Aussie politican inserts foot into mouth. And kicks.

[weemadando]

[/u]Racial slur may see Brogden step aside[/u]

New South Wales Opposition Leader John Brogden says he will step aside if asked to do so by his Liberal Party colleagues.

There are questions about the future of Mr Brogden after he made a racial slur about the wife of former premier Bob Carr.

Mr Brogden referred to Helena Carr was a "mail order bride", during a media function several weeks ago.

He also pinched one female reporter on the bottom and propositioned another.

He has apologised unreservedly for his actions, especially his comment about Mrs Carr.

"I particularly want to extend an apology to Helena Carr and to Bob Carr.

"The comments I made were offensive and they were distasteful.

"I'm not proud in any sense of what I did," he said.

"I did it in a social setting, inappropriately.

"There are no excuses, I have absolutely no excuses, my apology is sincere and genuine as is my remorse."

But Mr Carr says he and his wife cannot accept Mr Brogden's apology.

"How could we accept an apology for a remark that dismisses all of Helena's achievements in this country, her validity as a person and categorises her as a mail order bride. What sort of people would we be if we signed up to that apology," he said.

Prime Minister John Howard says Mr Brogden was wrong to say what he did about Mrs Carr.

But Mr Howard has told Channel Nine any repercussions are a matter for Mr Brogden's colleagues.

"His future is obviously a matter for him and a matter for his parliamentary colleagues, that's a matter for the state parliamentary party," Mr Howard said.

"But that sort of comment was just quite wrong.

"I know Helena Carr and she's a very gracious person and that sort of comment should never have been made."

Mr Brogden says he spoke to his leadership group about the matter this morning.

" indicated that I had apologised and conceded that my behaviour was completely inappropriate," he said.

"The leadership group of the Liberal Party, Barry O'Farrell the deputy leader, Mike Gallagher the Upper House leader and John Ryan the deputy leader in the Upper House all indicated that they support me.

"Through the day I'll speak to my colleagues."

Smooth. Real fucking smooth.

[Master of Ossus]

Was he heavily intoxicated, or something? What was he thinking? How can a politician be that dumb?

[Solauren]

I reply by pointing you to American politics since around the time of Richard Nixon

[weemadando]

Well, he just resigned. And boy oh BOY are they kicking the shit out of him on the midday news.

[mr friendly guy]

So he has resigned. Good riddance. I have no tolerance for racist wankers.

Bob Carr was right not to accept the apology. It was blatantly obvious he apologised because he was forced to.

[Ender]

How is "mail order bride" a racial slur?

[weemadando]

It implies that she's a prostitute of asian origin.

[18-Till-I-Die]

Err...well i think a lot of mail order brides come from like Europe too, like Russia i know (or i should say heard) pumps out like a billion a week. But he probably did mean it as an insult, weather racist or not 'mail order bride' has a connotation of like, 'slut' or such. Is this chick Asian, i dont know who Bob Carr is so i'm kind of just talking off the top of my head...

I'm not defending anyone i'm just asking, though i agree completely this guy was a fucking tool. I mean seriously...feeling up people and propositioning them, in public, in front of witnesses...i mean that's beyond retarded not to mention insulting.

[Ender]

It implies that she's a prostitute of asian origin.

I'm guessing this is an Aussie thing then, because to me mail order bride is about where 18 said - more along the lines of "slut", "whore", "skank" or some such because AFAIK mail order brides come from all over, but especially russia.

[Master of Ossus]

Again, though, I can't understand why he would say something like this. Does anyone know if he was drunk at the time? And what was going on with his conduct towards the reporters?

[weemadando]

He was pissed as a newt most likely.

Just like Gareth Evans during the even more amusing Hong Kong ambassadors dog debacle.

[18-Till-I-Die]

Does anyone know if he was drunk at the time?

Well, i'd bet a good chunk of change he was. That's how sure i am.

[Elheru Aran]

He was pissed as a newt most likely.

Just like Gareth Evans during the even more amusing Hong Kong ambassadors dog debacle.

....What would've this been? /extremely fascinated in a slightly perverted way

[weemadando]

The Hong Kong governors (not ambassador sorry) dog went missing...

A story, apocryphal no doubt, told about our recent foreign minister Gareth Evans, and the Chinese Embassy in Canberra, concerned the lost dog of the then Governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten. When his dog went missing, all kinds of jokes circulated -- particularly the unkind ones. One said that Patten's office advertised in the Hongkong Standard as follows: "DOG Lost: Governor Patten's favorite corgi, answers to the name of `no. 26 with black bean sauce'". Now, apparently when Gareth Evans was asked off the record whether he thought Patten will ever get back his dog, Evans said, "Of course not. I heard Chairman Deng Xiao-Peng eats a puppy a day". Well, some idiot then approached the Chinese Embassy to ask for a reaction to this `insult'. The Embassy said to come back next day for an official response. The next day, the response was allegedly, "His Excellency very much regrets the exaggeration of the Minister -- Chairman Deng is not so greedy. One puppy a week is more than enough for him". Here is a Wizard of Id cartoon that shows the land of Id in the same light.

[mr friendly guy]

Again, though, I can't understand why he would say something like this. Does anyone know if he was drunk at the time? And what was going on with his conduct towards the reporters?

He had around 6 beers. This of course prompted a reporter to ask how could you say that only after 6 beers. I don't know what the response was.

[Maku]

He had six beers over three hours... that's not pissed, hell he could probably have driven home having two beers an hour.

In Australia 'mail order bride' typically refers to very young women from poor countries like Cambodia and the Philippines who are 'ordered' by ugly fat old white men who either can't get a woman here or are specifically interested in having a 'submissive' wife who'll do what she's told and accept a smack in the face as reasonable punishment for whatever.

Brogden's comment about 'mail order bride' was reportedly something about her 'going back where she came from.'

Bob Carr's wife, Helena, came to Australia from Malaysia (not sure but I think she's mixed Malay-Chinese) in the 1970s, is highly educated, articulate and has run her own 80-employee business for years, as opposed to John Brogden, who's sole achievement appears to have been joining the Liberal Party at the age of 17 and clawing and stabbing his way to the top only to throw away 20-odd years of work.

I saw Brogden's 'apology' on tv and I have to say it was possibly the worst public apology I've ever seen. He was smirking the whole way through it and there was five minutes of apology followed by 15 minutes of him criticising NSW Government policy. It was quite obvious the only thing he was sorry about was getting caught.

[weemadando]

And now the weasley little cock has gone and tried to commit suicide to get out of the public shame that he's brought upon himself. I'm glad it didn't work, now people can truly see him for the cowardly fuck that he is.

[Master of Ossus]

And now the weasley little cock has gone and tried to commit suicide to get out of the public shame that he's brought upon himself. I'm glad it didn't work, now people can truly see him for the cowardly fuck that he is.

You have a link? Wow.

[weemadando]

Editor rejects attack over Brogden coverage

The editor of the Daily Telegraph has rejected criticism of the media's coverage of former New South Wales Opposition leader John Brogden and his suicide attempt.

The Daily Telegraph published more allegations today about inappropriate behaviour by Mr Brogden towards a number of female members of his staff and journalists.

New South Wales Liberal MP Peter Debnam, who looks likely to take over the Liberal leadership, has called for the media to examine their coverage of Mr Brogden.

"I would have thought he [Mr Brogden] would have got some credit for doing the honourable thing on Monday morning," Mr Debnam said.

"Instead he suffered a devastating front page yesterday, Tuesday, and was about to suffer another devastating page this morning."

But the editor of the Daily Telegraph, David Penberthy, says the Liberal Party itself needs to engage in some self-examination.

"One thing which should be stressed in all of this is that none of these stories would be appearing if there weren't people inside the Liberal Party who weren't trying to get them out," he told Southern Cross Radio.

"I think that's probably been forgotten a bit today - in light of what's happened overnight.

"But my starting point in this whole thing though would be a position of total and genuine sympathy for Brogden."

Police were called to Mr Brogden's Mona Vale electorate office last night after receiving a call about his welfare from a family member.

He was found apparently unconscious in a back room and was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

Mr Brogden resigned on Monday after admitting he made a racist slur against former premier Bob Carr's wife and propositioned two female reporters at a function.

Distressed State Liberal Party MPs have been meeting at State Parliament to comfort one another.

MPs decided to postpone today's ballot for the leadership until Friday.

Deputy Liberal leader Barry O'Farrell has decided to pull out of the race, leaving the Opposition's transport spokesman, Mr Debnam, as the only contender.

That article is all about the Liberal's whinings about how the media drove him to attempt suicide.

Brogden suicide attempt shocks Liberals

New South Wales Liberal MP Peter Debnam says his colleagues are in shock after former state Opposition leader John Brogden attempted suicide.

Police were called to Mr Brogden's Mona Vale electorate office in Sydney shortly before 10:30pm AEST after receiving a call about his welfare from a family member.

He was found apparently unconscious in a back room and was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital.

The hospital has not publicly commented on his condition, but it is believed he has minor injuries and is being kept under observation.

It follows Mr Brogden's resignation on Monday for making a racist slur against former premier Bob Carr's wife and propositioning two female reporters at a function last month.

Mr Brogden's admission to hospital came as a Sydney newspaper prepared to publish more allegations about inappropriate behaviour towards a number of female members of his staff and journalists.

MP Peter Debnam says the entire party is in shock.

"You know all of us have dealt with John for many years and we knew the events this week has rocked him to the core," he said.

"There's no doubt about that but we were certainly all shocked."
Media accused

Mr Debnam has called on the media to examine the part they have played in the incident

"I would have thought he would have got some credit for doing the honourable thing on Monday morning - instead he suffered a devastating front page yesterday, Tuesday and was about to suffer another devastating page this morning," he said.

"I think we are all appalled at the way it has all played out in the last 48 hours on someone who is relatively young and somebody who had taken body blow after body blow."

On Monday, Mr Brogden said his comment about Helena Carr was inexcusable and he would cause too much damage if he remained party leader.

Deputy Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell say the party has decided that the ballot to select the new leader will be deferred until Friday out of respect for Mr Brogden.

Mr O'Farrell has withdrawn from the leadership ballot and Mr Debnam is now most likely to become the new Opposition leader.
Privacy call

A spokesman for Mr O'Farrell says Mr Brogden's family has requested privacy.

Opposition treasury spokeswoman Peta Seaton, who visited the hospital overnight, says she has no comment to make because she has promised to respect Mr Brogden's privacy.

Federal Attorney-General Philip Ruddock has told Channel Nine he was shocked to hear about Mr Brogden after talking to him yesterday.

"He was obviously very disappointed and I think appreciated that there were supportive calls there for him, but obviously we all very much regret what has happened and feel very much for [his wife] Lucy," he said.

New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma has wished Mr Brogden a full and speedy recovery.

In a written statement, Mr Iemma expressed his deep concern for the welfare of Mr Brogden and his family on behalf of all members of the NSW Parliament.

Former New South Wales premier Bob Carr has offered his support to Mr Brogden.

"Helena and I just want to send a message to John Brogden that he should look to his future. As far as we're concerned, this incident is behind us and it should be behind him," he said.

"The world accepts that everyone makes mistakes and he's got a big future as a politican, member of this community and as a father. We wish him well and we want to encourage him to move beyond this thing"

It is believed that John Brogden will be released from hospital later today.

He said on Monday he would continue to serve as a backbencher.

And that's the one about him trying to top himself.

He's a self-centred little cock who tried to blame his disgrace on private back-room maneuvring behind his back during his so-called "apology" which just seemed to be him giving excuses for his actions. Next time fuckstick, try not being a racist, womanising, twat. The public might actual have some fucking respect for you then.

[thejester]

What a bloody joke. Even worse is that while he's resigned the position of leader, he hasn't resigned from his seat or the party proper and has left open the door for some kind of comeback. It's unbelievable that the Liberal Party hasn't gotten rid of him.

[mr friendly guy]

As someone who has experienced racist crap growing up in a school in Adelaide, I will try to be the bigger man and find some sympathy for this guy.



Trying... trying....trying... Sorry, it ain't happening.

What a wanker. The sympathy should be reserved for his family who has to put up with his sheenanigans.

[mr friendly guy]

Well he is out of the hospital and into the psych unit apparently

Former NSW opposition leader Brogden is recovering from an apparent suicide attempt as a divided state Liberal Party tried to heal its own wounds.

Mr Brogden tried to kill himself on Tuesday night as a newspaper published new allegations that he asked two female journalists to have sex with him during a Christmas party at his Parliament House office in 2003.

The fresh allegations followed Mr Brogden's resignation on Monday after he admitted calling former premier Bob Carr's wife Helena a "mail-order bride" and sexually harassing two women at a public function.

The 36 year-old father of one was taken to Royal North Shore Hospital on Tuesday night after being found unconscious by police in his Pittwater electorate office, with self-inflicted wounds.

He was released from hospital this afternoon and was believed to be recovering in The Northside Clinic, a private psychiatric facility.

Furious Liberals accused Sydney's Daily Telegraph newspaper of contributing to Mr Brogden's suicide attempt with its new allegations of sexual misconduct, something the newspaper denied.

But senior members of Mr Brogden's own party were also blamed for spreading the damaging new allegations about him.

"The source of the original story (which led to Mr Brogden's resignation) came from within the Liberal Party itself, and the new source about the fresh allegations also came from the Liberal Party, including at very high levels of the Liberal Party," said Greg Baxter, spokesman for News Ltd, publishers of the Telegraph.

When he resigned on Monday, Mr Brogden criticised right-wing Liberals, including federal Young Liberals president Alex Hawke, for spreading rumours about him. Mr Hawke denied the claim.

Opposition transport spokesman Peter Debnam, who will be elected unopposed as the new Liberal leader, said he was unaware of any party members being involved in spreading rumours about Mr Brogden.

"To the best of my knowledge there were no Liberals involved in it," Mr Debnam told AAP.

A meeting to elect the new Liberal leader was put off until Thursday, with MPs instead holding a morning tea to comfort each other.

Liberal MPs and staff wept openly in the corridors of Parliament House as they discussed Mr Brogden's suicide attempt.

Despite claiming he had the numbers to win the party leadership, Deputy Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell pulled out of the leadership contest, saying he would not have enough support from MPs to lead a united opposition.

Mr Debnam urged Mr O'Farrell to re-contest the deputy leadership but Mr O'Farrell was still deciding whether to run.

But meanwhile there were more allegations of political dirty tricks, with Mr Debnam refusing to deny reports his supporters threatened the pre-selection of MPs who supported Mr O'Farrell's bid for the leadership.

Political leaders around Australia expressed sympathy for Mr Brogden and said despite their tough exterior, politicians too could crumble under pressure.

Mr Debnam said the Liberal Party was rallying to support Mr Brogden and his wife Lucy.

"The thoughts and the prayers of the family of the Liberal Party and all the MPs are with John and Lucy," he told reporters.

Mr Debnam criticised The Daily Telegraph for publishing new allegations against Mr Brogden after he had already quit the Liberal leadership.

"Obviously he ... suffered yesterday and he was about to suffer again today with more media," Mr Debnam said.

"Now in public life you can't avoid that but I think as a community, we all need to understand when human beings are vulnerable and John was vulnerable."

Daily Telegraph editor David Penberthy said while he did not feel comfortable with some elements of the newspaper's coverage, it could not be blamed for the suicide attempt.

"If we approach every single story we do on the basis of whether somebody may or may not commit suicide, we wouldn't cover courts, we wouldn't give restaurants bad reviews," he told Macquarie radio.

Mr Carr, who on Monday refused to accept Mr Brogden's apology, today sent his best wishes to his former opponent, saying it was possible the Liberal leader could continue his career in parliament.

"We're a forgiving society," Mr Carr told reporters.

"Bob and Helena Carr forgive what was said about Helena. Helena wants me to say that."

Counselling for troubled people is available on the following numbers:

- Lifeline - 131 114 (cost of a local call)

- Kids Help Line - 1800 55 1800 (free call)

- Suicide Prevention Crisis Line - (02) 9331 2000

- SANE Helpline - 1800 688 382 (free call)

©AAP 2005

Now we just need to add a helpline for politicians who can't face the consequences of their own actions.

[mr friendly guy]

and if you try to kill yourself, you get offered a front bench job

Debnam offers Brogden a frontbench seat
18:44 AEST Thu Sep 1 2005
AAP

Newly-elected NSW Liberals leader Peter Debnam has promised predecessor John Brogden a position on his front bench when he's fully recovered.

And he has also pledged not to stray far from Mr Brogden's political agenda.

Mr Debnam was elected unopposed as the new opposition leader, replacing Mr Brogden, who resigned on Monday amid a scandal over comments he made at a function in July.

Deputy Opposition leader Barry O'Farrell, who pulled out of the contest to replace Mr Brogden, keeps his position.

Mr Debnam has offered Mr Brogden, who is in psychiatric care at a north shore clinic after apparently attempting to take his own life on Tuesday night, a spot on the front bench.

"If he wants to be on the front bench then we will give a front bench position to him," Mr Debnam, a 51-year old former naval officer, told reporters.

In a brief statement, Mr and Mrs Brogden thanked members of the public for their messages of support.

"John and Lucy Brogden and their families would like to extend their enormous gratitude to everyone who has sent messages of love and support over the past few days," the statement said.

Although he received the backing of hardline conservative Liberals in his bid for the party leadership, Mr Debnam set out to dispel rumours of bitter backroom party squabbling, saying there would be no major policy changes.

He denied that MPs who considered supporting Mr O'Farrell were threatened with the loss of pre-selection.

"Obviously there are a number of discussions that take place in a week like this (but) we are determined to ensure that we're unified moving forward," he said.

He also rejected suggestions the coalition's policies would shift to the right under his leadership.

"We will review all policies, I'm not envisaging any substantial shift in policy," he said.

Under his leadership, Mr Debnam said the coalition would focus on the basic government services of transport, health and education.

"We want to get the trains working again, we want to get rid of the ghost wards that the Labor government has established in hospitals across NSW, we want to get education standards up (and) we want to stop the drain of students leaving public education," he said.

Prime Minister John Howard welcomed Mr Debnam's appointment, saying the change in leadership was a "great opportunity for a strong alternative" to Labor in NSW.

But NSW Premier Morris Iemma said the party was wracked with deep divisions and bitterness.

"There has been four leaders in seven years, that is not a record of a party ready for government ... they are barely fit for opposition," he said.

He said Mr O'Farrell was sabotaging Mr Debnam's leadership.

"The deputy says although he has a majority he can't take the job (as party leader) because the bitterness and division runs too deep," Mr Iemma said.

Federal Liberal MP Bruce Baird said the demise of Mr Brogden indicated the right had become a very effective force within the party.

"Under (Upper House MP) David Clarke and (federal Young Liberal president) Alex Hawke, (the right) have become a very effective group ... and I don't think the moderates are organised quite as well," he said.

"Part of it is an organisational problem with the moderates and a very effective Mr Clarke."

Mr Debnam will announce the makeup of his frontbench next week.

©AAP 2005

[Maku]

That Alex Hawke guy scares the shit out of me. He's a right-wing Christian of the worst sort who loves to preach about what everyone else should or shouldn't be doing while at the same time behaving with absolutely no morals himself. This is the guy who publicly opposed the end of laws criminalising homosexual sex and the lowering of the age of consent for gay men to that of heterosexual couples. He's built a 'Christian-coalition' within the NSW Liberals and he's bent on gaining as much power as possible. I saw a great picture of him the other day posing between portraits of the Queen (the nice 1950s portrait where she's young of course) and Bob-motherfucking-Menzies.

There was a great article (which, unfortunately, I can't find now) about him leading a branch stack in some Liberal-held Sydney seat a few months ago. The moderate Liberal candidate came to a local branch meeting with his supporters to call Hawke on the branch stacking, but the gathering degenerated into a punch-up when Hawke's ultra-conservative Lebanese Christian muscle arrived.