The beat up over this story shows that the torries well and truly own the media. A man speaks the language of the average kiwi and he lampooned for it. At best he is agreed with, but belittled for the way he said it. Hello. The average kiwi does not speak like the 2 plonkers the news have running their political departments. In fac, if either were to stand for politics , they would be soundly trounced. The government is selling New Zealand as the sweat shop of the second world, and the media are all afrenzy over Damien. Wise up. Chase the important story. Forget the trivial. be impartial.
paddy o connor obviously a career politition with no clue about the history of labour or its principles something a lot of kiwis dont seem to realise about unions 40 hr week/fair pay/holidays/ healthcare/and a free education including university for all kiwi kids oh and no discrimination
Hear hear...Go Damien!
This guy obviously just wants media attention and bagging Labour usually does it. No brainer.
Have "self-serving unionists" never been lurking in the background? The Skinners and the Knoxes wielded a lot of clout, then the Campbells rose to positions on the RBNZ, followed by the Kellys and the Davies in parliament.Those names omitted is not deliberate, it's just that I have in my old age forgotten.
At last! An honest an upfront potential leader emerges for Labour! Go Damien O'Connor! All you Labour supporters should get behind this man before this country goes to the dogs (i.e. sold off to offshore interests or National's rich mates, taken over by a "gaggle of gays" or "self-serving unionists" or screwed by selfish Maoris!) Phil Goff should support O'Connor by stepping down and giving O'Connor a go a leading the Labour Party - before its too late!
Finally a politician who tells the truth. Can someone appoint this man head of the Labour party so there is some decent opposition?
He forgot Greenie sympathisers LOL!!!
"I wouldn't trust them." O'Connor aptly sums up the NZ's view of the Labour Party.
The problem for the left is that the subgroups tend to identify themselves as gay/feminist/green/whatever first and liberal/socialist second that means they tend to promote their personal agenda at the expense to the overall liberal/socialist agenda - they'd rather have a lot for their own subgroup at the expense of their fellow travelers rather than sharing it out - quite possibly because these grouping no longer trust each other.