You’ve got to feel for Moira Gillard. I’m sure when Julia was a little girl, being teased at school, Moira would sweep up her second born and bury that little ginger head in her bosom , saying “Shush your noise my wee one. You can be whoever you want to be.” (she’s Welsh. They say things like ‘shush your noise’ and ‘wee one’). “You can be the Prime Minister of Australia if that’s what you want.”
Today, John and Moira will be holed up in their Adelaide home wondering if this is what they really wanted for their bright, ambitious little girl.
Julia Gillard is in the boxing ring, and she’s having the crap beaten out of her.
Her cabinet colleagues have got her back, but the vitriol from the public is chilling.
If you turn on talkback radio for any length of time, you’ll hear callers use the vilest language to talk about the Prime Minister.
Phrases like “deranged”, “ugly”, “slut” and “unhinged”. I’ve heard people crying over how much they hate her.
Prime Minister of Australia is a job you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy.
From the minute she became PM, the commentary has focused on her looks and her gender. Can you imagine the whole country bagging your nose, your hair, your choice of clothes, your voice… every single time you leave the house?
At a media event last year, Julia Gillard was unveiling a statue of ex-Prime Ministers, John Curtin and Ben Chifley. She was giving a small speech when two young blokes drove past in their ute.
“Dumb c#*t” they yelled out the windows at her.
My jaw cracked, it opened so wide. She didn’t flinch. Not even an eyelid. Didn’t skip a beat, just kept talking like nothing had happened.
It made me incredibly sad to think any woman would hear that and have no reaction. Water off a duck’s back. Imagine how bad things must be if that doesn’t phase her.
It’s not just Julia. Kevin Rudd has had shreds torn off him over the past couple of days. But he’s copping it off his own colleagues.
One of his supporters, Senator Doug Cameron called it “gratuitous political violence”.
“The Party has given Kevin Rudd all the opportunities in the world and he wasted them with his dysfunctional decision making and his deeply demeaning attitude towards other people including our caucus colleagues.” Wayne Swan
“We need to get out of this idea that Kevin is a messiah.” Nicola Roxon
“He can’t win. If he can’t be part of the team then he should exit the team or challenge.” Simon Crean
“Only a psychopath with a giant ego would line up again after being comprehensively rejected by the overwhelming majority of colleagues,” Steve Gibbons
“The Caucus overwhelmingly doesn’t want him back.” Stephen Conroy
Tony Abbott gets his fair share too. His ears. His speedos. His religion…… being a leader in this country makes you fair game to very personal attacks.
It’s our right to debate failed or harmful policies. We should do that more. If you say you’d never vote for Gillard because she presided over this failed policy or she made a bad decision over this issue – that’s completely fair and valid. If you say you’d never vote for Rudd because he couldn’t get this policy through or wasn’t able to manage this situation - again, that’s your democratic right. But to say you wouldn’t vote for her because her voice is annoying, or him because he says dorky things – that’s not productive or relevant to how they do their job. If you use words like slut and psychopath, the political debate in Australia stays firmly in the schoolyard.
These people have families who love them and are proud of them. We’ve heard from Jess Rudd and Therese Rein. They clearly love Kevin. Tim Mathieson has spoken publicly before about his wish for people to be a little kinder to Julia.
I know my Mum would be heart broken to hear complete strangers say they wish I was dead. I’m her baby. Always will be, no matter what. I’m sure Moira Gillard feels the same.
The uglier it gets, the more disrespect we show our leaders, the more unappealing a political career becomes. There’s a generation of bright young things out there thinking, “as if I’d want to be PM.”
When I have children, I certainly won’t be encouraging them into a political career.
Lauren Dubois is a freelance political reporter. You can follow her on Twitter here
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Comments
66 Comments so far
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Here Here!
Judge people on the job they do not their looks and mannerisms!
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This is the first piece of common sense I have read on this topic. I try to teach my students to take the moral high ground when dealing with others who behave inappropriately, around or towards them, however society isn’t providing them with good role models.
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Wow, what a refreshing take on politics. Light-hearted, insightful and honest – not to mention easy to understand. Bravo, I will definitely keep my eyes pealed for more of Lauren’s articles
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Loving your writing, Lauren! Succinct, humorous, factual yet opinionated. Heading over to Twitter to follow you. More from Lauren please, MM!
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“Imagine how bad things must be if that doesn’t phase her.”
I hate to be picky but there is quite a difference between ‘phase’ and ‘faze’.
That (and a few other errors I let slide) aside, thank you for providing me with yet another interesting article to read. I’m not usually one of those people who frequently correct others, especially not in the comments section. However, when it is an article, I feel more care should be taken with editing.
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Oh my, that’s embarrassing. I apologise.
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Unfortunately Mamamia does not have subeditors, so when someone submits a piece, if it hasn’t been edited properly by the writer herself (or himself) — which is not as easy as it sounds, as a writer often just doesn’t ‘see’ copy errors in their own work — the article is published as is. As a writer and editor, I often see inconsistencies in style even with pieces written by the Mamamia team themselves (apostrophes in number form decades, e.g. 1970′s, is a particular bugbear — they’re unnecessary, 1970s is correct. Rick, I’m looking at you.). I would like to see more attention given to this — admittedly that’s the perspective of a grammar/style fascist — as I think it speaks to the professionalism of the site. However, I’m prepared to admit this probably annoys me more than most people.
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Who cares anyway who wins the ballot on Monday? Not me, because the Labor party will still be in office
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Are you asking “who cares?” because you want to know or is that a rhetorical question?
I care.
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so do i
rudd is not a team player
and he started this by doubting julia’s loyalty
it’s now proven beyond any doubt she was absolutely loyal; probably too loyal
on the other side people like abbott and joyce appear to totally unable to face reality
the defeat of malcom turnbull was, and is , a dark and dangerous day in Australia’s troubled history
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How is it that the personal and gratuitous insults cast at Gillard and Abbott are equated with the deeply meaningful comments from colleagues about how he went about doing the job of PM?
I would vote for Bert for PM. In fact, though I might not vote for him, bob brown is kind of a meld of Bert & Ernie. The perfect combo
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The PM has gone up in my estimation in recent months. She’s incredibly resilient, not to mention dignified. She has more crap thrown at her than she deserves and she holds it together in public. I know I’d have been effing and blinding & throwing things at people by now in her position.
I don’t know how this is going to play out but I think she’s a remarkable role model for little girls in Australia.
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essessesse – So good to see these positive comments. She really is an amazing woman, isn’t she? I like to read comments from someone who has seen through the media hype and has formed their own opinions.
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I believe the gender issue has been completely blown out of proportion. I would describe myself as a swing voter who is well informed reading three newspapers per day and following 7.30 etc. I understand we do not directly elect the pm BUT having lived through the chaos of nsw politics the way the labour party behaves is not acceptable. Whoever is the leader of a party influences our vote and it is rare for someone to say hate the leader but love the local member so will vote a particular way. As to abuse it is copped by all sides of politics and we seem to lack respect for not only the politician but the office they hold.
Having said all of that we deserve better than what is on offer.
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Completely agree, could have written that myself. So many people feel like this….
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I distinctly remember coming on here and seeing ugly brutal and indecent comments about Tony Abbott. Funny how everyone here thought appropriate. Just saying
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I clicked on this article because I thought it was about which muppet character you would choose for PM! I guess I got it a bit wrong!
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Vote 1 Gonzo!
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Me too. Not sure which muppet I would have chosen.
Stadler and Waldorf (the grouchy old men in the box seats) would have made fine political commentators though!
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Beaker, he’s such a lovable nerd and miss piggy would kick arse.
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I’d vote for Sam the Eagle, because he looks like one of my lecturers and I would love for that man to be PM!
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Me too. I think Animal for PM. That would at least be fun!
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or Miss Piggy. HIIIIIYAY! *karate chop*
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Hahaha love it! I’d have to vote for Elmo on behalf of my nephew
And I agree that Stadler and Waldorf should take up their positions in the Press Gallery.
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In my opinion people who resort to slagging off others (ministers or otherwise) based on appearance, and use foul language lack the capacity to communicate on an intelligent level only succeeding in demonstrating their own short comings. I cannot take anyone seriously whose entire argument is ‘she is ugly’ or calling her a ‘ranga’ etc. Its disrespectful, juvenile and pathetic. If you object to a policy or a politician ARTICULATE your reasons, justify your stance and use the many millions of words in our language other than baseless obscenities to communicate a comprehensive argument.
It is appalling, some of the comments I have read on this site alone, that resort to disgusting misogynist or superficial insults.
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I agree well said ! Can anyone accuse Julia Gillard of this sort of slander ?
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Actions speak louder than words. Ask Craig Emerson’s wife and children.
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Didn’t she leave him over it?
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Ive heard worse on other sites.
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Sparkle – very well said. Great to read your comments. I wish a lot more people thought like you.
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Beautifully said Sparkle. What you say about other people and how you say it actually reflects on you and what kind of person you are. Or as Audrey Hepburn put it:
“You can tell more about a person by what he says about others, than you can by what others say about him.”
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yes a excellent article Lauren
we should also remember who is actually pulling the strings in the background
as stated on Sky news this morning (26th Feb) Julia only decided to challenge after kev told one of his staff to check the numbers in support of him
and when she did challenge she agreed to delay but the factions told her she had to go immediately
so the blame for the process should at least be shared with the faction leaders
she was obviously not prepared even though she would equally obviously wanted to be the leader at some stage
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I agree with the intent of the article, but on the flip side let’s consider the abuse the public cops from politicians: “silly old bugger” immediately comes to mind as does “meddling priest” and the ever priceless (when discussing victims of domestic violence) “things that batter” from Alexander Downer.
“These people have families who love them…”
Yes indeedy they do, and in the case of Jeff Kennett’s children, they’re the ones who will personally abuse anyone who disagrees with their father.
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And just for balance, let’s not forget the illustrious Julian Burnside’s ‘pedo’ tweet about Tony Abbott in particular and Catholics in general. What about the ‘murderer and baby killer’ taunts at John Howard?
Oh, and Larissa Behrendt’s priceless twit about Bess Price – an Aboriginal woman AT THE COAL FACE who had the unmitigated gall to agree with the ‘intervention.’
Over the last couple of years I can tell you that the ‘left’ are giving far more than they’re getting. There are things written on ‘left’ sites that I couldn’t dream up in a million years.
And lets not forget the ‘Convoy of Incontinence,’ ‘Dinosaurs’ and the charming idea of tattooing ‘Deniers’ and letting them drown.
Julia Gillard LIED to the public and high-fived her collegues when she stomped on Democracy and barrelled through legislation against the wishes of over 70% of the population.
As far as I’m concerned, there is no greater insult.
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I couldn’t agree more with you about ‘things written on left sites.’ I recently jettisoned a literary journal for that very reason.
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Agree 1,000% with you.
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The left-wing viewpoint is rarely represented positively in Australia’s media. Fairfax and Murdoch newspapers are essentially right-wing publications.
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Yes exactly! There is not much left represented at all.
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That was terribly well said. Jane… are you sure you are a Bogan?
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just cos i’m working class doesn’t mean i’m stoopid
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thanks Jane
you made me laugh
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Out of all of this the thing I find most interesting is the confused notions of democracy people have. I agree in Australia we have evolved to informally elect the PM, using our local member as some sort of proxy for the leader but even when it is explained to people how our system really works people still say democracy was ‘stomped on’. Part of me is concerned this is an American influence. Too much American news and movies and media about Presidential elections. Democracy was not stomped on, at all. This is our system of government, as it has nearly always been.
As for the legislation, again, people seem not to understand how Government functions. We do vote for a party based on policies but sometimes the role of Government is be unpopular and make decisions for the best interests of the nation and our long-term future, rather than thinking about tomorrows News Limited headlines. People are speaking as if they expect a referendum on every policy. It doesn’t work like that and it shouldn’t or we would only get popular policies when sometimes we need the tough ones. I am not hugely keen on Julia, I disagree with some of her policies, but I think her heart is in the right place and she feels she is making the best decisions for the nations future – unlike KR who was known to remark ‘how would this play out on Today Tonight tomorrow?’
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A LIE is a LIE and nothing will convince me of her integrity. She rolled over for the Greens ill conceived agenda that’s based on a flawed premise and in doing so showed hers and her party’s contempt for the ‘mug punters.’
They still skite that we’ll forget about it ‘just like they did with the flood levy.’
Democracy is not based on lying to the people but you’re right, unlike the US we are not a Democracy. We are a Socialist country – good and bad – it’s just that our politicians hope we don’t wake up to the fact that out of 21 million people there are only 8 million in full time employment.
That’s a pretty heavy burden. One would think that in order to keep our heads above water we’d be watching our pennies instead of ‘leading the world’ with a carbon tax when everyone else has woken up to the scam!
As Peter Garrett said, ‘Once we get in we’ll change everything.’
And I don’t care whether people are for or agin a carbon tax – the fact that OUR Government lied, steamrolled and then high-fived each other has put a hole in the fabric of our country.
It is shameful and dangerous.
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“Democracy is not based on lying to the people but you’re right, unlike the US we are not a Democracy. We are a Socialist country”
I think it would be news to many people that we are not a democracy. You seem confused about what democracy is and what socialism is. The two are not mutually exclusive. We vote for our politicians, we have democracy. Just because you don’t like every decision they make, or they maybe ‘lie’ doesn’t make it not a democracy. Feel free to vote them out when the time comes using the power of the democracy. We do not vote for every policy in real time. Nowhere does that happen.
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Tony, is that you?
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Really? They high fived did they? Explain how you think we’re a socialist country. I find your definition of socialist very interesting if I go by your post. I’m also interested in why you think the Westminster system of parliament isn’t democratic, seeing that we hold elections regularly and put those elected representatives in office. Also democracy and socialism aren’t on the same “scale”. Oh and gillard is leading a minority party and is obliged to take into account different wants and philosophy’s than those of the ALP.
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People who say we’re not democratic and are socialist should really talk to someone who lived in the former Eastern Europe and see how undemocratic and socialist we are…
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Agree entirely!
We have an entirely different type of politics here in Australia. We elect a representative who then (hopefully) will work as a team member with the party to achieve positive outcomes for the nation as a whole. If you cannot work within that ‘team’ framework, then you are not representing Australia – you are representing your own ego. Kevin Rudd had his chance and blew it. He has let the Labor Party down by this constant bitching and leaking information. Why bother being part of a party if you cannot work within it? If your own party does not want you back, then that says so much.
Agree with the article. Julia Gillard has shown remarkable composure to not react to the personal slanders and name calling. Admire all politicians who live like that and not lose it – and I certainly won’t be encouraging my children into politics.
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Just because Julia Gillard didn’t react outwardly to having “Dumb c#*t” yelled at her, does not mean it was water off a ducks back, either. Perhaps she chose to rise above lowlifes such as the idiots yelling at her, and not give them the satisfaction of a visible reaction. And that is gutsy. I don’t know I could have been as strong.
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Incredibly depressing that so much of the vitriol directed at Julia is not about policy but actually deep-seated misogyny. This is why it is so important that more Julia’s stand up and as mother’s (or Moira’s) we keep whispering in our daughter’s ears “you can be anything”.
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Funny, just as bad, if not worse was fired at Howard, and Abbott. Yet never once has that been called misadry (that I can recall reading). I think you choose to see a gender angle in all of this, which is in itself sad. Insults are insults, and all pollies get the same treatment. They will fireanything at you they think will cut deep. It makes it no worse that the target is a woman.
Can we just loose the cries of misogyny when ever women are insulted. Or otherwise, be consistent and cry misandry when men are insulted.
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I actually think her voice is a relevant, although minor, criticism of Julia. I think she sounds terrible, and I don’t care if people think that is shallow or snobby. Appearances can matter, and she often represents us on the world stage. I don’t see why she didn’t take some speaking lessons to smooth out her voice just a little when she decided on public life aspirations. She doesn’t have to sound like a ponce, just less….cringeworthy. Calling her a dumb sl- and whatever is not called for, but her poor speaking abilities (including the content of many of her speeches) is fair game.
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I think the same can be said of Abbott. If he had less “umms” and “ahs” in his sentences, then he would be that much more appealing. I don’t see any other worlds leaders bumbling their way through speeches, well not since G. Bush.
But that aside, we do not vote for our PM, we vote for our local representative who represents a political party. The party elects a leader. If we are not happy with the party and their policies then we should consider that when casting our votes.
I’m wondering though, where are the republic supporters? Wouldn’t this be a good opportunity to have some dialogue around becoming a republic versus the current system? And what is the GGs take on this? Does she have powers to step in and add any resolution to this soap opera?
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Slightly off topic but I personally think the republic debate is finished until the Queen dies. The older she gets the more people love and admire her. I find the concept of Royalty a joke in this day and age but I still look a picture of the Queen cutting a ribbon and feel warmth for her.
It would be good to hear some constitutional expertise on this. It is quite possible the party will be so deeply divided that it might not be able to function under either leader. Where to from there?
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Remember Nov 11th 1975.
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This should have been under Tonzee73
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I have heard her live in Parliament and her voice doesn’t sound as bad. I think it is when she is talking in a ‘measured’ way that it sounds very nasal and annoying!
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John Howard wasn’t exactly a great orator, but I never saw that come up as a reason he was a poor PM. And no one seemed all that bothered by Gillard’s voice when she was in opposition.
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She speaks like a South Australian. That’s OK with me. I don’t think anyone should have to change their speech to disguise their class, hometown or other aspect of their background. For anything. All Australians DO NOT sound the same. Our politicians, left or right, shouldn’t all have to adopt a middle-class east-coast type of voice to succeed.
Both Julia and Tony are easy to understand and obviously articulate and bright. That is sufficient.
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Thats just revolting behaviour – we’re all humans deserving of courtesy – there are ways to demonstrate disagreement, frustration and anger without resorting to name calling and hysterics. It frustrates me when people make politics about personal image of politicians. When people groan and say ‘ugh, I hate Julia gillard, she’s awful and speaks weirdly’ (or insert comment of choice about any politician) – I always want to know whether they have any idea of the actual policies that the parties (I.e the actual powerbrokers that we’re voting in) – its not about the superficial imagery, its about thr policy an the philosophy of a party not the figurehead (as recent events have shown, the figurehead can come and go).
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BrisGal – I agree with you. But most people can’t see past the superficial imagery. This weekends TV, newspaper and internet hysteria prove that.
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Not wanting to be called names is a bit a lame reason not to get into a profession.
I deleted the rapper phrase from my facebook yesterday because he was name calling politicians without any Actual input into the political discussion.
If you can not make a proper argument on why you do not like a political figure I can’t help but think you are a boring and unintelligent person.
But;
To discourage our young from leading because they may get picked on?
It is rather silly.
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I agree – you wouldn’t discourage your children from doing something because they might get insulted or upset – teach them to value their own worth without the need for validation from others and to be gracious and courteous to others
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I can’t think of a profession where people won’t call you names. Nurses get called names by disruptive patients, teachers by students, bartenders by drunk patrons, journalists by readers. That’s before you even get to the fact that EVERYONE gets slagged off by a co-worker at some point. The only difference here is it is public. Working life can be hard, encourage your child to do whatever and prepare them for it (if they want to go into politics you would be well placed to advise!) they want rather than trying to hide them from the inevitable.
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Well said, Guest and excellent article Lauren. Definitely lots to think about. I know I’ve been guilty before of slagging off politicians about things that don’t matter. It’s so important to remember they are equally as human as I am. Although I must say, I am looking forward to this whole hullabaloo being over…
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