For the next day or two or more, the only story out of Canberra that will get any significant oxygen is the one where Opposition leader Tony Abbott said a couple of candid words in the context of an intense conversation with military personnel in Afghanistan. Overshadowed, will be the tremendous, emotional speech given by PM Julia Gillard when parliament resumed today in tribute to the flood victims and those who fought to save them (you can see it in the youtube clip from 10 news below). A speech and a sentiment given total bipartisan support by Tony Abbott and the opposition.
It was a moving, inspiring moment. It transcended politics.
But is that the story? Nup. Not according to the news cycle. The story is a trumped up nothing that seeks to sensationalise a very human reaction to a very difficult situation – talking to soldiers about the death of their mate.
And then, a huge reaction to his reaction – which seemed to me to be one of shock and fury at the implication he’d made light of a soldier’s death.
You can see the story here. Or watch this
[youtube Tza1ygkGHIc 640 390]
Now, I certainly don’t condemn Tony Abbott for what he said when he was talking to those soldiers. Do you? It was an intimate conversation and what he said was in no way flippant or insensitive. It was in context, totally understandable.
And I don’t condemn him for his long silence either – he was clearly furious, shocked and upset. What I do condemn is the fact that this story will now devour so much media oxygen – hey, I’m falling into it by posting on it myself.
Meanwhile, there are people who have lost their lives and their loved ones in war and in natural disasters who are struggling to get through the day.
So now the media chase poor Mrs Beckie MacKinney – a widow who gave birth on the day her husband was buried – for a statement. And a picture. And an interview. What good has come of this story? What was the point of it?
And honestly, who would become a politician?
Top Comments
I don't know if anyone else has commented on this but also overshadowed by this mess is the governments third speech on closing the gap. But who knows? Maybe that's a good thing considering the lack of progress that's been made!
It was Joseph Goebbels who said, If you tell a big enough lie and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. I think Mark Riley was hoping he might just do a bit of Goebbeling. It seems committing an act of low bastardry or cutting and pasting with deception is now becoming known as Doing a Riley.
In some of his recent media appearances Mark Riley repeated Julia Gillard's lie that Tony Abbott had refused Julia Gillard's invitation to accompany her to Afghanistan. In fact Julia Gillard knew at the time that Tony Abbott had a trip lined up after her's and that it was not protocol for the Opposition Leader to accompany the PM on an overseas trip.