Written By: - Date published: 10:06 am, October 23rd, 2008 - 116 comments
Categories: racism, same old national -
Tags: arthur anae, lockwood smith, nz herald
In the heat of the Lockwood Smith controversy yesterday, some of our right-wing readers had a go at John A for posting a link to National’s racist 1975 election ad with the comment that “underneath they haven’t changed”.
In light of this, I thought the comments in the Herald today from National’s first Pacific Island MP, Arthur Anae, were rather interesting:
Arthur Anae, who is Samoan but was born in Fiji, said it was a ploy by Dr Smith to win votes from the “white community”.
“It’s bloody insulting that he said that. Some people have been here over 60 years. How dare he say that? Now people understand why I am no longer part of that party. It’s a clear indication of what the underbelly is over there towards Pacific people.
“You do have an element of redneck that’s in there and that surfaces when you read between the lines. I feel sorry for John Key and Bill English, who I believe firmly do believe in the Pacific community.
“This is what happens when people want power, they become immigration spokesman so they want to hit the lowest they can with what they say to win some votes from the white community, shall I put it that way. That sucks.”
Says it all, really.
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National Nazi party
“what they say to win some votes from the white community”
Wasn’t he suggesting that the RSE be expanded to include Asian workers? I would have thought, if anything, this would appeal to the Asian community. The problem is making crude comments about hand size which is offensive.
I didn’t find the hand comments offensive just dim wittewd (perhaps I’m racist) I thought Helen’s comments were very good…. along the lines of it was a daft thing to say maybe he should have engaged the brain before opening the mouth …… women have smaller hands than men perhaps we should just have women doing the work.
Lampie,
I refer you to Godwin’s Law.
HS: Seen this?
L
more like “No Necks”. hahahahahaha!
I would never suggest the National Party are Nazi or even remotely near it, but the kind of racial hatred the 1975 ad is trying to stoke comes pretty damn close in its methods.
An old union comrade just told me Hannah Barbera also made ads for Pinochet around the same time. Don’t know if that’s true, but it would sure make a lot of sense.
BenR “The problem is making crude comments about hand size which is offensive.”
Smith also made comments to the effect that he didn’t think employers under this scheme should have to pay to train Pacific Islanders how to use ’21st century NZ appliances’ like toilets, showers, washing machines….. THAT, my friend, is not only offensive on so many levels, it’s culturally arrogant.
National’s bright “vision for the future” is merely a re-hash of policies that undeniably failed our communities in the past. And, ridiculously, they are being brought to us by the same old privileged and prejudiced fools that fronted them then too.
Smith? McCully? Ryall? English?
No thanks.
I think calling the National Party Nazi’s would be a bit ludicrous considering John Key’s ancestral heritage, eh? It’s a non-starter, folks!
They’re quite choice quotes. I think Arthur will irritate a lot of people in the National Party with those comments, since it’s clear that he’s simply grandstanding. There is no evidence that Lockwood Smith was deliberately having a go at PI people; they were loose comments from somebody who didn’t have much control over what he was saying. To characterise Lockwood’s stupid comments as a deliberate attempt to pander to the redneck vote is just silly.
Mind you, this is election season, and lots of people will try to capitalise on it.
John Key appears, from reports, to have told Lockwood that his comments have cost him the Immigration Minister’s job. Likewise Maurice appears to have been told that he’s out of contention for the Transport Minister’s job. Maurice will feel that pretty deeply I suspect; it probably means Lockwood’s out of cabinet contention altogether. Harsh consequences for loose lips, but it shows a contrast between the discipline Key will apply to his Cabinet, and what Helen has allowed Winston to get away with for the last year.
If I were one of the other long-standing National MPs who might be in contention for culling in 2011, I would be VERY careful about what I said over the next three weeks.
What about Winston’s comments bout Asian jockeys?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz-election-2008/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501799&objectid=10539006
Or is this a case of
National = racist
NZF = stating a comment form someone else
You can’t have it both ways so I am looking forward to your post condemming the corrup ex Minister of Racing.
[Tane: John, no one on this site has defended Winston's racism. In fact, we've frequently condemned it.]
National were the idiots who brought in compulsory helmet wearing for bike riders instead of focussing on the bad driving habits of new zealanders. the net effect has been to discourage bike riding and more idiots in cars and motorbikes fulfilling their destiny on new zealands roads. more humbug.
Every progressive male in NZ would have had, at some point in their life, a right-wing guy spout off racist crap to them. It is no secret what these bastards really think, and it is fucking disgusting.
Tim Ellis: “John Key appears, from reports”
What ‘reports’? Do you mean ‘rumours’?
Ive always found it astounding that should I make it clear im a Labour Party/Green supporter, certain people eg. whaleoil bloggers, would call me a Communist/Hippie respectively. My response would be to call the national party just as an earlier commenter made, or you alluded to a … oh well you know what I mean. Thankfully I try not to get in to the mud slinging.
Great post by the way and link to the ad. all this plus watching my flatmates last night try and defend Lockwood with ‘Oh well he was just quoting local winemakers’ and the usual tripe of ‘oh but often they do have small hands’ riiiiiighht. Stepping back in time we are.
Captcha: ing pruyn ….. ummm? I couldnt read them any other way
Lew
Yep he he – silly season is upon us !
I see you recently tried to communicate with the she who doesn’t wish to be disagreed with – now that is silly !
“BenR “The problem is making crude comments about hand size which is offensive.’
Smith also made comments to the effect that he didn’t think employers under this scheme should have to pay to train Pacific Islanders how to use ’21st century NZ appliances’ like toilets, showers, washing machines .. THAT, my friend, is not only offensive on so many levels, it’s culturally arrogant.”
As someone else has posted, Eric Rush says the same thing in his book. Obviously it’s amazing a politician would be so explicit, normally you’d couch it in terms like ‘adjustments to the new environment’ or culture shock.
In any case, I see that Smith & Williamson look like they’ll lose their portfolios.
Tim, Why do you say he is grandstanding? It isn’t ‘clear’ at all. That’s just you baselessly calling him a liar or something.
He couldn’t possibly mean it eh.
HS I have no wish to communicate with you and that is not silly. why dont you take your creepy little games elsewhere?
You betcha they haven’t changed. Careful, Pita……hold that tongue and let Tari make the running.
Be afraid. Be very afraid. When the “ministers sacked before they take office” and other bumbles send the nat poll sub-50, tory Orewa One fingers will get very itchy….
Despite its utter predictability (to all but himself and the most wishful-thinking tory morons), Slippery looked genuinely hurt by the Green’s announcement this week: if all the crawling work done on the MP tuns to custard, it’s tantrum time – and “whatever it takes” will include the Race Card (in the Nicest possible way, of course).
Colin Espiner’s latest blog post is a feeler: no real outrage in comments yet, but wait till the next poll dishes the reality up……
Labour must take the initiative to avoid a sucker punch in the last week: trumpet the achievements to date and the work yet to do. And warn the public that NACT won’t hesitate to revisit the gutter.
danny,
Agreed, and I find them sad bunnies and scary at the same time. The worst is when it comes from white males who are well educated and will end up in some office job in town, yet are still so ignorant and prejudiced.
Ive always wondered what instills this hatred in peoples minds? Parents? Bad experiences?
Sorry about all the moderation, folks. The spam trap doesn’t like the word ‘Nazi’.
Oh, DeeDub, I should have linked to the following article: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10539010
Captcha: “Lockwood finished”. Very spooky.
BenR: “As someone else has posted, Eric Rush says the same thing in his book. Obviously it’s amazing a politician would be so explicit, normally you’d couch it in terms like ‘adjustments to the new environment’ or culture shock.
In any case, I see that Smith & Williamson look like they’ll lose their portfolios.”
Oh, I see! Silly me. So it’s ok to THINK like that as long as you don’t say it in public?!!!
Does Eric Rush really comment in his book that employers shouldn’t have to pay to train Pacific Island people to use “21st century New Zealand appliances”?
Who says Smith & Williamson (doesn’t that sound like some sort of firearms manufacturer?) will lose their portfolios?? The rumour mill is grinding away already, folks!
“I would never suggest the National Party are Nazi or even remotely near it, but the kind of racial hatred the 1975 ad is trying to stoke comes pretty damn close in its methods.”
And that is what we don’t need especially stupid comments like yesterday.
“To characterise Lockwood’s stupid comments as a deliberate attempt to pander to the redneck vote is just silly.”
Bet it does though!!!
“The worst is when it comes from white males who are well educated and will end up in some office job in town, yet are still so ignorant and prejudiced.”
Isn’t it ironic though that people who are well educated and liberal tend to live in middle class predominantly white neighbourhoods & ensure their kids go to private or predominantly white schools?
whatever but rednecks are still rednecks. they substitute violence for thought and think they are intelligent when they are just thugs.
Tim Ellis: “Oh, DeeDub, I should have linked to the following article: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10539010 ”
And the key phrase from that article is:
” Oh, DeeDub, I should have linked to the following article: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10539010
“…. the Herald understands.” Which is Journospeak for ‘possibly bullshit but it’ll make a good lead’.
IF the Nats get in – and frankly that’s looking less likely by the day – it will be interesting to see if any of this speculation about portfolios bears fruit…
“Does Eric Rush really comment in his book that employers shouldn’t have to pay to train Pacific Island people to use “21st century New Zealand appliances’?”
I think the comment was that the guy didn’t know how to use a toilet.
“Oh, I see! Silly me. So it’s ok to THINK like that as long as you don’t say it in public?!!! ”
I’m not sure what you mean, if someone comes from a totally different culture it’s not that surprising they may have a period of adjusting to do. Have you travelled round many Island nations? The lifestyle is a lot different in many cases, acknowledging that and recognising people may need support to adjust is simply being realistic.
Ben R,
I’d disagree that people who are liberal send their kids to private schools, those are right-wing breeding grounds judging by the schools I know. And I’m not sure I see the irony your pointing out?
Ive heard of research (infact a guy who’d written a book on it was on Jon Stewarts Daily Show a couple weeks ago) that as population density increases, the more liberal and left-wing the people get. Clearly because you’d begin to have more interaction with a wider range of cultures and socio-economic groups. Therefore when you think of people who are well educated and liberal it tends to make sense that they are who they are, even though they may come from a white neighbourhood, because probably: They live in a city or large town, and the more education the more liberal you will probably become eg. Most academia I’ve encountered are all staunchly liberal with the exceptions in the commerce departments. Thats the irony I see when people who come through all that somehow end up all biggoted
“The worst is when it comes from white males who are well educated and will end up in some office job in town, yet are still so ignorant and prejudiced.’
Isn’t it ironic though that people who are well educated and liberal tend to live in middle class predominantly white neighbourhoods & ensure their kids go to private or predominantly white schools?
aw for f*** sake…..git!
BenR: “I’m not sure what you mean, if someone comes from a totally different culture it’s not that surprising they may have a period of adjusting to do. Have you travelled round many Island nations? The lifestyle is a lot different in many cases, acknowledging that and recognising people may need support to adjust is simply being realistic.”
Yes, I have visited a few of the Pacific Islands over the years. Yes, the lifestyle is very different in places. But do you really think any people need to be ‘trained’ (and remeber Lockwood was worried about the COST to employers???!!) to use a toilet, a shower? Come on, mate!?! Get real.
Smith using phrases like “21st century NZ appliances” imlpies an innate cultural arrogance and it’s in such language bias that he reveals himself as a 20th century thinker.
Gameshow host!
think calling the National Party ***** would be a bit ludicrous considering John Key’s ancestral heritage, eh? It’s a non-starter, folks!
Not implying thay are actual *****.
Infact now that I’ve read this a few times:
Ben R: Isn’t it ironic though that people who are well educated and liberal tend to live in middle class predominantly white neighbourhoods & ensure their kids go to private or predominantly white schools?
I wholeheartedly disagree with you. I dont think its ironic at all, education is a very important facet in making people more liberal as I stated in my previous comment. Again, I stress the irony is that people who are well educated end up being bigots. Maybe its cos they went to a private school with a bunch of other tory prodigys! And maybe thats why Jonny friendly wants to give private schools more funding!!! to further enhance these factories.
Explain yourself