Another kicking for Boris Johnson

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6931359.stm

Dawn Butler and Diane Abbott, Labour MPs for Brent South and Hackney North respectively, said his views on race harked back to the 1950s.

The comments came after the mother of black murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence criticised Mr Johnson's bid.

Mr Johnson is on his party's shortlist to become the Tory candidate for the 2008 mayoral election.

Ms Butler highlighted a 2002 article in which Mr Johnson referred to the Queen being greeted in Commonwealth countries by "flag-waving piccaninnies".


She claimed he also said that he expected, during a mooted visit by Tony Blair to the Congo, that "the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief".

[C0ckney]

labour must be very concerned about his chances of winning for the smears to have started already.

[Krill]

Given the choice between Boris and any for any position I'll take Boris. Hell, Boris for PM

[*End Is Forever*]

Wow, Labour MPs criticise Conservative MP - hold the front page!

I think James Cleverly gets this spat spot on.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Oh, that's a priceless one, Iain. Thanks for sharing. Here we go...

her words are clearly designed to taint Boris with a whiff of racism

She's quoting Boris Johnson's own words, of course. Seriously, Tory boys- do you think it's laudable to refer to "piccaninnies" marvelling at the great white bird?

Is it in some way unfair to quote someone's own words back at them?

That she used exactly the same phases as elements of Livingstone's recent remarks and mirrors his line of attack reduces the credibility of her comments even further

Cracking line of reasoning, don't you think? "It sounds similar to other recent criticisms made about him, and therefore it has no credibility."

She didn't criticise Boris at the time he wrote the articles

I had no idea there was a limitation period on criticising someone's writing. Did anyone else? She probably wasn't even aware of them (it's not like it was in a major publication after all), but now that she is, why should she or anyone else be precluded from criticising them?

she didn't criticise him when he became an MP

Because he's the MP for Henley, and she doesn't live there. Therefore he didn't represent her. Now he's standing for mayor of London- where she does happen to live. Anyone else think that's a valid reason to start objecting now?

OK Iain- as a Tory politician yourself, I'm going to pin you down on this one. Do you think it's acceptable for Boris Johnson to refer to black people in this way? A simple yes or no will suffice.

[Lazerus]

I can't stand Diane Abbott, such a whining hypocrite.

Woo go Boris for PM !!

[Blaupanzer]

Okay, for us US folk, who is Iain?

[Kuciwalker]

I assume it's EiF.

[TheStinger]

Ken Livingstone supports wife beating anti homosexual muslim leaders, but he's left wing so it must be ok.

[*End Is Forever*]

You could always read the article Butler and Abbott were referring to. The entire first half of the article is quite clearly parody.

James Cleverly thinks so too, and presumably as a black Londoner he's in a far better position to judge whether to take offence than either you or I.

[East Street Trader]

I thought Ken Livingstone would just dismiss Boris as a lightweight and leave it at that.

Which would work, I think.

But evidently he takes the guy's challenge seriously - if he is bothering to attack him on this sort of stuff.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by C0ckney
the smears to have started already.

I don't think quoting a buffoon's own words counts as a smear.

Mrs. Lawrence could have said that an M.P. who pontificates about the supposed emotional over-indulgence of Liverpudlians whilst screwing around behind his wife's back is a stinking hypocrite, but that wouldn't have been a smear either.

[molly bloom]

Originally posted by TheStinger
Ken Livingstone supports wife beating anti homosexual muslim leaders, but he's left wing so it must be ok.

I think you'll find some of us in the big gay community have criticised Livingstone for his support of some Muslim 'leaders' and also for his comments to the Jewish reporter of the Evening Standard.

I was unaware that Livingstone being foolish on occasion precluded Johnson from being a bigger idiot, or an hypocrite, or a racist.

I never bought the media presentation of Johnson as 'loveable buffoon'.

Standard Tory boy blockhead with antediluvian views on race and ethnicity is more apt, but less fun on Murdoch rag front pages or 'Have I Got New For You '....

James Cleverly thinks so too, and presumably as a black Londoner he's in a far better position to judge whether to take offence than either you or I.

E.I.F.

So why aren't you deferring to Mrs. Lawrence and Diane Abbott on this issue then ?

Both are black and live in London...

[DrSpike]

Originally posted by Lazarus and the Gimp


Is it in some way unfair to quote someone's own words back at them?

I agree with most of your post, but there is a clear difference between quoting and quoting out of context. The whole article the watermelon quote comes from is a joke. You might still argue it's unacceptable, but I'm sure you'd agree it's a far cry from saying the same words in the context of a serious opinion piece.

I haven't read the picaninnies one.

[ColdPhoenix]

I think he stands a very good chance of winning. I don't like the Tories, have never voted for them and believe I never will. I also think that Ken has done a good job as Mayor *ducks*.

Boris is brilliant though!! He may say offensive things but I'm sure he means well. He just sort of bumbles through life making idiotic mistakes but with good intentions. If anyone could make me vote Tory it's him!