Jacinda is now tolerating racism within her own government.
Yes. While I agree that most calls of racism these days are nothing of the sort, the attack by Shane Jones on the Indian community certainly has more reason to be called racism than any criticism of Meghan Markle’s behaviour as a diva. Why exactly he should blame the Indian community for the downfall of some of our educational institutions when our own officials did nothing to stop the rorts going on at the time is beyond me. Yes, he is doing it because he knows it will appeal to some voters, and it fits with his redneck views, but Jones should remember that he is Maori, and we have all heard endless calls of racism from people of his ilk, so black pots and kettles inevitably come to mind.
Of course, the fact that the statement was made by a Maori negates any racism involved. We all know that only white people can be racist.
But there is no question about this. Jacinda should have brought him into line. Surprise, surprise. She didn’t.
Instead, she has called out to voters to do the tough stuff for her.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has delivered her strongest rebuking of NZ First MP and Minister Shane Jones yet, suggesting that if he was a Labour MP, he would face demotion.
She also urged voters to condemn Jones’ comments – which have been labelled “racist” and “irresponsible” by the Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon – and to “act on their values when it comes to election time”.
“We are in an election year and that has, I think, driven electioneering out of some of the different parties that are in Parliament – that includes parties in the Government.”
I interpret this as a call to voters that Jacinda wants her coalition partner, NZ First to fall below the 5% threshold this year.
After all, she has not openly agreed with Jones. She has merely condoned his statements by doing absolutely nothing about them. She claims that, as she is not the leader of NZ First, she can do nothing about it, but this is not absolutely true. Sure, she cannot fire Jones as an MP, but she most certainly can fire him as a cabinet minister… but she won’t do that either.
Honestly, has there ever been a weaker, more pathetic excuse for a prime minister than Jacinda?
Jones told The Nation last weekend: “I think the number of students that have come from India have ruined many of those [educational] institutions.”
Ardern said he was wrong and that she “totally disagreed” with him.
Well, that’s all right then. She disagrees with him. I’m sure Shane Jones is quaking in his shoes.
But, speaking to the Herald, Jones said he stood by what he said. His boss, NZ First Leader and Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, also backed Jones up, saying he didn’t need to apologise.
A Newspaper.
There you go. Racism is perfectly OK in a party run by a couple of Maoris. If a person of European descent (particularly from the right of the political divide) had made such a statement though… they would have been hounded, forced to apologise and probably forced to resign. But Jones does not even need to apologise. Winston has said so.
But do we detect a tiny bit of frustration in Jacinda’s words here?
If Jacinda is really inviting voters to get rid of NZ First, there is plenty she could do rather than merely throw a few hints. She could start standing up to Winston and Jones. Many people think she should have stood Winston down as deputy prime minister while the SFO is investigating donations to NZ First, but she should certainly now stand Shane Jones down as a minister. After all, what would the consequences be?
Winston can’t cross the floor and form a government with National, because Simon Bridges has ruled that out. He can withdraw his support for the current government, which will most likely mean an early election, but the chances of Jacinda being re-elected, particularly after showing a bit of spine for a change, are reasonably good. And if her gamble pays off and NZ First does not make it back, then she will form a government consisting of Labour and the Greens, which would be her favoured option by a country mile.
Yes, we all know what huge damage such a government would do, but that is up to voters. If the majority votes for that option, we are stuck with it. At least the government will have been put in place by the people though, rather than by someone who won only 7% of the vote.
And if she loses, well… it was a gamble. Waiting until September will not necessarily increase her chances of re-election, but it will give Winston more time to shore up votes by making promises that, once again, he has no intention of keeping.
So go on, Jacinda. Be brave. Show some spine, just for once.
Yes. I’m dreaming. Of course I am.
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