Shame on you, Prime Minister. For doing this – again.
Today, the Prime Minister called Opposition Leader Bill Shorten the “Dr Goebbels of economic policy”.
As the Labor Opposition leapt to their feet, Tony Abbott raised his hands as if being attacked and withdrew his comments.
In a spectacular misreading of the offense that had been caused, the Speaker Bronwyn Bishop ejected the shadow Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus MP, who is Jewish. Michael Danby MP, who is also Jewish left the chamber in disgust.
Joseph Goebbels was the Minister for Propaganda for Nazi Germany. He is known for his deep and abiding hatred of the Jewish people and his orations in support of their widespread massacre. He is responsible for the burning of books in Berlin. Many of the most heinous acts of Hitler’s regime were perpetrated with the oversight of Joseph Goebbels.
Goebbels is in every sense an abhorrent human being. To try and score a casual political point by using his name is ridiculous, offensive and extremely insensitive.
Michael Danby MP said tonight, “[Tony Abbott] can slag us as much as he likes, but it is demeaning to him and the Parliament to use an example of the ultimate evil in politics”.
“He’s the Prime Minister – he is supposed to have high standards,” he said.
See the appalling exchange here (post continues after the video)
Now we guess that Mr Abbott’s reference could be written off as a mistake. He might have misspoken (if we think that people can accidentally make reference to Nazi leaders).
But let’s remember that this comes just one month after he said in Parliament that the previous Labor government had caused a “Holocaust of jobs” in the defence sector.
More: “I’m tired of being scared to tell people that I’m Jewish.”
It seems like a point that shouldn’t need to be made, but, regardless of your political persuasion or the context:
1. Just because you don’t agree with someone, doesn’t mean it is appropriate to associate them with one of the most hideous violations of human rights this world has seen.
2. It is never appropriate to liken someone to Joseph Goebbels unless they are encouraging genocide and directing violent and abusive acts against a population.
3. Anything else is small-minded buffoonery of the highest order.
The Prime Minister owes an apology to the Jewish community and, indeed, all Australians for his shameful performance in Parliament today.
Top Comments
I'm no fan of Abbott and his diabolical ideas for Australia, but I have to say I really don't care about things like this, especially as they're all at it and have been for a long time, (and occasionally, some of it is even quite entertaining). I don't care about onions or mis-pronunciations or other trivialities either. Not sure why people take it so personally.
Trending right now folks:
"..Goebells, winks, ferals, onions, blue ties, budgie smugglers, Catholicism, stuttering speach, a guinness or two, lycra shorts, baddies vs baddies, static world temperatures, knights and dames, Frances Abbott’s scholarship, tent embassies, shirtfronts, funny walk, bat phones on boats, Canadia, strange laugh. Yes, the big issues our nation faces.
For the life of me I can’t figure out how any one of them is going to effect my employment, hip pocket or future..."
Gold!
And from the past folks -
Gillard weakening border protection and causing the boat arrivals to soar from 3 a year to 3 a week costing us billions and filling the detention centres to bursting, saying she'd build a detention centre in East Timor - only to have them say the next day they wouldn't have it. The mining tax backflip and subsequent disaster, The Australia day riot, funny walk, excruciatingly annoying voice, the Woman's Weekly knitting article, affected laugh, her radical past, pink batts, her rort ridden Build the Education fund, the live stock with Indonesia disaster, Her not supporting pensioners and her budget surplus promises. And that's just for starters.....
Gold!
You forgot "no one can be suppository of all knowledge".
I've said it before and I'll say it again "Abbott is not fit for the job". What I can't understand is that this poor excuse for a politician is the best the Libs can do?
As my granny says "stupid is as stupid does", guess that explains why he says so many stupid things.
They are the symptoms of what is going on in the government and how they do business - money for mates, sleeziness, catholicism impacting legislation, and they will have consequences too - not very difficult to understand that. Even Malcolm Frasier resigned from the liberal party in disgust of what it has turned out to be. People are standing up against this self serving arrogant and lacking in facts government. Qld just did it - NSW will be next then nationally. Respect is earned and that they have none of it. Personally I don't care what he looks like and some of the very stupid things he's said - I like most people would vote for him if we could believe what he said and it was for the good of the country.
Looking back at all your comments could I suggest you grow up and do some research. The reason they have been able to move minimal legislation is that they are lying and get found out. Pretty simple really.