One must be careful not to express hurty feelings in today’s snowflake world. At least that is what Alan Jones is finding out. He’s been told by his employer that if he makes any more remarks along the lines of suggesting Scott Morrison should shove a sock down Jacinda Ardern’s throat he’ll have his contract terminated.
What shouldn’t be overlooked in this is the small matter of a nervous man at a bank terminating a lucrative advertising contract with the station. I wonder what was uppermost in Macquarie Media Chairman Russell Tate’s mind when hauling Jones over the coals? Mr Tate should bear in mind that Alan Jones is number one in the news talk ratings and without ratings, he’ll find it’s not just the nervous man at the bank terminating his advertising.
What also shouldn’t be overlooked is the rather larger matter of free speech. Alan Jones is employed as a talkback host to broadcast his opinions on matters he feels will be of interest to his listeners. They may not necessarily reflect the views of the organisation that employs him but that should not be his concern. His job is to get ratings to attract advertising so the company can make a profit and make little Mr Tate look good.
Scott Morrison said the comments were “disappointing” and “way out of line”. “I have two daughters so you can expect that’s how I would personally feel about it”. What is that supposed to mean? Does he mean that the comments are okay if directed at a man but not acceptable if at a woman? What sort of lily-livered world are we living in? In high profile positions, whether held by male or female, what comes with the territory is the same. I find Mr Morrison’s comments disappointing.
Jaqueline Maley writing in the Sydney Morning Herald said Ardern’s crime was to “lecture” Australia about climate change at the Pacific Islands Forum. She writes that the extent of what she said was that Australia “has to answer to the Pacific” on its climate policy, which is an outrage precisely because it’s stating the obvious, and who does she think she is to do that. Jaqueline, who describes herself as a columnist and senior journalist, is obviously not bright enough to realise that therein lies the crime which is one of hypocrisy.
Alan has to be mindful of what he says but Jacinda can go freely slagging off Australia for treating coal mining, a major contributor to their economy, the same way as we treat agriculture for exactly the same reason. Why is no one saying that we must answer to the Pacific in the same way? This is precisely why Alan Jones, quite rightly, suggested Scott Morrison should (metaphorically) shove a sock down her throat.
Australia shouldn’t have to wear blatant hypocrisy from an utter lightweight and a complete clown. I notice those comments haven’t been disputed in the ensuing fiasco so we must assume that we can take them to be an accurate and honest description of the person concerned.
According to Alex Carey of news.com.au a slew of companies, namely four, have deserted Alan’s programme. One of the companies, Koala said “climate change is real, violence against women starts with words and the bloke has had too many chances”. Give me strength! I ask you, who are the pussies running that outfit? They don’t sound very Aussie to me.