Greenshirts and Blackguards
In the Brisbane Sunday Mail newspaper, and other syndicated outlets such as the Herald-Sun, on October 26, 2003, columnist Andrew Bolt published a thoroughly nasty attempt to discredit the Greens, by comparing them to the Nazis. He asserts that their behaviour is the same as the Blackshirts, and therefore they are a threat to society. He takes particular care to paint Bob Brown as a "fanatic", and "an enemy of free speech", though its not the first time he has taken aim at the Greens, through his Nazi filter.
On Tuesday, October 28, Liberal Senator George Brandis makes a speech to parliament, where he makes the same accusations, apparently with permission to quote from Mr. Bolt's column.
It is very interesting that a conservative politician and a conservative columnist are reading from the same script.
The appearance of these vindictive remarks in two 'influential' arenas within a couple of days of each other does strongly suggest campaign to discredit the Greens on a large scale. After all, the Greens are polling very strongly at present, bringing them beyond even the Democrats in some areas, and the degree of support for them in the electorate may decide the next federal election. Mr Bolt's column was certainly a timely bit of information; the appearance of the smear in the media before its use in parliament has the effect of giving credibility to an otherwise potentially defamatory and disposeable attempt at providing content to wrap advertising around.
The use of such a comparison to denigrate a party that is committed to non-violent democratic change is appalling, and has rightly been condemned as such in sections of the community. To use the language of hate against the Greens indicates that there must be serious concern in the conservative sector of society, ever the most vocal and vituperative of minorities, about the impact of environmental and social justice campaigning.
Margo Kingston, scourge of the self-righteous Right, has a good wrap-up on the Brandis speech.
(Thanks to MK for additional information.)
Item posted by AutoEditor at 11:07 am ::
