she does this better than you can:
If a deaf person can play like that, then a deaf person can certainly debate public policy in bum-fuck little rugby and beer New Zealand!
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 11:59 am
Much as I abhor her politics, she comes across as a very intelligent and gutsy woman to have got this far, and (reading reports of interviews she has done) I really like the open way she calls herself ‘deaf’ without all this bullshit about being ‘hearing-impaired’ or ‘differently abled’ or any other PC-speak.
Good on her, and even if she needed some special signer or extra help in the parliament, then what the hell…. couldn’t we afford that? As DPF pointed out, she didn’t CHOOSE to be oxygen starved at birth. Good on her.
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
BlairM the people wanted MMP so just suck it up or sod off out of NZ.
I’m not against MMP per se, just the large number of list MPs, which is not necessary to make things proportional. MMP would be far better served with 75 electorate MPs and 25 list. There is now going to be a review and I hope it reduces the number of list MPs.
And I have already sodded off out of NZ thank you very much.
Vote:December 12th, 2011 at 5:51 pm
Sounds like you are hoping for the not at all proportional Supplementary Member system
Vote: