Fenton on Craig
October 8th, 2012 at 10:00 am by David FarrarDarien Fenton blogs:
Last night I attended the 101st anniversary of the Republic of China (Taiwan) anniversary, along with other parliamentary colleagues, Rajen Prasad, Hon Peter Dunne and National MP Jami-lee Ross. Peter Goodfellow, National Party President was there, and Paul Hutchinson attended, but had to leave early.
This was one of those occasions when we were there as invited guests to help celebrate the community’s pride in their country’s history and their place in New Zealand. When MPs attend these kind of events, we are welcomed as an important part of the celebration. As guests, our job is to respond appropriately and join in with the spirit of the occasion.
Speakers from all sides of the political spectrum spoke respectfully. There were no party politics, just an acknowledgement of the friendship and links between our countries, the contribution of the Taiwanese community in New Zealand and the celebration of their 101st special birthday.
But one person got it wrong. Colin Craig, Conservative Leader was also an invited guest.
He chose to use his speech to try to draw links between the Conservative party’s “family values” and Taiwan. For example, (he said) Taiwan has lower divorce rates than New Zealand. And then he launched into a political speech about the marriage equality bill.
Maybe he thought he was onto a vote winner. But he caused embarrassment to his hosts and other guests.
And he showed appalling judgement.
I heard about this from almost every MP that was there – from three different parties. They all said Craig showed awful judgement in thinking a national day celebration is a forum for partisan speeches.
Some people think I am against a conservative type party in Parliament. I am not. I recognise there is a segment of the population that are socially conservative and economically wet, and they should be represented in Parliament.
My objection isn’t to there being a Conservative Party (or a NZ First Party). It is to their respective leaders. I actually wish Colin Craig would stop doing so many pratfalls. But if keeps saying idiotic things like being gay is a choice, and embarrassing himself at functions, then he’s going to have a tough time of it.
Related posts:
- That poll which shows Colin Craig ahead in Rodney, revealed
- Colin Craig says Kiwis will flee to Australia to escape gay married couples
- The Conservative Party
- Colin Craig – being gay is a choice due to child abuse
October 8th, 2012 at 10:10 am
Just shows how pathetic the so called right wing NZ political sector is when they use the manufactured and feeble criticisms of some extreme left flunky to attack Craig just because he’s against the redefinition of marriage.
Darien Fenton is now the arbiter of political good taste for us all??
FFS….!!!
Can you bear it??
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:22 am
Ah, red, out early defending every idiotic statement of your new man-friend.
Of course, the famous vast left-wing conspiracy (my apologies to VRWC) forced and coerced Colin Craig to say all these things.
I would love for Colin Craig to make it into parliament. With ACT gone, there is no more comic relief any more.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:25 am
Redbaiter (1,039) Says:
October 8th, 2012 at 10:10 am
Just shows how pathetic the so called right wing NZ political sector is when they use the manufactured and feeble criticisms of some extreme left flunky to attack Craig just because he’s against the redefinition of marriage.
Darien Fenton is now the arbiter of political good taste for us all??
FFS….!!!
Can you bear it??
So its the left’s fault that Craig fucked up. Now that makes all sorts of sense.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:26 am
Peter Dunne’s comments corroborate Fenton (and DPF) on this:
Those who desperately want the Conservatives in parliament may try to excuse this but if Craig keeps misstepping it will only be the blind fanatics who will keep making excuses.
It’s been demonstrated before that Xfundies in politics are more often a liability than an asset – as Dunne has learnt from experience.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:28 am
“…….a national day celebration is a forum for partisan speeches.”
This is so funny. Here we have everyone attacking CC for his speech at the Chinese National Day celebrations.
A Nationalist China that was sold down the river by the very parties now making political capital out of attacking CC. The hypocrisy is what is astounding in this instance.
How many of these hypocrites were at the commie celebrations? The commies “We” adopted when we abandoned the Nationalists.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:38 am
“So its the left’s fault that Craig fucked up.”
Grow a brain moron, its only the left saying he fucked up. Maybe this is news to you, but just because some leftist donkey proclaims something to be so, that’s no real reason to accept it so unquestioningly. Not if you’re even moderately rational.
Craig can say what ever he likes when he likes. Its his judgment and I’m damned if I am ever going to let a knuckle dragging communist loser like Darien Fenton tell me what is good manners and what is not.
As for the “other MPs” fuck em too. Whoo cares. They’re all spineless losers who have sold this country out to communists, and now they’re there grovelling to the murdering bastards.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:42 am
Peter Dunne stated “The comments were fanatical, inappropriate for the occasion, and simply appalling. The zeal with which they were delivered was also of concern.” At the time he was face down in the trough.
Anyway, Fenton is against Maori going nuts on waitangi day too?
Craig – Has anyone hear actually met him? I think no matter what he says or does the media will paint him as stupid. its how the left work.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Grow a brain moron, its only the left saying he fucked up
Simply because you call everyone “left” who dares to says he fucked up.
Vote:And according to you 99% of the population is on the left anyway.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:43 am
Akin to Quisling giving lessons on loyalty.
Who cares about Fenton and Dunne’s opinions?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:45 am
Damn right Kowtow.
I’m amazed Taiwan even asked these disgraceful commie arselickers to attend their function.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:45 am
The best thing about Colin Craig opening his mouth is the laughs that inevitably follow. Not from what Craig has said, but from reading the zealous defenses put up by Redbaiter.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:46 am
“This is so funny. Here we have everyone attacking CC for his speech at the Chinese National Day celebrations.
A Nationalist China that was sold down the river by the very parties now making political capital out of attacking CC. The hypocrisy is what is astounding in this instance.
How many of these hypocrites were at the commie celebrations? The commies “We” adopted when we abandoned the Nationalists.”
Taiwan/Chinese Taipei/Republic of China, not China/The People’s Republic of China.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:49 am
I’m with Red on one point.
Since when does anybody take Darien “I-choose-not-to-buy-stuff-from-those-who-support-Tories-I’m-NEVER-going-near-The-Mad-Butcher-again-ohhh-but-I’m-not-calling-for-a-boycott” Fenton seriously when she talks about somebody:
(a) getting it wrong
Vote:(b) causing embarrassment
(c) showing appalling judgement
October 8th, 2012 at 10:50 am
“And according to you 99% of the population is on the left anyway”
And maybe I’m correct about that, but I’m not on the left you slow witted drongo. You can take that to the bank.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:51 am
shazzadude wot’s you’re point?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 10:55 am
A whole range of responses occurred to me when I first read this.
First off, why shouldn’t he push his political barrow? He is a politician for goodness sake! And clearly out to make his name.
Then I thought of the obvious attempt by his critic – Fenton, was it? – to points score and to belittle Craig – pure politicking in my book.
But then blessed clarity dawned, and I reassured myself by thinking, ‘These are politicians, nothing more. They are not real people and as such their behaviour is of little consequence to the more normal and rational amongst us.
Roll on!!
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:01 am
And maybe I’m correct about that, but I’m not on the left you slow witted drongo. You can take that to the bank.
Sure, no argument there, just saying that you are a tiny, tiny minority in this country.
You views are barely shared by anyone in this country and quite frankly, will never be
Without the internet, you’d just be a whacky neighbour somewhere in New Zealand.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:04 am
akaroa
Vote:They are inconsequential in themselves but the bastards pass laws of major consequences for our lives .
October 8th, 2012 at 11:07 am
Kowtow-”shazzadude wot’s you’re point?”
Either you’re a “Taiwan belongs to China” troll, or you’re ignorant. Which one are you?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Then he should choose appropriate times and places to do it, and it seems that this wasn’t such an occasion. There have been no media reports, so he was playing to a very limited audience who seem to think he was out of line.
And all Craigfans can do is try and shoot messengers, but all they do is reinforce the perception of Conservative blind followers.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:09 am
Re-Kowtow at 1104.
Yes, sigh, and don’t we all know it!
But we can dream, can’t we?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Craig may be interested to know that Taiwan has one of the highest rates of adultery. What a fucking retard.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:11 am
shazad
Read my post. Do you know the difference between 1/10 and Double 10 and the significance of each date?
Don’t accuse me of trolling or ignorance ,you are the one who doesn’t semm to know the difference between the 2 national days.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:14 am
RE; Pete George at 1109
Hi Pete,
You evidently still live n the land where gentlemen were gentlemen and politicians didn’t take unfair advantage over their opponents.
For you down-and-dirty politician its politics, politics all the way. Daytime, nighttime, breakfast, dinner and tea. Seven out of seven and twenty-four out of twenty-four.
There ain’t no ‘inappropriate’ times to push the political barrow for the dyed in the wool political animal.
And I do mean animal!!
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:18 am
Pete George at 11:09 am:
I’m sorry? How many posts have we seen from you recently “shooting” the messengers at The Standard?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:18 am
“Sure, no argument there, just saying that you are a tiny, tiny minority in this country.
You views are barely shared by anyone in this country and quite frankly, will never be.”
That is a lie. My comments are all supported well on WhaleOil where support is measurable.
The hard left (that’s you commie) always adopt the same old strategy and that is to attempt to paint anyone who disagrees as some kind of outlier.
Many people say “Oh, I thought I was the only one who thought that way”, and that is the completely false situation that liars like you Eszett struggle to manufacture, where people are intimidated into keeping quite on ideas they would otherwise want to express.
You’ll never intimidate me that way you dishonest cowardly scumbag.
And thanks to more and more speaking out, the political momentum is changing faster than totalitarian bastards like you can keep up with.
Live with it commie.
Your propaganda strategies are failing fast.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:23 am
Can we expect Fenton to also write a post criticising the teachers who last week politicised their meeting when they heckled the Minister of Education during her speech?
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:34 am
Craig didn’t fuck up by pushing his barrow when he did; he fucked up by pushing it too hard and fast, that’s all. As said above, politicians exist solely to take every advantage given to them.
Redbaiter you’re pretty well frothing at the mouth this morning
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:40 am
graham, I’ve fired at things they’ve actually said and done, in blogs where political debate is what happens. I wouldn’t criticise them in a speech at someone else’s anniversary event.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:55 am
I really do hope that Craig gets his shit together, otherwise we are going to have Wussel as the next Minister of Finance!
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 11:56 am
I’ve actually met Craig, recently, we spoke one-on-one for two hours. I was impressed with his intelligence, humour, kiwi down to earth-ness and his sincerity. He was more engaging than most poli.s I’ve known (some well) for 25 years. He is politically inexperienced, but knows this, and is an obvious learner. The criticisms are myopic, we can all cite long lists of gaffs by even very experienced poli.s (Hellen Clark calling West Coasters Feral, for example, John Tamihere anyone? ad infinitium).
I think Craig has a definute future in NZ politics, but – as in the US – conservatives will be hated by the media for just being consv. (DPF the gay=choice thing is highly debatable, even by academics, you can’t cite it as evidence for dementia). Bloggers and media also seem to disproportionately latch on to any nuance Craig bespeaks.
We should all note of course, that many of the poli.s cited are terrified by Craigs momentum, especially Dunne/UF who will be obliterated.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
So, the main criticism is that CC spoke ‘inappropriately ‘ on a National Day. Treaty of Waitangi anyone? Hypocrisy.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 12:21 pm
It won’t be Craig who would obliterate UF, they’re in different markets (they would have been competing in 2002).
iMP – Craig still has a couple of years to learn. If feedback on things like the Taiwan anniversary is noted and repeats are avoided in the future then it will be forgetton by the next election. So this is learning curve stuff.
A bigger problem than the odd mistake like this will be his attracting nutters who won’t learn and will keep the peception alive that Conservatives are an oddball fringe party only.
I don’t doubt Craig’s intelligence. I do doubt the intelligence of some of his blog fans.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 12:27 pm
It’s not hypocritical to point out a balls-up without including a comprehensive history of all balls-ups.
And plenty on KB have commented on Waitangi Day inappropriateness (including me) in February when it occurs.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 12:42 pm
“I recognise there is a segment of the population that are socially conservative and economically wet”, you do not need to be economically wet. There is no socially conservative party in parliament, irrespective of economic views. If you are socially conservative you’ve got a choice between Colin Craig or maybe Winston Peters. I don’t have any problem saying that of the two I prefer Colin Craig. As for Peter Dunne, he thought that people outside his electorate were actually voting for him. United as a party had little support, he joined with the socially conservative Future NZ and was able to poll about 4-5%, but he betrayed every socially conservative voter who had supported him. He’s back to having his own electorate again, and Pete George – United will never recover from this.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 1:03 pm
….pathetic pete calls the Conservatives “oddball fringe party” ,when his leader has the largest oddball fringe in parliament!
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 1:05 pm
Lol, Red, it’s fascinating to see how quickly you contradict yourself.
You yourself just admitted in this thread that 99% of people are “left” of you. But I don’t think you even get to 1% who share your views.
So your “comments are all supported well on WhaleOil”. What a joke to bring that up.
And yet your own blog is failing? Funny that.
And I am sorry you feel intimated by reasonable discourse and logical arguments.
It is certainly not my intention to intimidate you. Why would it be? I am not the one calling everyone a “knuckle dragging, totalitarian bastard, brainless, commie, moron”
The political momentum is changing fast? Where? How? When? How long have you been claiming that and nothing ever happens?
Face it, Red, you are the fringe of the fringe.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
” will keep the peception alive that Conservatives are an oddball fringe party only.”
Man you are one odious person.
The reality is that your dishonest attempts to portray the Conservative party as fringe are failing and they are in fact attracting (in the latest polls) more support than your own. (And Winston’s party and the Maori party.)
So every time you say the Conservatives are an “oddball fringe party”, it means UF is even more so.
Here’s what the success of the Conservative Party means- You and your stand for nothing Labour suckholing party and your treacherous leader (ex Labour) are gone, and good riddance.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Wrong kowtow, I didn’t say that, I said the party risks being associated with oddballs on the fringe. With you and RB leading the cheerleading it’s not hard to see Craig’s differentness being exaggerated.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 1:09 pm
Kolun Kwaig fails hard… again.
See also: The Not Terribly Good Club of Great Britain
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Book_of_Heroic_Failures
And LOL at you Wedbaiter. If you can’t make the parliamentary threshold, then almost by definition you’re fringe…
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 1:12 pm
That’s a very funny concept.
UF’s problem isn’t being seen as oddball fringe, it’s being seen as bland in a crowded centre.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 1:14 pm
“Face it, Red, you are the fringe of the fringe.”
Typcial communist propaganda strategy- just keep repeating the lie in the hope it will eventually be accepted as truth.
Here’s the real truth-
You and your ilk and your looney left policies have destroyed countries all over the western world and you are now done eggshit.
And more and more people are awakening to your lies and your political destruction every day.
You’re done loser.
Learn to live with it.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
…….and you are now done eggshit…………………………
WTF is eggshit?
Russel go and take your meds its too early in the week to be ranting like this.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
pete g
stop talking about oddballs with fringes ,an image of Dunne keeps popping into my head and it hurts.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 1:51 pm
Who is this Dunne people are talking about? Oh you mean “Done.”
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Last time I looked , governments including New Zealand were baling out failed banks and failed lending institutions, paragons of the capitalist marketplace. It is also interesting to note that a communist country, China, has been buying up western debt created as a result of fraud and negligence.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
Colin Craig is an economic leftist. There’s not much difference between him and Jim Anderton. He’s not even a Christian FFS. I think he must have been sent to us as some sort of divine joke by which people on all sides of the political spectrum make fools of themselves.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 3:59 pm
I think those who believe that Colin Craig is a pukka fiscal conservative need to wake up and smell the coffee. The Conservative Party exists primarily to advance its core Christian Right/religious social conservative causes. Any other policies tend to be ill-researched garnishing or sheer opportunism. Witness the merrygoround that is its stance on asset sales. I think CC and WP will end up in metaphorical bed together. They have too much in common. If National or ACT fool themselves into believing that it is a reliable coalition partner, then they risk a cataclysmic meltdown in 2014.
Vote:October 8th, 2012 at 5:42 pm
Colin Craig is a fiscal conservative. That’s why he advocates balanced budgets, with reduced govt and reduced government spending.
Vote:That’s why he is a real alternative to Labour’s “tax and spend” and Nationals “borrow and hope” and the Gween’s “print and be poor”
October 9th, 2012 at 1:14 am
WTF? As far as I’m aware he is, he just doesn’t attend Church. Funny coming from you saying someone else isn’t a Christian… Of course you obviously consider yourself a Christian?
Vote:October 9th, 2012 at 9:29 am
WTF? As far as I’m aware he is, he just doesn’t attend Church. Funny coming from you saying someone else isn’t a Christian… Of course you obviously consider yourself a Christian?
A Christian is someone who accepts Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, which I do. I’ve never read of Craig saying anything similar, only that he is not a churchgoer. Until he says he is one, I am going to assume he is not.
Vote:October 9th, 2012 at 10:14 am
Colin Craig also backs expensive binding citizens referenda, which have demonstrably helped to bankrupt the Californian state economy through their overuse. He also has no fixed position on asset sales, which is a core National Party fiscal policy. National deserves far better from a coalition partner. How are those positions ‘fiscally conservative?’
Vote:October 9th, 2012 at 10:14 am
Now there’s a thought, mine good host. How much do these vanity referenda cost? Could you find out and blog about it for us?
Vote:October 9th, 2012 at 11:52 am
So basically I could be a Christian by accepting Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, then go and get drunk and fucked up the ass and do other acts of debauchery like you do, and continue calling myself a Christian. Hahaha. Actions speak much louder than proclamations of “I’m a Christian!” And despite Craig’s retarded views I’ve seen how he acts around other Christians (around Christian students at Auckland University, for example) and I know he doesn’t get drunk or have experimental gay sex like you do. So at the end of the day you may convince yourself that God’s judgment is the only one that matters but Jesus says you are the light of the world on top of a hill and I can assure you that you certainly are not.
Vote:October 9th, 2012 at 1:23 pm
No need to get personal Jimmy. I’m not making any judgment on Craig’s standing with God, simply pointing out that I have never heard or read of him calling himself a Christian. That’s it. I’m happy to stand corrected if anyone can point out an article to the contrary, or if he has said otherwise on television. As far as I know he is a fan of Christian morality but not committed to the faith itself, but happy to be proved wrong. I don’t know him personally.
As for you, you should judge not lest ye be judged, and certainly should not base your opinion of me on how I behaved six years ago when I did not attend church and was not in a right relationship with God. And I do want to state for the record that while I have done some rather foolish things in my life, I have never been fucked up the ass (or ever wanted to be for that matter)!
You should read what I wrote here, and also probably the first eight chapters of Romans, which might clarify the theological issues you raise. Personally I think you are very foolish to attack me in such a personal way, when I did not do so to you, or Colin Craig, and do not even know your real name or who you are. I call that cowardice.
Vote: