What’s the play?

Written By: - Date published: 12:10 pm, October 16th, 2013 - 108 comments
Categories: auckland supercity, len brown, local body elections, Politics, scoundrels - Tags: , , , , ,

No-one’s happy with the revelations about Len Brown’s private life, apart from Slater (himself also an adulterer) who is wallowing in all the details that Chuang seems only too happy to provide. But what’s interesting is that this is clearly a political play. Who’s behind it and what do they have to gain? The players: Slater, Slater snr, Chuang, and Palino.

The timing is a clue. More specifically, why didn’t they drop this during the campaign? Mike’s theory is that it relates to the Banks court case. I respectfully disagree. Sure, it decreased coverage of Dotcom’s appearance yesterday but this is only a pre-trial hearing and if (when) Banks goes down, he’ll go down big.

I reckon, instead, that the timing relates to the election results coming out on Saturday. Chuang herself was standing for election. She wouldn’t have wanted this scandal hurting her own chances, so it couldn’t come out before she knew she had lost.

But isn’t it too late now that Brown’s been re-elected? Not if he resigns.

You’ll note that Chuang – by all accounts a perfectly willing participant in the affair – has been very quick to call for him to resign for the behaviour that she was part of. If she genuinely believed that the affair made him (and her) unfit for office, she would have revealed it ahead of the election.

Let’s draw some links: Chuang was a rightwing candidate, apparently linked to the Palino campaign. Palino’s campaign was run by John Slater, Cameron Slater’s father. Three days after the election results: Chuang’s telling all on Slater’s blog. hmmm.

To what end?

If Brown resigns (he won’t and at this stage I can’t see why he would) Palino doesn’t accede to the mayoralty automatically but he would be far and away the front runner for the new election that would have to be held quickly.

Is that the play? Palino couldn’t beat Brown, so now they’re trying to engineer a new race without Brown and before the Left can find a replacement, and one of the Right’s candidates is only too happy to use her personal life to further that cause.

lprent: Or is it at Rob Emmerson suggests, all just a byproduct of Cameron’s porn fantasies?

Whaleoil inflates Brown


h/t The Irascible Curmudgeon

 

 

108 comments on “What’s the play? ”

  1. Rogue Trooper 1

    Hear from RNZ Midday Report that Quax and some other Blue Ducks are calling for his resignation, followed by concerns being raised amongst Pasifika communities about the appropriateness of his Matai status.

    • ghostwhowalksnz 1.1

      Thats silly, Brown is a cleanskin ( so far ) compared to someone like Boris Johnson

      • Puckish Rogue 1.1.1

        Whats Boris Johnson got to do with this?

        • tamati 1.1.1.1

          Boris “cassanova” Johnson makes Len Brown look as innocent as a choirboy. The difference is Boris never apologies for his conquests, he boasts about them. Then goes up in the polls.

          • Puckish Rogue 1.1.1.1.1

            The difference is Boris johnson has nothing to do with this but keep trying to minimise

    • Unicus 1.2

      No room for an air-head at the top of Council now – Len should appoint Mike Lee his deputy tomorrow

  2. mickysavage 2

    Agreed and finding out when Slater first found out about the relationship is key. My pick is that he has known about this since well before the election but waited until he could cause the most damage.

    • Mickey 2.1

      Oh please, Len Brown is 100% responsible for everything that has happened, no-one else.
      All this talk on blaming the Slaters or Palino or even the right wing in general is just bollocks.
      If Brown thought this wouldn’t come out, then he doesn’t deserve to be mayor, because he’s a bloody idiot.

      • Pascal's bookie 2.1.1

        And once again, as always, the right wing notion of personal responsibility rears its derp filled head.

        Brown is responsible for everything he did. No argument.

        But on what planet is he responsible for what whaleoil does? Please explain to me how Brown is responsible for making whaleoil’s decisions.

  3. King Kong 3

    This is obviously political muckracking by Slater which you are right to oppose. Good job with the aspertions on this birds character and the personal discrediting of her as a whore.

    • BM 3.1

      Yes, Len’s the victim here, people need to remember that.

      • ghostwhowalksnz 3.1.1

        Arent you the type that rails against NZs culture of ‘cutting down tall poppies’

        But you got the headline half right. Browns family is the victim here

        • BM 3.1.1.1

          No, Len was set up.
          I’ve heard from good authority that Bevan Chuang is actually Cameron Slater in drag.

          This is all a very clever and devious plan hatched by crosby textor and implemented by John Key to undermine Len Brown and the left movement in Auckland.

          Big business once again undermining the democratic process, a travesty of the highest order. Shame on you National.

          • ghostwhowalksnz 3.1.1.1.1

            Its no surprise that Banks, a former mayor and Slaters good friend is in court this week, on corruption charges.

            Its likely Slater held back a day due the weather delaying the case.

            And dont you think is strange that a ‘journalist’ is working with Slater o this. A class of people he despises and ridicules whenever possible.

            Just an exception in this case ?. Or are there higher political operatives at work, as its well known there is constant feeding of stories for his blog from the Beehive and nationals shady research unit

            • Tigger 3.1.1.1.1.1

              The right have used Chuang and will discard her when done. KK, don’t paint them as pro-women here. They’re the ones using her like a prostitute. I suspect she was even paid for her services.

    • bad12 3.2

      The only evidence of whoring i have seen round here is your own ‘attention whoring’,(i assume you are bored and trying to earn yourself a spanking),

      The Post points out the ‘truth’ that Bevan Chuang was a willing partner in the little dalliance She and Len engaged in,

      Really what’s She moaning about, Len being a cheapskate and buying Her cheap undies???, perhaps poor old Len’s 4 outta 10 in terms of lustfullness and performance has Her whining,

      Besmirch Her reputation, you like Blubber-boy seem to have both been born with brain damage, if this does anything to Len Brown’s reputation then as a willing partner She must share in that equally…

  4. ghostwhowalksnz 4

    Its Slaters close friends Banks and or Williamson.

    They would be the likely contenders at the next mayoral election, and they need Brown in office ( as does Slater) now in order to run against the usual sins of Len Brown .- Rates ,debt, etc

  5. greywarbler 5

    Good points and the required circular and iterative thinking for this type of political foreplay. Dick Quax – I think he lost all his marbles when he was out running and training. I think he should spend the rest of his life hunting and gathering them together again.

    Just a thought abut Quax and his ilk. I think anyone should take care when considering athletes for politicians, they are too often self centred and narrow goal-driven, silo mentalities. Actors also require wariness, like chameleons they can appear in whatever guise is most advantageous, and tend to fall in love with the role in which they got the most acclaim. The real person can be hidden as Peter Sellers was supposed to be or as unrecognisable as a Vorlon in Babylon 5, but not as far-seeing, almost unknowable.

  6. ghostwhowalksnz 6

    “Prominent media commentator Whale Oil blogger Cameron Slater has been outed for an extra-marital affair by a court judgment this week.”

    That was 2012

    But heres the ‘irony’

    “Cameron Slater said he was aware of the judgment and its content but declined to comment.”

  7. amirite 7

    In any way, it stinks of another right wing set up, just like the sacking of the Environment Canterbury, the suspension of democracy in Christchurch, the police raids on the Herald and TV3, the spying on journalists, the setup and blackmail of Dunne, etc etc etc

  8. Murray 8

    Slater’s involvement takes the edge off the whole issue and makes it all slightly humourous. Who wants to take this buffoon seriously

  9. Sam 9

    Oh poor Len, now he wants understanding about his extra martial affair. He should have thought about it before jumping into the sack with the woman concerned. How the story came out is irrelevant, he is just another politician who could not keep his “wiener” in his pants.

  10. tamati 10

    Nah, there’s no VRWC here. All Slater cares about is is his page view count.

  11. gobsmacked 11

    Meanwhile, in Parliament this afternoon David Cunliffe has produced damning proof that Nick Smith has lied – to Parliament, to the public.

    Therefore, Smith must now resign.

    But no willies were involved, only Ministerial responsibility, integrity and the public interest, so who cares, eh?

    What a sorry mess NZ politics and media have become.

    • NickS 11.1

      Huh?

      Too tired to go digging, so chance of a source? And I’m guessing it was over the dam in Hawke’s Bay. Labour and the Greens are doing brilliant work on it so far, but with clear and undeniable proof, Smith is going to commit a major case of foot-in-mouth and dig himself in deeper.

  12. Tracey 12

    Mickey according to slater he has been talking to the naive woman for “weeks”

  13. King Kong 13

    Good to see all the regular feminists on the Standard (with their ability to find offence seemingly anywhere) are coming out all guns blazing to condemn the blatant mysogeny being displayed in a lot of the references to this slutty chick.

    • felix 13.1

      Could you point to some of these “references” please? The only one I can see is yours.

      Oh hang on, is that what you mean? That no-one’s taking any notice of your horrible comments?

      Poor monkey.

  14. Janus 14

    Were I an Aucklander (which I thank the gods I’m not) I likely would have voted for Brown.

    However, IMHO when you stand for public office you by implication at least subscribe to a higher standard of morals and ethics than apply to the rest of us. Sure, what Len did what not illegal. Sure, at the most basic (sic) level what two consenting adults get up to in private is no-one else’s business. Len Brown the private citizen can get up to whatever he wants to in private and as long as he doesn’t break the law it’s purely a matter for those concerned and those directly concerned by it – ie family.

    But if you voluntarily adopt a public persona you voluntarily adopt a necessarily higher standard. If Len’s wife had known about this and OK’d it I’d rest easy but it appears she didn’t and didn’t. And if Len Brown will deceive his own wife in order to indulge his personal desires what possible confidence could I or any other Aucklander have that he hasn’t or wouldn’t deceive me or us – who has far less right to expect honesty and integrity from him than his wife – if it suits his personal agenda.

    That’s why he must go. It has nothing to do with what he did or who he did it with. It’s because as a result of lying about it his integrity, so necessary to to someone holding public office, is now fatally compromised – just as it is with John Banks and his lies over ‘voluntary contributions’.

    • Rogue Trooper 14.1

      good points, imo, though infidelity would occur across all forms of public office, carried out by a variety of people.

    • karol 14.2

      Thank you for your troolish concern. i am actually an Aucklander and did vote for Brown.

      I do wish that SleazeOil had made Brown’s affairs public before the elcetion ended, so that it could have been factored in to voters decisions.

      You seem to have a skewed view of higher standard morals and ethics. nothing from you about the way Sleaze Oil timed the release of this information so voters wouldn’t learn about it til after the election. Their possible candidates (Palino and Brewer) had little hope of winning the election, even with Brown’s affair in the public domain. So they timed the release of the information to benefit themselves in an un-democratic way.

      It actually would be the worst thing for Auckland, democracy and Aucklanders for Brown to stand down right now. It would create instability. Brown needs to be there to help bed in the new council and boards. An election now would be a farce with out any really credible candidates.

      I prefer Brown to stay, and then see early next year if he is fatally wounded. That would be a better time for another campaign – time for potential candidates to become organised in a full campaign.

      You concern for moral and ethical standards are so skewed to one element in the whole issue, it is hard to take seriously.

    • Pascal's bookie 14.3

      Fair enough. That’s your opinion, and it’s not an uncommon one.

      But is one that baffles me a bit when I think about it, so I’d be genuinely obliged if you could help me out.

      1) What is it that is so special about ‘public office’ that requires this rule? Or does the rule go wider?

      For example, fund managers and executives of listed companies have great responsibilities to the people whose money they manage and to their shareholders, respectively. Are their marriages public property in the same way that you say politicians should be? What of civil servants? Or teachers, police officers, journalists, doctors, the list goes on.

      2) Does this rule only apply to marital infidelity, or is that just an example of the sort of things that politicians should resign for? If the latter, what are some other examples?

      All politicians, for example, use spin on the campaign trail. they actively craft statements in ways to create impressions. To highlight things they think will be positive, and play down the negatives. They refuse to answer questions for example, changing the subject. Why should this sort of thing be accepted as legitimate, which it surely is. This seems to me to go to the trust citizens place in politicians in a much more direct way than marital infidelity does, even though I agree with you that the breach of trust in marital infidelity is great.

      3) Is there any evidence, rough and ready or otherwise, that indicates that politicians who are unfaithful to their spouses are worse as politicians than those who are faithful. The list of politicians who have done appalling things with regard to their family life is long. Ghandi. MLK. Churchill. FDR. I’m sure you get my point. Is there any evidence that this stuff really matters, other than symbolically. Which is not to say that symbols aren’t important. But they can be counterproductive at times.

      thanks.

      • gobsmacked 14.3.1

        Yes, PB. It’s frustrating that we keep asking this basic question (“If it applies to A why does it not apply to B, C, D …”), and never get a reply from those who say he must resign. Gosh, it’s almost as if they don’t care about the principle at all.

        For the 3rd (4th, I’ve lost count?) time I ask – if Brown must resign for infidelity and “lack of integrity”, should all Ministers, mayors and MPs who have done the same in their private lives, also resign?

        If not, explain why not. It’s all “public office”.

    • Adele 14.4

      …As it was, he was queasy and disturbed. He had known the voyage to the Auckland mayoralty would be fatal at worst, an endless rolling trough of white lies and spume that ended on the shattered keyboard of a Council desk, but he had not been prepared for the particular horrors of the journey, of which he was still incapable of speaking, even to himself. Mr Brown was by nature accepting of any deficiencies in his own person—fear and insecurity both turned him exceptionally easy—and it was for this reason that he very uncharacteristically failed to assess the tenor of the extra-marital relationship he had just ended.”

      The above is an extract from ‘Gluminaries’ a non-booker prize winner book about power and stupidity.

      • Rogue Trooper 14.4.1

        MAN!

        • Rogue Trooper 14.4.2.1

          an omnipresence. must talk to vto; this Eleanor Catton has a special mind, reminds me of An Instance of The Finger Post Iain Pears, and Dellilo, Dickens and Fielding (Henry) 😉 just flows, ahhh, The God of Small Things ,a wonderful book. Enjoy (I Will) psss, think of how many hours we read by choice…

  15. Tanz 15

    let’s all throw stones…is Len’s behaviour any better?

    [karol: I have moved this whole thread from the John Banks one. It was taking over and derailing the Banks’ discussion]

    • Te Reo Putake 15.1

      Ha! A tad desperate, Tanz. One had sex with a woman he shouldn’t have sex with, the other fucked with democracy. I think you know who’s gonna come off worse in the long run.

      • chris73 15.1.1

        One is also alleged to have threatened a womens career unless she kept quiet about the affair

        • Te Reo Putake 15.1.1.1

          Yeah, I think we all know you sent those texts, Chris. But nice try anyway.

          • karol 15.1.1.1.1

            Actually, how many texts. Yesterday the story was that she had started receiving threatening texts after Brown broke off the relationship.

            Today it is ONE text.

            • chris73 15.1.1.1.1.1

              Well as long as its only text then thats all right then

              • karol

                The implication of the difference between one text and many is clear.

                Now, do you have anything to say about the sending of Banks to trial, and the act that he had to stand down?

        • felix 15.1.1.2

          Yeah that’s definitely true. No way it’s just something the serial liar and hypocrite Slater told you.

          • Anne 15.1.1.2.1

            What’s the bet SlimeOil and co. set up the anonymous calls to the ‘little lady’ knowing it would look like Len Brown was responsible. It’s the sort of corrupt and slimy trick one would expect of them.

            • chris73 15.1.1.2.1.1

              and I bet they engineered two minute noodle Lens entire affair as well I mean those dastardly righties probably set the whole honey trap themselves…poor El Cheapo Len didn’t stand a chance

              4/10 Len isn’t responsible with credit cards and isn’t responsible around young women but he slapped himself and cut up the credit card while trying to make amends so what do you think hes going to slap and cut up over this?

              • karol

                And John Banks isn’t responsible for the allegedly anonymous donations because he didn’t look at what he signed – even thought here is some pretty compelling evidence that he manipulated the gifting in order to disguise the fact that it was money for future favours?

                tr000ls too busy diverting from such a major anti-democratic piece of Banksie corruption.

                • tinfoilhat

                  Some of us thing that Banks and Brown should both go, hopelessly flawed people who have no place as an MP or Mayor.

              • BM

                Yeah, I wonder if he’ll cut up his junk on national tv, thus demonstrating to the voter that this sort of behavior won’t happen again.

                To be honest I think it’s about the only thing that will save him.

              • The Al1en

                @c73
                Taking your cues and material from sick note slater is really sad, but not as much as seeing a topic about the shady ‘alleged’ criminal John Banks twisted, distorted and diverted onto Len Brown.

                It’s true I think Len should walk, or at least, because it’s so soon to the election, rerun the poll to legitimately earn the mandate fair and square with all facts known, but JB should go to prison because of the criminal nature of his ‘alleged’ illegal activities and what he’s done.

                That you can’t see the discrepancy of severity by linking the two cases or are wilfully running flak is the saddest of all.

        • Colonial Viper 15.1.1.3

          One is also alleged to have threatened a womens career unless she kept quiet about the affair

          Sadly, the biggest threat to that woman’s career appears to have been herself. And her right wing “friends”.

        • ScottGN 15.1.1.4

          Alleged by whom? I’ve been following this story on NZ media today and not one main news site has made this allegation.

          • chris73 15.1.1.4.1

            In her affidavit she was sent a text threatening her career, she alleges it was probably from the unhygienic Len Brown

            • Colonial Viper 15.1.1.4.1.1

              So she attests that it’s her own opinion? Good to know.

              • felix

                Bit weird that she says “probably”.

                Surely she’d recognise Len’s phone number if it was from him. Shit, you’d think she’d have it saved in her contacts.

                Can’t imagine anyone else who’d send such a message from an anonymous number. Oh, except the Slater child of course.

                • the pigman

                  +1 – he would be one of the few who knew the story was going to be run for the month prior…

    • ScottGN 15.2

      Len remembered to list the donation he received from Sky City so yes his behaviour on this matter has been better.

  16. cricklewood 16

    On mobile so no reply button PB. But in answer I would say that if your organization has dismissed staff lower in the pecking order for what amounts to the same offence. It must be very hard to justify why someone all the way to the top should survive the same offence. Imho the same rules should apply in an organisation from top to bottom… if its good for the goose et al

  17. Jeff 17

    This has Crosby and Textor written all over it! Find a willing “victim”. Dangle “victim” in front of “target”. [Target known to have a pre-dilection for Asian girls / women and to be a little loose in his hormonal balance!] Find a “victim” who has a seriously well developed need to become famous (or notorious!) and Bob’s Your Uncle!

  18. Pascal's bookie 18

    There is fair bit of shit being talked by lefties here on this.

    Any claim that this is a honey trap, are just grade A nonsense. Not quite as stupid as when the same claim was made in the Worth case, but not by much. It’s also an offensive claim that’s completely unnecessary.

    Whale is a fuckwit, and so is the ‘journalist’. Both of their track records speak for themselves. Whale’s claims that he has no political motivations are grade A bullshit. Go after that. A day ago you could of all climbed into his hypocrisy about how he treated the Worth complainant, but you’ve pretty much let that boat sail with the crap people have been spouting about this woman.

    I’d say at the moment that the woman has made some poor decisions in trusting them. But really, truly, there is fuck all that needs to be said beyond that. Be better than that. FFS. Attacking her when you have no actual evidence of her doing anything wrong is not only offensive, but it legitimises those tactics. It’s also stupid because it won’t achieve anything.

    And as for any righties paying attention, you clowns are just sickening. You have absolutely no credibility whatsoever, so ya’ll can just keep your yaps out of it too.

  19. Blue 19

    What’s the play? It’s in the first line of this post. The only person who wins is Slater.

    If he wanted Brown out as mayor he’d have told all during the campaign. Don’t anyone try to make me laugh by suggesting he’d wait until he had a signed affidavit.

    Destablising the mayor after he’s been elected is chump change.

    The lady in question doesn’t seem to know what she wants – except possibly attention. Which she is now getting in spades.

    No, the winner of this week’s jackpot is a repulsive right-wing blogger who just broke a massive story that got everyone clicking and restored his ascendancy after his disastrous run as the editor that killed the Truth.

    He wanted to make sure the story was watertight by getting a signed affidavit, his informant wouldn’t provide one or go public until after her own electoral chances were sunk, and he didn’t mind waiting because he couldn’t give a shit about Len Brown – it was really all about him.

    • karol 19.1

      Yep. And now Chuang, not really understanding how she’s been used, has gone to ground, upset at the kind of attention she’s getting, and probably hadn’t anticipated – albeit she’s blaming Team Brown, unwilling to believe how SleazeOil has manipulated her.

  20. Rodel 20

    Slater an adulterer..? C’mon …who’d ever……Oh never mind……
    I just don’t want to think about it…

  21. JLLJames 21

    I’m happy about it, so your post is not accurate.

    Man you guys talk some shit on here.

    /b/

    • Colonial Viper 21.1

      Insightful comment, thanks, you really added to the discussion here.

      • JLLJames 21.1.1

        np. The interesting thing about this saga is how everyone is no longer focusing on how someone who held themselves out to be a religious family man turned out to be quite the opposite. It’s also worth noting that this wasn’t an isolated sexual encounter. That I could understand and, although its morally reprehensible, live with. But there is a definite pattern here of, at a very minimum, misleading those (i.e. his family) who are meant to be the people he cares most about in his life. If that’s how he treats such people, then what else is he getting away with?

        A leopard never changes its spots.

        • Colonial Viper 21.1.1.1

          Hey you want to declare yourself the new Pope and ex-communicate Len Brown, you go right ahead. As tricldown has noted – would you like to sift through all elected officers in the country and fire the ones who have had extra-marital affairs?

        • fender 21.1.1.2

          Are these spots related to the alleged STD ?

          “….what else is he getting away with?”

          I bet he kept his socks on.

          • Rodel 21.1.1.2.1

            JLL James
            ‘A leopard never changes its spots?’ Sorry but that’s a 19th century cliche..
            After Darwin and Dawkins its been proved that they do.. Might take a wee while in Len Brown’s genome and it won’t happen overnight …but it will happen.

            Mine did.

  22. tricldrown 22

    Don Brash and Nick Smith both claimed to be born again christian family men!
    It seems there is some sort of sordid pattern emerging here.

  23. Chris 23

    Not sure why everyone is giving this bit of titillation so much oxygen.

    dnftt

    Mountain/molehill etc

    Now Banks’s funny business on the other hand… that is something worth as much oxygen as possible

  24. the pigman 24

    From Bevan Chuang’s facebook page 2 hours ago:

    “Thank you to my family and friends who have been so supportive of me over the last few days. I don’t intend to make any more public statements in the near future to anybody, as I deeply regret what has happened recently. I have been foolish, but I feel used, abused and manipulated by people I thought were friends who have been taking snippets of what I have said to advance their own political agendas and muck-raking campaigns. And would Cam Slater and Palino’s team PLEASE stop texting and calling me. This is harassment!”

    Would say that the penny has finally dropped…

    (Status is readily shared around FB, in case anyone is worried about privacy issue..)

  25. Tracey 25

    Stop vilifying chuang. Attacks on her suggesting she carries greater responsibility for browns predicament than he does are sexist and hark back to the evil eve nonsense.

    in an interview with michelle hewitson slater said he hates hypocrite s.

    his self loathing speaks volumes.

  26. Tracey 26

    He doesn’t mind being called stupid, or a bully, or vicious. The only things you could call him that would bother him – bothering him sends him into a hissy-fitting cyberspace rage – would be a liar or a hypocrite… hewitson on slater

  27. Sable 27

    Great cartoon. What surprises me most is that revelation that anyone would want to have an affair with Slater in the first place. Reminds me of an old cane toad.

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