Cameron Brewer is the latest to fall foul of this:
New National MP Cameron Brewer has apologised for a “poor attempt at humour” after celebrating the return of “stale, pale males” in his election night victory speech, having ousted Labour’s Vanushi Walters from Upper Harbour.
In a recording of the speech leaked to RNZ, Brewer can be heard declaring himself a “glass ceiling breaker” to laughs from the crowd.
“I’ll be the first male MP for Upper Harbour,” he says to cheers. “Stale, pale males are back!”
An audience member shouts in response: “Stale, pale, male!”
RNZ
Let’s get this straight: it is OK for brown people, like Marama Davidson, to use this in televised debates, but it’s not OK for anyone else?
Right, got it: brown people are allowed to be racist, ageist and misandric, but you can’t throw it back in their face.
The comments come as National faces scrutiny for a lack of diversity in its new caucus, and follow a public commitment from leader Christopher Luxon to improve representation.
Almost 70 percent of National’s caucus this term are men, and 80 percent are Pakeha.
The Upper Harbour electorate had been held by Walters – New Zealand’s first Sri Lankan-born MP – since 2020, and before that, National’s Paula Bennett since the seat’s formation in 2014.
Contacted by RNZ, Brewer said the remarks were intended to be funny and self-deprecating but accepted they were unwise.
“If anyone is offended by this comment, of course, I apologise… I don’t want to be the subject of distraction,” Brewer said.
“In my defence, it was a private function, but nonetheless, it was a silly thing to say. It was clearly a poor attempt at humour, and it’s something I wouldn’t say again.”
Brewer told RNZ he was disappointed the speech had been leaked and regretted that his “minor offence” could have poorly reflected on him or the National Party.
“It was an exciting election night victory. We were all a little bit excited. And hence, my speech possibly went off the core message of gratitude.
“It’s a lesson for a first-term MP that even if you’re in a private function, cracking jokes, you’ve just got to be ultra careful as to what you say.”
RNZ
National isn’t facing scrutiny. We’ve just had an election; everyone could see National’s party list, voters have passed judgement and National is the largest party.
The correct term would be ‘National faces media scrutiny on an issue that no one else cares about’.
These harpies in the media are just out to get an apology. The best policy is to dismiss their rubbish out of hand and get on with things.
Playing the apology game never ends well for conservative politicians. Just don’t do it.
Cam Slater is a New Zealand-based blogger, best known for his role in Dirty Politics and publishing the Whale Oil Beef Hooked blog, which operated from 2005 until it closed in 2019. Cam blogs regularly on the BFD - where this article was sourced.
6 comments:
NEVER EVER apologise to the marxofascists.
This is war (as in culture wars) and a soldier does not apologise to the enemy for wounding him.
Pale male and stale: better than brown clown. The voters have spoken.
At least he didn't claim to be genetically superior like the Maori party does.
“Brown clown”
You got it exactly right lol
I am female and perhaps it is just a fact, that pale stale males are actually just really suited to being politicians. Why are the leftists and activists not moaning about how the majority of nurses are female for example? As always with crazed non-sensical wokesters, they can't grasp the concept that the best people for the job should get that job. I hope other companues redress the lack of men. Let's bring back the manly man while we are at it!
Queensland University has decided merit doesn’t count. They are going with the diversity mantra. God help is all.
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