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| Headed for political damnation. | |
Tony (prime-ministeral-hopeful) Abbott seems to have lost the plot with his
latest affray into the public spotlight. He seems to have become the
self-appointed moral guardian of Australian society. Normally his speeches are full of good things like union-bashing, and scathing
criticisms of the welfare state, and make good use of his boxing experience to
lay not only the fist, but also the boot, into the ALP's lack of political
agenda. But suddenly, like some right-wing Victorian Feminist, he has started
to blame society's woes on a lack of basic Christian morality. In Aus-2002-08-05-Opinion he laments the effect that "100,000 abortions per year
has on the birth rate" and says that "abortion on demand" is "part of a
tendency to treat human beings as disposable,
throw-away-when-they're-not-convenient commodities", and goes on about how
"modern ambivalence towards the morality of the Ten Commandments reflects loss
of analytical rigour more than loss of religion". Apparently his own punch-drunk analysis did not lead him to the conclusion that
politicians are not there to dictate morality to their constituents, but to do the
job they were voted in for. People might expect their leaders to set an example,
but that's not the same thing. Let's remember too that Tony's past is not
exactly squeaky clean. Most Australians would think those little discretions
with that girl which resulted in adopting out his illegitimate child disqualify
him from such a role. Of course this kind of thing hasn't stopped the pedophile-ridden Church
from appointing themselves as our moral guardians, so I guess Tony thought he'd
give it a go. He goes on to say that government's "task is to change people's minds,
reassure them about their best instincts and touch their hearts". Most
Australians can make up my own mind thanks Tony. And after your history, they
don't want you touching any part of their body, thanks. Perhaps he feels like those American TV
evangelists who (after being caught out committing theft and adultery) proclaim
'the devil made me do it', and then promptly use their new-found intimate
knowledge of the devil as an extra qualification. On the other hand perhaps he is trying to soften his image from the
union-basher to the moral family man. But apparently it's OK to abandon your
families until you find one you like. Or maybe, after recognizing that he has to compete to become Johnny
(retiring-soon) Howard's replacement, he became confused about his main competitor.
He may have confused Peter (Mr Smirky) Costello for his brother Reverend Tim
(lying-for-my-religion) Costello, and thought that religous hypocrisy was the
key. Even Johnny (can't-retire-now) Howard was aghast, proclaiming that the
government is not going to open a debate on family values, and stressing that
moral issues are the choice of the individual. Apparently Little Johnny will
permit us to indulge in immoral excesses behind our compulsory picket fence.
As long as the gate's closed. If Abbott continues to stand on his moral pedestal he leaves his nether
regions vulnerable to a good blow below the belt. And that would give Costello
something to smirk about.
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