Romantic advice
I’ve got a confession to make. There is someone really quite hot working around the parliamentary press gallery, and I want to, well, get to know them better, so to speak.
After the Madeleine Setchell kerfuffle there has been a fair amount of discussion around Parliament about what is an appropriate relationship for people working in political environments. Seems if you are in a relationship before you start working in a political environment then that’s ok (or at least it should have been ok?). But what if you try to woo someone in another part of Parliament once you’re already working there? Ok or not? Is there a conflict of interest? Are there any examples of successful cross-parliament romances? I need your advice.
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January 31st, 2008 at 9:14 pm
I know of many successful cross-parliament romances, including some which have led to marriage.
Off hand I can think of half a dozen National staff over the years who have dated press gallery journalists. A good idea that both sets of bosses know about it, but just because you are dating or sleeping with someone doesn’t mean that you lose all brain function and start agreeing with them on everything.
If there is a risk to an staff-journalist relationship, the risk is more for the journo who might be seen by some as compromised. But Jane Clifton has shown that you can even live with an MP and still be a highly respected journalist. But as a staffer, there is little risk for you to such a relationship, unless they were to suddenly start getting leaked documents from the Greens.
There have also been some relationships across the political divide. I can recall Alliance-National hookups, and National-Labour ones also.
Life is too short to have regrets. If you like them, go for it.
January 31st, 2008 at 9:30 pm
sorry frog, i’m already taken
January 31st, 2008 at 11:45 pm
respected yes, but she still comes across with a pro national slant
February 1st, 2008 at 12:14 am
Don’t worry Andrew, after the election she will probably have a pro Labour stance. It is standard practice for political journalists to see their role as the noble one of keeping politicians honest. It’s just that whoever is running the government at the time is considered more important so they get most of the attention.
February 1st, 2008 at 6:51 am
ah frog..you are roland..!
(and um..!..isn’t there a ‘pattern’ here..?)
phil(whoar.co.nz)
February 1st, 2008 at 6:53 am
barry soper is..’hot’..???
phil(whoar.co.nz)
February 1st, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I’m not the best person to offer the advice you seek, but good luck in your endeavours.
Trevor.
February 1st, 2008 at 11:15 pm
jump in fwwog, specially as if it a NAT chick, this good fwog, hope the water is clear and not muddy,
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:33 am
Workplace romances never work. Just look at Einstein’s first marriage.
Or learn a lesson from your cousin Toad (of Toad Hall). You’ll be much better off having an affair with a British or Italian sports car. Great looks, great handling, goes like the clappers, totally unreliable, horrendously expensive, coveted by your mates. But at least you can sell it to some other mug when the novelty wears off.
Or maybe you just need to see a trickcyclist.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:24 am
I think you should go for it. the order you talk to people about it in is the interesting bit… you’d feel silly asking your boss then getting getting turned down by your interest, but even worse the other way round
Good luck!
February 5th, 2008 at 10:25 am
Oh, and the most important thing: keep us all up to date on what’s happening!
February 5th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Hiya Phil
Just curious by your first comment - what do you mean by a ‘pattern’?
Are you claiming our dear froggie is a don juan in disguise?