by frog
Jeanette drove to Auckland this afternoon to confront the person who authorised the smear leaflet. Stephen Win of Favona Road, Mangere authorised the leaflet, so Jeanette decided that she’d go to knock on his door to see what he had to say for himself. Unfortunately, he’d parked a security guard at the driveway of his property, so Jeanette wasn’t able to see her man. She did, however, leave a business card with the security guard, so maybe Mr Win will give her a call in due course 
Anyway, Scoop has the video of Jeanette’s attempt to confront her accuser. It’s here.
Meanwhile, if anyone has any information about Mr Win and his political affiliations, I’d be most grateful to receive it. I also understand that Don Brash has denied all knowledge of the pamphlet.
UPDATE: David Farrar has said over on his blog that a statement Jeanette made on TV tonight was akin to Brash’s “I went easy on Helen because she’s a woman” statement. I didn’t see the TV news item, but going through Scoop’s video, I suspect that the soundbite probably took Jeanette’s comment out of context. Anyway, here’s how I replied to David’s post:
Let’s play a game of compare the quotes.
Don Brash: “I think it is not entirely appropriate for a man to aggressively attack a woman and I restrained myself for that reason. Had the other combatant been a man, my style might have been rather different.”
This statement implies that, had Helen Clark been a man, Don Brash would have treated her differently – in essence, that he “went easy” on her because she’s a woman. This is demeaning to Helen Clark and all women, because it implies that they can’t “handle” the same rough-and-tumble political debate that men can.
Jeanette Fitzsimons (asked what she thinks about Stephen Win not being prepared to face up to her): “Well, yes, I mean I think it’s totally ridiculous and over-the-top to hire security guards against a couple of women who come to speak to him politely and I guess that’s his loss.”
She could easily have used the word “people” in that sentence and it would have meant the same thing. “Women” was just a decription of her and her companion. Presumably, she was meaning that Mr Win had absolutely nothing to fear from her or her companion. Her gender was not relevant in this regard. Had she and Rod gone along, she probably would have made the same statement and said “a couple of politicians” in the place of “a couple of women”.
Dr Brash’s comment was premised on the idea that male and female politicians should be treated differently. Jeanette’s was not.
Published in Campaign by frog on Sat, September 3rd, 2005
Tags: environment
on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Frog,
I await your condemnation of Jeanette for saying men should be treated differently from women.
Does she want all women in the kitchen? Does Don Brash?
http://blog.greens.org.nz/index.php/2005/08/29/foot-in-mouth-disease/
http://blog.greens.org.nz/index.php/2005/08/25/the-dog-whistling-conti nues/
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scary stuff fwog
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Reminds me of Karl Rove Peter, and that’s about the scariest person there is.
The pamphlet contains lies, the man who paid for it needs to pay for it. Swear out a complaint and haul his sorry butt into court. Force him to make restitution, make him apologize publicly. The difference here is that there is documentation and real evidence available to prove the lie. Such a mistake shows that he’s not really a pro, just a ba***rd.
His use of security guards is instructive. He expects direct confrontation. He doesn’t think the law to be used against him… it doesn’t apply to him.
respectfully
BJ
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bjchip:
Yup, just like all the leftie bastards (including Frog) who spun that conspiracy theory that National is under the control of Yank bagmen should be dragged into court, and either forced to produce evidence or make restitution.
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c’mon craig…you’d be hard pressed to define who controls national more..the yanks or the actites..or the business roundtable….it sure as hell ain’t the national rank and file…
we should call national the ‘other peoples’ party’….don is just the remittance man…
phil(whoar.co.nz)
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not really craig: the US politicians concerned confirmed all the factual content, they only differed on the interpretation (overall, one gains the impression that the nats were desperately asking for guidance/orders and the Yanks were rather bemused and embarassed by it). No lies were told about that. And there’s no law against political speculation. Absolutely no parallel there.
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Alistair:
Really? And which American politicians confirmed that the National Party is being financed by Yankee “bagmen” (Mallard’s word not mine) or that National’s policy is being “written in Washington”? If my memory serves, the only name Mallard came up with was… a chap who made a donation to the campaign fund of a certain Mr. Dover Samuels.
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Edge et al:
I paid careful attention to the TVOne News item.
Jeanette’s comment was entirely appropriate. In the context the word “women” rather than the word “people” better described the situation.
The security guard was very obviously bigger and physically stronger than the women… It was not “sexist” in that situation to refer to the physical differences between them.
To equate this comment with Don Brash’s previous comment is either mischievous or demonstates a lack of understanding of the issues.
Personally, having read “yous guys” posts previously, I opt for the “either” rather than the “or”!
eredwen
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Eredwen wrote:
The security guard was very obviously bigger and physically stronger than the women… It was not “sexist? in that situation to refer to the physical differences between them.
I reply:
I think “fat” is the word you’re looking for, and there are more than a few women who aren’t going to let any man think that their size is going to intimidated them thank you very much. Perhaps you have some “issues” around gender and body image-based social roles to work through yourself.
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I suspect the security guard was probably more to keep back the 20-30 media and their crews. Of course DPF is just stirring, but it will be really interesting to see how this story pans out. Good on Jeanette for trying to set the story straight.
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Gee Craig – I guess you forgot that I posted that there had to be proof or there shouldn’t be a word said, immediately after that stupid speech. I don’t take it from any side. It is simply wrong to lie about party policies and people, election or no, simply to score political points with people who don’t know the truth. Lying like that pollutes the pond. It doesn’t work well for the Nation and it isn’t Green policy.
respectfully
BJ
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Craig:
The fact that the security guard who stopped Jeanette was “fat” does not remove differences in physical strength and size …
(You’ve possibly chosen the wrong woman to dispute this with.)
I sorted out any “gender issues” that I may have had three decades ago.
My life’s experience includes:
Teaching recreational PE at university. A lifetime of alpine skiing (including international ski racing/professional skiing) and some mountain climbing.
Much of my time has been spent with male colleagues. Also, I have raised two physically strong and active children, one male, one female.
There ARE real physical and physiological differences between male and female humans. (In general, women are physiologically stronger!)
Eredwen
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