What's that you say Todd McClay?
"Racist and unacceptable behaviour" in the house.
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentleman
Like you imagined when you were young
You’re Not In Guatemala Now
We all know the famous line from Shortland Street, even if we haven’t watched the show in 30 years, probably even if we’re never seen it. Those stern matronly words to Temuera Morrison, “You're not In Guatemala now, Dr Ropata.”
They’ve become part of our folklore, quoted in good natured tones from here to, I imagine, the back of buses with Kiwi backpackers arriving in said Central American nation. Even when it’s used to mock the programme that gave it to us we’re kind of laughing at ourselves, it might be a bit naff at times, but it’s ours.
But it wasn’t spoken in positive, or even gently mocking tones this week when a similar phrase was used in parliament to denigrate another member.
You’re Not In Mexico Now
Yes, Todd McClay, the Minister of Trade, and the MP for Rotorua shouted “you’re not in Mexico now” at Green MP Ricardo Menendez-March. Which is true, but let’s assume that McClay was not merely looking to provide geographical assistance.
Actually let’s look at what he said in full, which was “You're not in Mexico now. We don't do things like that here”. Can you hear the sneer and tone of that second sentence? I can, in fact I’m surprised, and glad to be honest, that he didn’t add “boy” at the end. That was certainly how he was saying it - “we don’t do thing like that around here - boy.”
I look at those words and they remind me of home, the place that I grew up. The thing that McClay, Temuera Morrison, and I have in common is being from Rotorua. I haven’t lived there in thirty years but it will always be home - it’s the place I dream of.
When I was growing up there, and I imagine when Temuera was, there was a lot of pompous gammon-faced bluster from people like McClay, often addressed at Māori, along those lines.
You’re Not In Whaka Now
I have a memory from when I was about ten of Saturday Morning football, soccer in those days. My team were playing an away game to Whaka, which was a fairly impoverished, mostly Māori, area and school. Prior to the game I remember the referee checking the sprigs on boots to ensure they were not metal, as with a rugby boot.
Which is fair enough, it was against the rules and sometimes kids turned up wearing an older brother’s rugby boots. But the thing is I never saw them check boots at any other game, against any other team - just the Māori one.
When I heard about McClay contemptuously saying “you’re not in Mexico now” I could well think back down the years and picture him smirking at one of those kids “you’re not in Whaka now - boy.”
Coming from Rotorua it really bugs me that the MP representing that town, with a high proportion of Māori, is someone like McClay. A smarmy car salesman type who doesn’t give a stuff about many of his constituents and is quite frankly not very bloody good at what he does. And I don’t just say that last bit because I don’t like him.
Do you remember when McClay was Trade Minister under the Key government, how he flapped about saying “it couldn’t be done” over trade deals? Then Labour came in and just got them done. Just did it. When it comes to trade deals Labour gets them done, while people like McClay back slap and guffaw, throwing disparaging comments at the opposition benches instead.
If you think I’m being unfair ponder this - if there’s a major trade negotiation who do you think is being sent to represent Aotearoa? That would be Luxon himself, or Peters, or even Judith, or it seems pretty much anyone but McClay.
What the hell was he thinking? Can you imagine if a senior Labour MP got up in parliament and started berating Melissa Lee saying “You’re not in Korea now”, or one of the Greens got up and started yelling “you’re not in Transylvania now” at Brooke von Velden? It wouldn’t happen, but if it did I suspect it would’ve received rather more condemnation.
So who is Ricardo Menendez-March?
Ricardo moved to Aotearoa from Tijuana Mexico back in 2006 at the age of 18, so he’s lived half his life so far in Mexico, and half here. He’s gay, unquestionably socialist, and smaller in real life than you might imagine.
Some find him a bit annoying with his earnest intent and he’s probably rubbed a few lefties up the wrong way asking hard questions of the former Labour government, urging them to do more, and go faster.
Menendez-March has been an MP since 2020 and was extensively involved in politics prior to that. At a debate at Auckland Uni in 2016 a group of Young NZ First members chanted “Build a Wall” at him.
While NZ First, think Shane Jones and his “Put New Zealand First” cap or their obsession with issues like who can use which bathroom, seem keen to model themselves on the US right, I don’t get the same vibe from National. They seem more intent on following the example of the Conservatives in the UK - more for the wealthy, austerity for the bottom feeders, and assets to be privatised.
Yet those Trumpian tones will reach some ears no doubt, giving it to the Mexican - just like their hero across the Pacific, regardless.
It’s not that I don’t think McClay is guilty of racism, I’m sure he has the requisite amount to fit it. It’s rather than I don’t credit him with the intellect to have thought it through and planned it that way. His words seem more Shortland Street than Trump, and the thought that he might concurrently have considered both ideas seems a bit far fetched.
Racist and Unacceptable
Ricardo complained with a Point of Order, saying the comments were “racist and unacceptable”. His colleagues around him looked rightly appalled.
The Speaker, Gerry Brownlee, glowered at him and said, “look sonny, if I had a hot dinner for every time someone told me one of my National colleagues was being racist and unacceptable, well, I’d have to cut back on the pies.”
Gerry didn’t actually say that, he said McClay should withdraw and apologise, which he did. Naw. Don’t you find that apologies for racism and unacceptable behaviour are so much more genuine when done under the duress of being told to make them?
What do you think? Is this all a bit precious? Doesn’t McClay as Big Chief Gammon have the right to sneer at the Mexican immigrant using a now traditional, well loved phrase? Aren’t National allowed to act a bit racist and unacceptable?
This is a democracy, presumably that’s what their supporters want to see from them. I mean, I assume that’s why they do things like this, and all the anti-Māori stuff, to play to their crowd.
To let them know they’re one of them, not like this Mexican.
“You’re not in Whaka now - boy”.
Today’s song doesn’t have a lot to do with this topic, although it is set in Mexico. I remember seeing the Killers at a Big Day Out years ago, that soaring guitar blasting around Mt Smart - a happy memory.
Went to school with his father, Rodgers, gotta say the apple didn't fall too far from the tree.
Interesting to note the different treatment meted out to green Genter as opposed to a tory.
Yesterday's question time really showed the ineptitude of Luxton and his lot when Act did their little pantomime over the wearing of badges/pins and were taken to task by Gerry. Showed how much influence Seymour has and how willing the other clowns are to put up with hi faux outrage, while also adopting and supporting his racist policies.