Tony Abbott says what we all knew about politicians and their promises.
So do politicians always say what they mean? Well not according to Tony Abbott, leader of the opposition in Australia who told a surprised TV interviewer that he often promises things in the heat of the moment that are not to be taken as the truth.
Many politicians would doubtless agree with him. Think of all the gaffes that have occurred with our world leaders for instance. Did Gordon Brown really think that Gillian Duffy was a bigot? However gaffes made in private (or when you think the microphone is switched off) is one thing, but doing an about turn on promises made in party politics is quite another – are we now to believe that these u-turns are nothing but comments made in the heat of the moment?
Mr Tony Abbott made a promise that no new taxes would be raised if his party came into power. However he now admits that plans are being made to levy a company tax in order to fund paid maternity leave if his party win the elections this year. In justifying this u-turn he explained in a televised interview that there is a distinction between what he says “in the heat of discussion” and in a carefully prepared statement.
He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation; “the statements that need to be taken absolutely as gospel truth is those carefully prepared, scripted remarks.”
“All of us, when we’re in the heat of verbal combat, so to speak, will sometimes say things that go a little bit further.”
So there you have it, you really cannot trust what a politician says unless it has been carefully worded for him, practised and rehearsed. What a good job Australia doesn’t do televised debates!
Meanwhile the media are declaring this gaffe as one that could haunt Mr Abbott’s election campaign just as Brown’s bigot gaffe did during the last days of the Labour campaign. But as one US journalist once stated; “a gaffe is when a politician tells the truth.”
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One Response to “Could Abbott’s Gaffe Cost Him The Australian Election?”
Comment by Susan Wareham McGrath — May 19, 2010 @ 11:48 am
It was an extraordinary comment from someone who holds himself out as the “Alternative Prime Minister”.
So when I consider who to vote for later this year, who will I choose?
Mr Rudd, with his constant policy changes, which have proven we can’t believe a word he says? Or Mr Abbott who has just told us we can’t believe a word he says?
Effectively, the choice Australians will have in the election is between two parties, neither of which has a leader that inspires confidence in his integrity.
Very disappointing.
Regards
Susan