By Kevin Glancy

Labor and its host of media supporters would like us to believe that the Opposition are just as bad as Labor as far as name-calling is concerned. Of course in the real world that claim simply doesn’t stack up.

Let’s deal with the Opposition first.

Following the highly personal tirade of lies hurled by the PM, Tony Abbott was heard to say, “What a piece of work.” Perhaps that was a justified remark given the abuse he had just received. He also said, as he has many times over the last 12 months or so; “This Labor Government should die of shame.”

While some would regard that as a careless remark it would appear that whatever Tony Abbott says, is open to interpretation as were his remarks about Wayne Swan’s mini-budget and the baby bonus. Neither line referred to Julia Gillard’s father or her childless status yet, Labor and the general media decided that’s what Abbott meant by what he said.

I’d call it being ‘verballed’ and it suggests that from now on it doesn’t matter what Abbott actually says but what Labor and the media would like to suggest his words mean – probably best that Abbott doesn’t say anything at all because he can’t win. 

Now let’s take a look at Labor but only during the last 12 months. Unlike the things that Tony Abbott didn’t actually say, these remarks are verbatim and do not require interpretation.

How’s this for a sexist remark made by Julia Gillard on May 28^th in reference to Tony Abbott; “He is Gina Rinehart’s butler”  (Source: Hansard),

Or this by Gillard on August 20th; “Like Jack the Ripper, he is going to be there wielding his knife.” (Source: Hansard)

Following Julia Gillard’s 15 minute, vile attack on Opposition Leader Tony Abbott – falsely calling him a misogynist, sexist and a woman-hater her Labor Federal Minister, Greg Combet appeared on television declaring that the name calling should stop and said this;   

“People outside politics would ‘prefer politicians to get off name-calling and get on with the business of government.”

30 seconds later in the same interview he obviously had a memory lapse and said this about Tony Abbott; “He’s a very aggressive, arrogant sort of fellow and he likes to lead a lynch mob.”

A few days later on November 9^th Combet then said this about Tony Abbott in relation to climate change and the carbon tax;

“Everything he has said about this issue – to be frank about it and so we don’t misunderstand anything I’m saying – has been complete bullshit.”  

Charming turn of phrase from a Labor Federal Minister, who wants the name-calling to stop and given the rubbish Mr. Combet has said about climate change and in support of the carbon tax, the shoe is actually on the other foot.

Mr. Combet regularly tells porkies rather than admit that Labor is increasing the cost of living and in particular, taxing a basic necessity like electricity, which is used in manufacture, transport and retail as well as our homes. All this for no tangible gain, as it will make absolutely no difference to the climate.  Economists have reported that the carbon tax is increasing our electricity bills by 14.9% and not the below 10% that Combet insists on.  Greg Combet’s lies don’t end there. (Refer to article; Combet is the Master of Bullsh..t not Tony Abbott)

As reported by Paul Sheehan in The Australian; In just the last 12 months according to Hansard (Parliament transcripts) Labor Ministers and MP’s from Julia Gillard down have used these words to describe Tony Abbott;

Tony Abbott is a hack. A dog. An aggressive, carping, bitter, mindless, deceptive, dodgy, mendacious, rancid, negative, nasty, muck-raking, untruthful, obstructionist, opportunistic, sexist, political Neanderthal.

He is unfit for high office. He cannot control his temper. No trick is too low for him. No stunt is too wild. He is a bully. A thug. A snake oil salesman. A poster child for vile bully-boy values. He has repulsive double standards. He hates women. He stands for nothing. He has unhealthy obsessions. He is nuts.

And here’s a wrap-up of Labor’s insults hurled at Tony Abbott and the Opposition just in the last 12 months. It does not take into account the name calling indulged in by them beyond the walls of parliament.  Bear in mind this kind of behavior has been going on since Rudd was elected PM. This ‘list’ has been compiled by Paul Sheehan from The Australian.

1. “One Trick Tony… more negativity, more nastiness, more obstructionism…” – Anthony Albanese, National Press Club, January 25, 2012.

2. “Due to its relentless negativity, due to the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition…” Julia Gillard, Hansard, February 7.

3. “In your guts you know he’s nuts…” – Albanese, Hansard, February 9, the same phrase repeated on February 13, February 16, February 29 and June 25.

4. “No amount of muckraking or trawling or irrelevancies [by Abbott] will distract us…,” Gillard, Hansard, February 15.

5. “He has no policies, no plan, just negativity,” Gillard, Hansard, February 27.

6. “He stands for nothing. He is the Nancy Reagan of Australian politics without the astrology – say no to everything, just rancid, dripping, relentless negativity.” – Jason Clare, Hansard, February 29.

7. “The leader of the Opposition has an unhealthy kind of obsession…” Julia Gillard, Hansard, February 29.

8. “There is a stench of negativity about this Leader of the Opposition,” Swan, Hansard, May 22.

9. “He is unfit for high office.” – Swan, Hansard, May 22.

10. “This guy is just a hack… a political hack…”, Albanese, interview, May 23.

11. “The Leader of the Opposition is not able to control his temper…” Albanese, Hansard, May 24.

12. “He is Gina Rinehart’s butler” – Gillard, Hansard, May 28.

13. “Tony Abbott is… a dog of a candidate” – Richard Marles, Labor MP, interview, May 29.

14. “Abbott is a Neanderthal” – Rob Mitchell, Labor MP, on Twitter, May 29.

15. “The carping, mindless negativity and the permanent nay-saying,” Deb O’Neill, Labor MP, Hansard, May 30.

16. “Tony Abbott: Note to ladies: Make me a sandwich” – poster on the wall of the office of Labor minister Tanya Plibersek.

17. “Tony Abbott: I’m threatened by boats and gays. Gays on boats are my worst nightmare” – poster on the wall of the office of Plibersek.

18. “The Leader of the Opposition [is] a dodgy snake oil salesman…”, Swan, Hansard, June 18.

19. “He is the most aggro, aggressive, political person in this country.” – Wayne Swan, Hansard, June 19.

20. “[Abbott] sees political advantage in people dying…”, Mark Dreyfus, interview, June 26.

21. “The Leader of the Opposition will be mired in his negativity, in his aggression and in his bitterness…,” Gillard, Hansard, June 28

22. “Like Jack the Ripper, he is going to be there wielding his knife…,” Gillard, Hansard, August 20.

23. “He wants to go the biff day after day after day…” – Swan, Hansard, September 11.

24. “His aggressive negativity, day after day, going the biff, showing aggression…”, Swan, Hansard, September 11.

25. “He is a thug…,” Swan, Hansard, September 11.

26. “Tony Abbott is the poster child for the vile, bully-boy values…,” Swan, on Twitter, September 19.

27. “He is addicted to the fear campaign…”, Gillard, Hansard, September 20.

28. “These mendacious claims have been made by the Leader of the Opposition…”, Greg Combet, Hansard, September 20.

 

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