Trade trumps human rights for Key

• Eddie
• 14 years ago
• Categories: john key, Media, spin
• Tags: broken promises, granny herald

What a strange little editorial in the Herald today. It’s a typical spin piece that tries to frame John Key’s shoddy behaviour in not meeting the Dalai Lama, despite his promise that he would, as a good thing. The title shows just how willing, desperate even, some are to interpret everything Key does positively – “At least Key is being upfront over Dalai Lama”.

The funny thing is that in dancing on the head of a pin to try to make John Key look good, Granny Herald ends up tripping over her own feet.

We said Helen Clark should have met the Dalai Lama formally [rather than informally in Brisbane] for the sake of free expression, human rights and common courtesy. Those principles demand no less from Mr Key.

But if he has different priorities… the Prime Minister is making no pretence that he is considering anything other than [trade with] China … he is at least being upfront about it, so far.

So, for Key cozying up to Chinese business comes ahead of human rights and “common courtesy”. Nice.