A memory popped up in my history yesterday, Grant Robertson talking about the misogyny and unfair treatment Jacinda Arden experiences from the media. What I found especially sad about it was that it was written seven years ago, before Jacinda was PM, before she was leader, and it could have been written yesterday.
“I am sick to death of the ignorant, sexist bullshit that my friend and colleague Jacinda Ardern has had to put up with in the past few weeks. Of course this is not the first time Jacinda or other female politicians have had to put up with this sort of archaic nonsense, but it has reached a new level.
Fresh from being described in NZ Herald as Labour's "show pony" (in an article about a survey of business leaders who rated her highly!) she has had to put up with being called a "pretty little thing" by a commentator on national television, and having an NBR article about her titled "pretty vacant". In Parliament the National Party MPs sneered and leered when she rose to ask a question this week.
I have worked alongside Jacinda for the best part of a decade. She is intelligent, hard working, engaging and a fundamentally decent human being.”
Any PM should be open to criticism, but shouldn’t that critique actually be based upon the things they say and do, and not their sex? I've probably written enough about the bollocks written to order by the media folks for a while so I’ll focus on the criticisms of normal everyday citizens, you know the ones you share your neighbourhood with - and the voting booth.
Let us assume the criticism is not because Jacinda had undertaken some transformational, un-voted for, shift to the left, she hasn’t. She has turned the boat back in the right direction and is making progress compared to how things would’ve been under more of National. But it is certainly not the communist revolution those who rail against her claim.
While it is believable that some of them genuinely don’t understand the difference between a slightly left of centre democracy and a communist dictatorship let’s be honest, it’s pretty clear from the comments that many hate her because she is a woman.
A woman in charge, more intelligent, capable, and successful than they will ever be so they hide behind the sort of fake names, that even Facebook admins should be able to tell are fake, and spew their bile.
For sure the media doesn’t help, Newstalk ZB working people into a frothing fury against our PM for what? For ratings?
Congratulations you have drawn an audience of the stupidest, angriest, most racist people in the land, what are you going to do with that audience? Oh right poke them with a stick until they’re even angrier - great!
To be fair if I spent the day listening to Mike and Kate and Heather I’d get pretty angry too. But the worst of all, someone that makes Barry Soper sound like he still has his marble collection intact is Jason Walls.
The questions he asked during COVID were so moronic even our ever-patient PM looked at him like WTAF? I think we need to use Jason as an example. I’m not talking head on a spike or even put in the stocks and pelted with canned tomatoes. Do the thing that his audience fears most - send him to university for an education!
If you're just here cos sometimes these posts give you a laugh but you're not really a fan of this government you might want to skip the next couple of paragraphs.
I genuinely think Jacinda Ardern is the greatest Prime Minister of my lifetime, the way she handled March 15 and Covid 19 were extraordinary and I hate to think how average the leadership would have been if the other mob were in charge - it would've been shit. What she gives to this country every day her hard-work, her empathy for her people, is all you could ask for in a leader.
I fully expect to be disappointed by comparison in every future PM for the remainder of my life. The fact that she has to put up with this garbage from the media, and the moronic comments of knuckle dragging troglodytes makes my blood boil <\rant>
Righto welcome back, got that out of my system. Suffice to say I think the PM is quite good, and the treatment she receives in return is poorer than a “bottom dweller” will be once ACT/National get into power.
So the fine citizens of this land, blessed with a fabulous leader and largely spared the worst of what is happening elsewhere - how do they express their gratitude for being among the luckiest people on earth?
Note these aren't examples where I went out and found the worst things people have ever written, these are just things comments from a few articles on a pretty average uneventful day - the sort of stuff posted constantly. Of course you can find far far worse from right wing groups, the Young Nats, or other Incel support groups.
Kelly Taylor of Twizel in South Canterbury in response to the PM talking about Climate Change spending: "Was the defence ‘well the NZ economy isn’t going to crash itself, how else am I going to get them to accept what’s coming’. I’d believe that!"
Yes, Kelly thinks Climate Change spending is being done in order to deliberately crash the economy. Not only to crash the economy, but to do so to support Jacinda’s dastardly plans muhuhuhuhuhu.
Beneath the same article Tanya Ban, asks:
"Really why does she not expect assistance from the Ukraine Consulate in NZ??? What are they doing here then”.
Now some might think the Ukrainian consulate had other things on their mind at the moment but to be fair that is some creative thinking from Tanya that we get the Ukrainian consulate to fix Climate Change for us, once they've freed up a bit obviously.
Tanya doesn't list her location her introduction simply says "Peaceful, Content and Resilient", which you just know is some BS. Tanya is a fan of Winston Peters' posts and likes cheery things like memes saying the Rainbow Pride flag represents Satan.
Adding to the comments on that article Roger Bray of Matamata declares:
"Virtue signalling by Ardern! We could turn the whole of NZ as a forest, no farming or agriculture and it would be meaningless in the World Climate Change!".
Brilliant Roger, should we perhaps do absolutely nothing instead? Have I got the political party for you - meet ACT.
Imagine that mentality, doing something about Climate Change is "virtue signalling" it raises a bigger question. Is there anyone who has ever used the phrase "virtue signalling" that has anything of value to say? It certainly is a complete give away that they are a complete jerk, and proud to be one.
"Get rid of priminster Jacinda. That's a economist. Put her jail for all things she changed an that's effect everbody life an cost of living Make fresh start to country with different party."
The above is from a guy called Gareth Bishop in response to an article advocating that tougher punishments are not the solution to fixing youth crime. Now you might say Nick surely we should encourage those attempting English as a second language. But Gareth is from Ashburton, a part of New Zealand although possibly many of the locals would say not part of Aotearoa.
Then there was an article where the PM was asked whether the body of the Kiwi who was killed in the Ukraine had been found.
Hayden Buchanan of Auckland had a helpful suggestion: "Next Trip, off to Ukraine to go hug everyone while wearing a army helmet". Probably a bit impractical Hayden, there are a lot of people in the Ukraine - that would take simply ages!
The somewhat secretive Glenn Hill said "Ardern and her government are drop kicks. Can't wait for her muppet face to be gone.” Naw - and on an article about the cost of living payment. All I know about Glenn is he is quite keen on that clip-art Weet-Bix box flag - read into that what you will.
In relation to the prospect of Trevor Mallard getting a knighthood Gerry Roodakker of Blenheim writes:
“Typical Ardern, let's give her biggest bully a knighthood. Shows us the morals of Ardern are to knight bullies that serve her. More proof Sharma has outed the liebour government bullying problem”
To be fair it is awful the way those Labour members took part in the four-on-one assault of a third former with weapons - they really should admit their bullying problem. Maybe Michael Woodhouse could help with that. Maybe not.
On the same post Adrian Roberts says “He will get it, he knows all her dirty secrets.” Adrian has a profile photo of an upside down NZ flag saying “end the mandates”
Bede Pelham from Hamilton in response to an article about staff shortages in Queenstown, cue the world’s smallest violins, says:
“Jacinda only wants to bring in the sort of people that refuse to learn English, expect a hand out, live in a motel and never do any good for New Zealand.”
The first post on Bede’s page is a warning poster about the PM being dangerous and armed to the teeth photoshopped with, you guessed it, exaggerated large teeth. I guess it could have been worse it could have been the classic horse’s head that dumb sexist jerks seem to love so much, still plenty of those being posted today. From the look of it Bede has procreated, so yay Bede!
There are trolls about, they don’t necessarily think of themselves as trolls, for all they know they’re just rocking up to a discussion with an opinion - and you don’t need to know things to have an opinion - just ask Jason Walls.
If John Key had handled the last five years anywhere near as well as Jacinda has the media, and these very same people commenting, would be heaping praise upon him - for the exact same actions and outcomes.
A lot of people didn’t like John Key very much, still don’t, but I don’t recall people attacking him over his physical appearance - it was irrelevant to his ability, or otherwise, to do the job.
How is this sort of discourse happening? Why are people talking like that? Are people stupider because of social media or were they always like that and we just weren't exposed to them?
Why are we normalising, by ignoring, the sort of public statements that would be embarrassing if made by an immature 14 year old boy testing the boundaries of idiocy with his mates, let alone grown, supposedly mature, adults?
I’m not wanting to stifle free speech I just think if you see one of these idiots cleanse them with flames. Not literally, that would be unacceptable behaviour despite the provocation. We may not be able to get the trolls to go back under the bridge but let’s at least highlight to these thoughtless Orcs that their juvenile name calling and sexism are pathetic.
Rather than leave you with the “thoughts” of trolls here is the end of Grant’s post - it really could have been written yesterday:
“As politicians you develop a thick skin, and we should be held to account for what we say and do in our work. But no one deserves this kind of crap. Jacinda, I want to acknowledge you for what you do, who you are and how you carry yourself. You are an inspiration and it is a privilege to work alongside you.”
That sounds like the way you should talk about a great prime minister, or at least someone working really hard who deserves respect - even just judging her on her merits in the role. Is that too much to ask?
There are a couple of Facebook pages that I avoid. TVNZ and Jacinda's own page. I avoid them, or at least, put on emotional armour first, because the hate speech and misogyny scares me. I feel ashamed that this stuff from people in our privileged country with the best PM in any of their lifetimes.
well said ! the anti women rhetoric is just disgusting , God alone knows how these scum treat the women in their lives....and History will show Jacinda as one of our very best PM's