The Labor Party's abusive supporters

One evening last week, Channel 7 News ran vision of an incident during John Howard's campaigning in a shopping centre. People were crowding around the Prime Minister eager to shake his hand - an ordinary scene in a political campaign. But the commentator's tone (it was Seven's political editor, Mark Riley) was amused and ironic, indicating that something not ordinary was about to happen. Then the face of a young man in his twenties waiting to shake the PM's hand was circled and highlighted. Riley recommended the viewer watch this young man. When the young man's turn came, he said taking the PM's hand, 'You're a disgrace, John.' The Prime Minister, obviously inured to this sort of behaviour, merely waved him aside and moved on to others eager to meet him.

No doubt many Labor Party supporters would have found the young man's behaviour hilarious - and appropriate. Riley certainly did, as would his opposite number at the Nine Network, the contemptible Laurie Oakes, who makes a specialty of sniggeringly reporting such behaviour, particularly when it is aimed at the Prime Minister.

For most of us on the Conservative side of politics who think that respect and good manners are a basic component of civil society, it is this young man, typical of so many young males these days, who was the disgrace. He is a young man who does not know how to behave. It is not just a case of having never been taught. He has so many abusive ill-mannered examples on his side of politics to ensure that he's free with abuse towards those he disapproves of.

The top of the PC hill when it comes to disgraceful behaviour is without doubt former Prime Minister Paul Keating, who still insists on disgusting most of Australia's adult population with his poisonous tongue, while amusing his Labor confreres and the gaggle of adoring reporters who are always present to inflate his frightful ego.

If the Labor Party wins the election we can look forward to the reinstatement and expansion of Keating's realm of abuse and nastiness, directed at those who don't tow the PC line.