Melissa Lee makes memorial tie gaffe

Email
Print

Fri, 18 Mar 2011 6:39p.m.

Melissa Lee (NZPA)

Melissa Lee (NZPA)

By Rebecca Wright

A backbench National Party MP has accused the leader of the opposition of playing politics at the memorial for Christchurch earthquake victims.

But, the accusation has backfired.

The memorial was a sea of red and black as Cantabrians donned their colours in a sign of solidarity with the city.

But one person came in for criticism; Labour leader Phil Goff.

National list MP Melissa Lee took a swipe at Goff for wearing a red tie, calling it “tacky” on micro-blogging site Twitter.

“Do you need to get political on a day like this with that stupid red tie?”

She then replied to someone who pointed out red is the colour most associated with Canterbury by saying, “Hey, I’m wearing red and black for Canterbury. No issues with that. Just Phil. Did he have to today of all days?”

Phil Goff at the Christchurch memorial

The short answer, is yes.

Goff said his colours were for Canterbury, her comments were in bad taste and the only one playing politics was Lee.

3 News

Become a fan of 3 News on Facebook and on Twitter.

Post a Comment

Before commenting, please take the time to read our moderation guide


(Won't be published)



Comments

21 Mar 2011 10:25p.m.

Fish Face wrote:

Who cares what colour tie someone is wearing? And who the hell is Melissa Lee anyway? I've never heard of her (perhaps that is the purpose of this boring outburst....so that people like me get to the know the name of some random MP. Errrr, what was her name again. Forgotten already...zzzzzzzzzzzz

20 Mar 2011 05:18p.m.

davey wrote:

Lee should walk the tight rope like her Chinese buddy did,and fall half way across the floor.She has a very good business back ground,just what Key wants in his party,Deceit and lies.Just look up on her related articles above.One can see why Key is trading hot coals for his Chinese mates,just too take over NZ in the near future.

20 Mar 2011 02:23p.m.

A. G. Davies wrote:

Melissa Lee should resign and also make a public appology to all decent thinking people of this fine country. Then pack her bags and depart to any other place that would have her.She is just the sort of person that N. Z. could do without

19 Mar 2011 10:43p.m.

honi wrote:

key is a little pansy voiced wimp, he was shaking on tv when doing his speech at the beehive just after the earthquake,he said (the beehive bunkers are activated) all he could think of was getting safe into that bunker,not like phil who hitch hiked into christchurch after the earthquake and seen everything as it happened. also national always quickly get rid of there sleazy members like pansy wong and coverthings over

19 Mar 2011 03:55p.m.

Irascible wrote:

Melissa Lee and the National Party should cringe in shame every time she & other MPs open their mouths. Thet are always accusing others of politicising situations while the beam is always in their own. Lee should resign.. she was a liability in Mt Albert and now she is demonstrating that she, like Pansy Wong, is still a liability.

19 Mar 2011 10:09a.m.

helen wrote:

key should make his own show called a idiot abroad melissa lee would be perfect!

19 Mar 2011 08:40a.m.

Chris wrote:

f course Goff used this as a 'political' statement. His tie was all red not red and black. Other commentators have noticed this also. He continues to politicise this tragedy. There are many Labour MP's who are tired of his gaffes, his perceived ineffectiveness and his 'reactive' stance instead of having a 'proactive' strategy plan in promoting new policies / ideas for Labour. Goff has not got the Labour Party any traction in this upcoming election. The latest Morgan poll yesterday has the Nats. gaining and Labour falling - again. The last gaffe was the Hone one. Also on breakfast the other day he clearly agreed with Key in the 10,000 house being destroyed. Criticizing Key etc. does not win elections. Key is a popular PM as much as the left hate him - he is percieved as 'successful and charismatic'. Key is on 55 % popularity and Goff is on 5% 'popularity' - go figure. No party can will on those numbers.

Below is a list of MP'S want him gone.

Bren­dan Burns
Trevor Mal­lard
Ruth Dyson
Ross Robert­son
David Shearer
Charles Chau­vel
Damian O’Connor
Maryan Street
Nania Mahuta
Shane Jones
Lianne Daizel
Su’a William Sio
George Hawkins
Clay­ton Cosgrove
Lynne Pil­lay


So, is Chris Carter is not a liar after.
The knives are out Phil - watch your back.

19 Mar 2011 07:07a.m.

Ruz wrote:

Lee is clearly ignorant of current events. Does she not keep up with the news and the fact that Key and Goff agreed on wearing red and black in Christchurch on the Earthquake Memorial Day? It's incredible how Lee actually ended up in Parliament with such scant knowledge of what is going on around her.

19 Mar 2011 01:59a.m.

dave wrote:

Melissa Lee is my favourite politician *fap fap fap*

19 Mar 2011 01:33a.m.

D'oh! wrote:

Yeah, I'm a National supporter too but this woman is just a liability. Think before you tweet for goodness sake! Or better still don't tweet at all! Just shut up!