Wong Way – Go Back
August 7th 2008 06:33
Penny Wong
In fact, all available stats indicate that the issue is, at worst, finely balanced, with roughly equal numbers for and against, with some polls flagging a majority in favour. As a cabinet minister she is obliged to toe the party line, but with a bit of finessing she could have indicated that, although forced to do just that, her true sentiments were otherwise.
One is reminded of the formulation used by the great Francis Urquhart in “House of Cards” – ‘You might say that, but I couldn’t possibly comment.’ However, she lacks either the wit or the will – or maybe both – to come up with an equally telling formulation.
It’s not surprising – she is a monumentally dull public performer, a real backroom policy wonk.
The venom directed at her from gay advocates should not surprise her. After 11 years of the Howard government, in which we were never spoken to at all if it could possibly be avoided, suddenly we have a seat at the cabinet table, occupied by a minister who refuses to act on our behalf.
She tries to ignore the fact that she’s a woman, of Asian extraction, and gay, as if she is operating in some pure meritocratic vacuum. One can understand why – she wants to be taken on her merits rather than be seen as ‘the asian minister’ or ‘the lesbian minister’.
She’s reputed to be formidably clever and focused – but not, it would seem, clever enough, to be all she could be, which would be all the above, at the same time.
| 51 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by danmeek
Comment by Doug Pollard
Current Affairs
Rainbow Reporter
A mate of mine was a very ambitious businessman in the construction industry, a notably homophobic environment. He always argued that by keeping his nose clean, working hard, and saying nothing about his sexuality, he could get to a position of power and make changes from within. This was in the early 1970's.
Well, by the end of the century he made it, he was a board director of one of the biggest construction companies on the world, and he did jack shit.
He finally came out after he retired and started his own business.
This 'change from within' argument that ambitious people always put up is a crock, and a delusion they comfort themselves with.
I have a major problem with our own people colluding in the maintenance of our second-class for the purposes of their personal advancement.
Comment by Anonymous
If all the poofs & dykes in major positions actually came out and did something for the community we would be in an ever better place legally than we are.