Anyone else catch Postie Johnson being interviewed by Naughtie this morning on the topic of those Downing Street smears? For me, the crux of this interview – which sums up the BBC approach – is that Johnson was blatantly allowed to get away with suggesting that Gordon Brown could not be held responsible for everything that people who surround him get up to. Naughtie eventually DID bring up the substantive point that McBride was not exactly some anonymous low-ranking individual but rather a senior and trusted Brown strategist but even then, he let Johnson walk away from the clear infererence. Gordon Brown has taken the well know Trumanism and inverted it “The Buck never stops here” and the BBC plays along with this ludicrous charade. Can you imagine the difference in tenacity and tone from the BBC had we a Conservative Prime Minister presiding over such a sleaze culture?
Thank you
I note that the wing of British political life that gave us men kissing each other on national children’s’ television, that celebrates pretty much all the lengths – ahem – and widths and depths and flavours of sexuality in dramas, soap operas, film and documentaries, (with the possible exceptions of church-married couples getting it on, plus the less artistic and tasteful literary expressions of adult-child love), chooses to go straight for the parts other parties might miss.
I see it was an allegedly gay Tory MP’s partner who was supposed to have profited from his parliamentary contacts.
Cross-dressing for Mister Osborne, and using drugs (far out, man!) and a ‘sex worker.’
A one-night stand of casual sex for a married MP (like, if it feels good and nobody finds out, who’s hurt?)
Yet all hell would break loose if anyone criticised any one of those people who get rid of the commonest unwanted consequence of unprotected and casual sex.
BBC and New Labour and kinky sex :
’We’re lovin’ it. Except when we can libel the Tories for it.’
Interesting that BBC hasn’t run a Have your Say on their website for this topic
North Northwester – very good point. Surely Brown’s bully boys should all be sent to PC correction school along with Prince Harry?
As for Postie Johnson’s interview it was so utterly mendacious from beginning to end it became a total joke. Naughtie failed to press him on any of the tough questions. What a charade.
Jim should have made much more of the fact that Brown shifted McBride to arguably a more powerful position after the Ruth Kelly 3am brieing rather than disposing of his services.
DV
You obviously missed Laura Kuenssberg (BBC political correspondent) on the News on BBC1 at around 10:00 last night telling us that “of course” Gordon Brown had nothing to do with this.
Fat slug Stephen Nolan spinning to save McNokia on Radio 5.
First caller.. a Labour activist.
We also know Nolan is a Socialists supporter himself.
It didn’t take Radio 5 long did it? Radio5 saying the US Navy “have defended their decision to free the Captain”
Even with Obama in charge the BBC can’t resist the dig.
Gordon Brown could not be held responsible for everything that people who surround him get up to
Unlike Generalissimo Obama who, after the operation is safely over, can be revealed to be in charge
US navy snipers have shot dead three pirates holding a US captain in a boat off Somalia, in a dramatic rescue authorised by President Barack Obama
(NB I welcome Obama’a readiness to take out the vermin & the media’s sycophancy is my biggest problem with Obama)
will2001: It’s more likely that it was Gates who told Obama to pull his finger out.
Radio 5 phone-in this morning “Should Gordon Brown apologise or are the nasty Tories making too much of it” . One low ranking conservative MP was mauled by three obviously pre-arranged labour supporters. There were no outside calls from conservative sympathisers (just a couple of emails) It just came over as a very crude “save Gordon” excercsie. You only have to look at the labour website to see evidence that labour are geared up to use smear tactics.
They carried the Osbourne on a yatch story for days. This one will be buried in hours.
Nolan just asks a caller if he’s a Tory as he’s having a go at the fat one eyed one. Note, Nolan didn’t ask any callers that are Liebour supporters.
I notice that when Sky News show a picture of McBride they use the one of him side by side with the Bogeyman.
But the BBC just use a cropped and blurred image of McBride cutting out anyone around him.
Interesting how the beeboids choose to interview postman pat, rather than say, tom watson, who is clearly up to his neck in it and to whom there is an substantiated link to the smears e-mails!!!
the bbc, spinning for nulab, its what we do !
I heard the beeboid drones utter such nuggets as, ‘nobody is suggesting that Brown was involved’ and ‘clearly Brown knew nothing of the plot’ and this was almost as soon as the story came out, the speed with which the BBC issued its defence of Brown will surely not go unoticed now?
As soon as the BBC were forced to report on the story they have cleared Brown of any involvement and absolved him of any responsibility for what his closest advisors get upto, no investigation is required, no finding out the facts or weighing the evidence for the BBC, lightning fast BBC protection for Brown regardless of the evidence.
Toady obviously thought that the Tories had nothing worthwhile to say on the matter, I mean what possibe contribution could the actual victims make?
It didn’t take Radio 5 long did it? Radio5 saying the US Navy “have defended their decision to free the Captain”
Martin | 13.04.09 – 10:20 am | #
http://www.haloscan.com/comments/patrickcrozier/7717475339604397766/?a=33713#460075
And for my next trick…:)
Backwoodsman,
Great spot there, obviously the beeboids needed a clean skin not(yet)implicated and who could answer some easy questions, had they invited on someone like Watson, they would have made some uncomfortable facts clearer.
Listening to and reading the BBC’s coverage of McWatergate, there are several inferences to be drawn:
(1) Of course, Gordon Brown had nothing to do with this;
(2) Of course, Gordon Brown had nothing to do with this;
(3) Of course, Gordon Brown had nothing to do with this;
(4) Of course, Gordon Brown had nothing to do with this;
(5) Of course, Gordon Brown had nothing to do with this.
The BBC have been following this story with all the vigour of a lame, geriatric beagle.
I wonder if Brown will plunder the BBC – again – for McBride’s replacement?
Looks like Nolans got Labour HQ taking turns on the phone!!
Yep the fat bastard Stephen Nolan is spinning for McSnot again.
Peter: Spot on. There is talk that the one terrorist that survived being prosecuted in the USA.
Well he’ll get off. He and his buddies were clearly not challenged first nor read their MIRANDA rights.
He will get off on a technicality. They should have slotted him as well when they had the chance.
I see Nolan brought up Caroline spelman again. Is there nothing this fat wanker won’t do?
To be fair to the BBC, this journalist didn’t give Alan Johnson an easy ride on this video:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7996427.stm
Mind you he’ll probably get sacked for it.
Shiver me timbers.
Could everyone please stop referring to the Somali “pirates.”
This sort of racist 18th century language does not help us all become global socialist serfs.
They are UNDOCUMENTED SEAFARERS FALLEN ON HARD TIMES, simply doing the scurvy jobs we won’t do.
Arrrr, Jim lad,
Is this the total Interview with Nadine Dorries? It would seem from comments on other bloggs that it is not.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7996427.stm
Just glanced at the bbc news website.Obviously the ‘smear campaign’ story is given only minor coverage but its ‘headline’ tells it all……’PM APOLOGY NOT NEEDED’
The postman Johnson splurge about how could Brown possibly aware of what was going on and how he is not responsible – is now being used on Radio2 news reports.
So the leader of an organisation – the chief executive – who alsp is the managing director of the country – is not responsible for employees whose task is to keep him in power? — who is responsible then – God?
So the man who deliberately went out to buy a Rottweiler tries to pretend he had no idea it was fierce?
And the BBC expects us to believe this rubbish?
It’s not just ZaNuLabour’s credibility (in so far as it has any left) that will have suffered from this.
Can this be true?!!!!!!!!!!!!
Un-frigging believable if it is.
“…5 Live called to say they were being leaned on by lawyers with regard to any reference to Tom Watson MP and before I went on, would I just be aware of that.
I asked them what they wanted me to do with that information and were they saying I couldn’t talk about Tom Watson? No said the researcher, we are just under a bit of pressure here, that’s all, just be careful.
BBC Breakfast producer told me they weren’t taking Derek Draper on because they were being leaned on by his lawyers and he had already made ‘legal’ noises against them.
So what’s going on here then?
I’m going to stay in the constituency as I have work to do….”
http://blog.dorries.org/Blog.aspx
Excellent and dignified article by Nadine.
I have a couple of fears about this. Firstly, that since the material is out then many will be inclined to half believe it,”no smoke without fire” etc.
Secondly, that our media friends in general and Beeboids in particular will bring up some stories in a week or two to show that, “they’re all the same in this respect.”
I reckon Beeb and others will be working hard now to show instances of attempted Tory character smearing, disinformation or other kind of “black story” activity.
Even if they can’t do this directly and convincingly, there will be a concerted attempt to shift attention to the Tories.
As their beloved Labour is going to lose the election whatever they do, you’d think the BBC would have the good sense to keep quiet and cut back on the pro-Labour tactics.
The BBC should now be concentrating on ensuring it doesn’t antagonise the leadership of the next Tory government. That government might last 18 years like the last one, and in the fast moving world of broadcasting and technology it is unlikely that such an administration would see fit to preserve the current antiquated method of BBC funding. To get the best deal the BBC needs to start being nice to the Tories.
The second item on the 1:00 News on Radio 4 was that Alan Johnson has stated that it’s nothing to do with Gordon and the third item was that some clowns have claimed that killing pirates will only make the problem of piracy worse.
The “Gordon knew nothing” theme coming from a speak your weight cabinet minister is NOT NEWS. It would have been news had Johnson said on air that Gordon knew all about it and, moreover, suggested some of the smears.
Mind you, it must have been more difficult for the BBC to report the piracy claims since it was the Blessed One who authorised the US action. But hey, in victimhood poker, guess which religious group always trumps every other hand?
How does Alan Johnson – and a lot of beeboids – KNOW that Brown is innocent ?
I am sure Cameron will be watching all this closely. He has asked for a straight apology from Brown, an apology he and the others being smeared are entitled to.
The BBC are busy trying to put up a smokescreen on behalf of Brown, trying to downplay the need for an apology. Which is easier when Parliament is in recess.
But the story has several more days to run – and will be revved up again next Sunday.
The BBC is being really dumb here – is it setting out to antagonise Cameron on a matter where he was being personally traduced ?
I’m not convinced that this whole thing is over yet. I would not be surprised if Guido hasn’t been holding back something.
A few months ago they heralded a big move to a war room in 12 Downing Street so that Gordon Brown would be at the centre of an open office hub. It kind of makes the BBC and Labour’s claims that Gordon Brown and Liam Byrne did not know what was going on a bit ridiculous if McBride was sat at the next desk in an open office
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article1800498.ece
Albert – you are quite right and I am sure the BBC will dig to get dirt on Tories so the narrative does become “they are all the same” “one as bad an another” etc etc.
New post on Guido – BBC Source “government putting pressure on us”.
Having listened to WATO I think Mandelson himself is out in Bangkok fomenting revolt. They are desperate for diversionary headlines. This story is far from over – in fact it’s only just begun …
http://www.order-order.com/2009/04/bbc-source-government-putting-pressure-on-us/
JohnA:
How does Alan Johnson – and a lot of beeboids – KNOW that Brown is innocent ?
I am sure Cameron will be watching all this closely. He has asked for a straight apology from Brown, an apology he and the others being smeared are entitled to.
The BBC are busy trying to put up a smokescreen on behalf of Brown, trying to downplay the need for an apology. Which is easier when Parliament is in recess.
…
JohnA | 13.04.09 – 2:07 pm | #
——————————–
Why isn’t the BBC reporting as in “Downing Street says” or “The Prime Minister says”?
We know how they like to use the “—says” construction when reporting on certain other issues.
Yorksguy:
A few months ago they heralded a big move to a war room in 12 Downing Street so that Gordon Brown would be at the centre of an open office hub.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/ home…icle1800498.ece
Yorksguy | 13.04.09 – 2:12 pm | #
————————————–
Interesting. Have they actually moved to No.12? I’d never heard a thing about this until you mentioned it.
I couldn’t talk about Tom Watson
Fortunately not something that bothered the Brown nosing Sun this am, both in the editorial & the column of the splendidly Brown sceptic Kavanagh “Brown sees sleaze as the way to oil the political wheels”
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/columnists/kavanagh/article2374109.ece
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/sun_says/article244723.ece
Hopefully Cameron will remember all this when he takes office, and give the BBC the crippling that it’s been asking for.
You know the smears must be pretty bad when even Alistair Campbell is suggesting that they were “unpleasant”..
The critical issue for the BBC and other lefties is that this story shows how much power the blogsphere posseses, and they can’t control it, unlike everything else. “Liberal” facism in action.
It would of course be rude to point out that the fact that a Prime Minister does not know what one of his closest advisors is up to on the taxpayers’ time is not reassuring.
Either Brown did know, in which case he is a knave
Or he did not, in which case he is a fool.
Will86: the Brown nosing Sun this am
————————————
Devastating, plain-speaking articles from Trevor Kavanagh and The Sun, nailing Brown and New Labour, naming the names and telling it is at is.
How that can be described as “brown nosing” is baffling.
How that can be described as “brown nosing” is baffling.
Millie Tant
Sorry I should have made clear that The Sun is usually prepared to be supportive of Brown.
Good point. The Daily Mail and the Sun editorially have both been big backers of the fat one eyed Nokia phone throwing twat.
Be interesting to see how those papers react along with the BBC now that blogging has been more to the forefront.
Many people will be asking WHY none of the MSM reported on this story and what other stories about Liebour they are hiding.
If McBride ends up in court for slander, he will probably say he was just “obeying orders”. Whose orders?
McSnots’ defence will be … “It all started in America…”
There seems to be some significant political disenchantment with Brown and the ‘smearing’ culture of Labour at the usually left of centre ‘Harry’s Place’, which the BBC is reluctant to reflect:
1.)”Brown doesn’t appear to get it”
http://www.hurryupharry.org/2009/04/12/brown-doesnt-appear-to-get-it/
2.)”Dump Draper”
http://www.hurryupharry.org/2009/04/13/dump-draper/
Mind you he’ll probably get sacked for it.
Anon | 13.04.09 – 11:49 am | #
I fear you are right. Looks like Charlie Stayt again. I am warming to him. Most certainly not sticking to narrative, and a bit more than a bubble-head teleprompter reader.
Just watching SKY, with their i/v with lesser-loathed Labour pol Mr. Alan Johnson featured. The gap between him saying ‘Damien…’ (Omen 2?) and his surname was palpable. Any chance he hasn’t used the latter in the last several years and had to recall it up quick?
Meanwhile, letters have been sent, no doubt saying that lessons have been learned. This lot make what’s happening in Thailand look almost a beacon of good governance.
I advise the prompt purchase of Nokia shares. There is going to be a shortage I suspect as our funds are used to cover those embedded like stucco in the walls of No. 10.