Up Front by Emma Hart

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Up Front: The Up-Front Guides: The Weasel Translator

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  • Russell Brown,

    Well, we certainly all need to see 3 News’ bonus footage of government ministers squirming and running away in response to straightforward questions about their views on “gay marriage”. Have we ever seen Chris Finlayson move that fast?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Damian Christie,

    “In the big picture, it’s not that important… We’ve been focused on the broader economy.”

    – “I can only fuck up one thing at a time.”

    Brilliant.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • Damian Christie,

    Twitter is great for this. I've been chasing Richard Prosser around the room for most of the morning. Marriage pre-date religion he says. Great, so what basis for it to be hetero then? Human pair bonding goes back a long time, apparently, and/or I'm just representing the views of ordinary conservatives. So you don't agree with them, and if so, on what basis? etc etc.

    Also, he agrees (with Colin Craig, interestingly), that the state has no place to regulate personal affairs, or as Craig says "no place in the bedroom". On this we agree, except I think they both miss the irony of their position.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1164 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Well, we certainly all need to see 3 News’ bonus footage of government ministers squirming and running away in response to straightforward questions about their views on “gay marriage”.

    Which struck me as bizarre when “We’re going to be discussing that in caucus next week, and I’ll talk to you afterwards” is a reasonable – if infuriatingly commonplace – response to those awkward stand-ups. And you know what, I might snerk you without mercy but you really need to harden the fuck up and take it. You're a politician -- odds are at least half the population at any given moment is going to think you're the anti-Christ.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Damian Christie,

    On this we agree, except I think they both miss the irony of their position.

    Not only the irony but the spectacular circle-jerky intellectual dishonesty of it. I've been working on a post of my own on that, but keep finding that typing "fuck you" several hundred times, while relaxing, isn't exactly adding value to public discourse.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Which struck me as bizarre when “We’re going to be discussing that in caucus next week, and I’ll talk to you afterwards” is a reasonable – if infuriatingly commonplace – response.

    It is. They actually didn't have to act like they were having a collective anxiety attack.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    "We're going to be discussing that in caucus next week, and I'll talk to you afterwards" is a reasonable -- if infuriatingly commonplace -- response

    I will respectfully disagree that this is any kind of actual answer to the question "What's your view..." We know what Brendan Horan's view is. He knows we know what his view is. Not stopping smirking for long enough to be up-front about it is... something I feel okay using as the basis for a personal judgement.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Will de Cleene,

    You won't find a Marilyn Waring in this bunch of Nats. They've been whipped and groupthinked into bloc voting on all conscience issues; booze, gay marriage, medical cannabis. Considering they all owe their jobs to John Key's anti-political lead, you'll be hard pressed to find an honest conscience around the cabinet table.

    Raumati • Since Jul 2011 • 107 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    I wonder what Richard Prosser would make of St Serge and St Bacchus.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler, in reply to Will de Cleene,

    ll conscience issues; booze, gay marriage, medical cannabis

    I would welcome your arguments on why you consider these matters to be issues of conscience.

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

  • Kumara Republic,

    I say we find ourselves a Kingswood panel van, do it up, and park it outside Richard Prosser's office…

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Emma Hart,

    I will respectfully disagree that this is any kind of actual answer to the question “What’s your view…”

    I'll equally respectfully suggest you're disagreeing with something I've not actually said, Would I be getting fitted for new squee-pants if the National caucus came out en masse for marriage equality? Too fucking right, but if they're not trotting out the Romney-esque dog-fucker analogies either? Well, I'll take what I've got and work with it.

    (BTW, I'd note making the right noises at this stage doesn't make anyone a reliable ally - or a certain foe - either. I'd suggest you take a look at the four New York GOP state senators who crossed the floor to secure passage of their marriage equality bill. Until the last moment they were so firmly on the fence the lobbying from all sides was going on almost literally until the last moment.)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Craig Ranapia,

    Sorry, gods, I've put that badly. I'm disagreeing not with you, but with that underlying proposition with which I think we are both disagreeing. Because as Russell has said, the squirming on this is quite incredible. Why are they so desperately uncomfortable? Why this level of weasel? Why is John Banks still officially on the "undecided" list?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Kumara Republic,

    I love Michael Moore (even though Brian Edwards doesn't). He is so fearless.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Danielle, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Why this level of weasel?

    I can only think that they are waiting to see which is the biggest bandwagon.

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • Phil Lyth,

    Why is John Banks still officially on the "undecided" list?

    He isn't, "officially". The marriageequality site is privately run, and my feeling is that it is 80%-85% accurate.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report

  • Phil Lyth,

    the lobbying from all sides was going on almost literally until the last moment

    Indeed, it happens in NZ too. On the day of the final vote on Civil Unions, the emails (for and against) were coming in at over 500/hour.

    That was the day there was a big rainbow rally on the front lawn of Parliament: the music ended at 1.50pm, the final track being We're Going To The Chapel (And We're Going To Get Married).

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Phil Lyth,

    I couldn't think how else to put that. I mean, Banks has never made any secret of his feelings, but "officially", there's nothing on record about how he's going to vote. Marriage Equality is privately run, yes, but they're only recording actual statements. It's... an unofficial representation of the official record?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Emma Hart,

    It is frustrating, but I suspect everyone has been told to STFU ahead of the caucus discussion which (IIRC) is going to happen early next week. (I've certainly done my time in the collective responsibility trenches on a less exalted level when I was in the Young Nats. Let's just say I wasn't on the winning side of every policy debate, and have the scar tissue on my inside bottom lip to prove it.)

    My National Party gossip isn’t as 110-proof as it used to be but I’m hearing it’s going to be lively.

    God knows my appointment with Maggie Barry should be interesting – being agreeable for more than ten minutes in a row makes my knuckles itch.

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Phil Lyth, in reply to Emma Hart,

    I am filled with hope, as yet unrequited, that Act On Campus will bring their MP to his senses.

    Wellington • Since Apr 2009 • 458 posts Report

  • Gee,

    FWIW, I wrote to Nicky Wagner in July last year and got the response:

    Thanks for your email. I have a pretty commonsense attitude to these issues. I absolutely support gay civil unions but I am aware that some people feel that marriage is between a man and a woman and I try to respect their feelings as well.
    Re gay adoption. I do not believe that sexual orientation should be the main denominator in these decisions. Choosing adoptive parents is a very important and multi-faceted decision. Each individual case should be weighed up on its own merits.

    I have written asking her to clarify what 'respect their opinions' means in terms of how would she vote if a gay marriage vote came along. I wrote once in July last year, twice in May this year, and once more (about to be twice) in July this year. No response. No surprise.

    Canada, eh • Since May 2011 • 78 posts Report

  • Emma Hart, in reply to Phil Lyth,

    I am filled with hope, as yet unrequited, that Act On Campus will bring their MP to his senses.

    The sense being that you shouldn't say out loud that six inches of barbed wire shoved up the arse of a gay man is "a waste of good barbed wire"?

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Phil Lyth,

    am filled with hope, as yet unrequited, that Act On Campus will bring their MP to his senses.

    I've certainly been proud of the Young Nats recently, though with a certain amount of melancholy reflection on how damn unpleasant it was banging my head against the brick wall of the 'senior party' back in the day. Oh well, sometimes the kids do you proud. :)

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    Adding to our resource base, Legalise Love has a template letter for writing to MPs.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Graeme Edgeler, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Why is John Banks still officially on the "undecided" list?

    It's not certain whether he'll still be an MP at the time of the vote(s)?

    :-)

    Wellington, New Zealand • Since Nov 2006 • 3215 posts Report

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