By Rich Bowden:
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has been lambasted by Government frontbenchers after a disastrous interview on Australian television last night during which he let slip that his statements are not always the “Gospel Truth.”
Answering a question on his tax reversal in March from the 7.30 Report‘s presenter Kerry O’Brien, Mr Abbott appeared to damage his electoral chances in the eyes of the Australian people when he admitted his comments were, apparently, not always to be taken seriously admitting, “in the heat of discussion you go a little bit further”.
“So every time you make a major statement we have to ask you whether it’s carefully prepared and scripted or something on the fly?” asked O’Brien to a clearly exasperated Opposition Leader.
“All of us Kerry when we are in the heat of verbal combat so to speak will sometimes say things that go a little bit further,” replied Mr Abbott.
Government ministers were quick to seize on the comments.
Treasurer Wayne Swan told Adelaide Radio the comments brought into question Mr Abbott’s fitness for office.
“I think what happened last night was that Tony Abbott cracked under pressure,” he told Fairfax Radio.
“He basically said that you can’t believe a word he says and I just don’t know where that would leave Australia if Tony Abbott was prime minister in the middle of a global financial crisis.”
The admission will have definitely damaged his electoral chances, said Robert Manne, professor of politics at La Trobe University
“I think the fact that he has told us we can’t take for granted what he says in interviews, which are the vast bulk of what politicians do, as necessarily what he believes will do a lot of damage because it will keep on being used against him,” Professor Manne was quoted as saying by The Age.
“I think it will do damage, but I don’t think it will be because at first people are shocked by what he has done. I think it will work in a different way over the long-term, I think it will erode his credibility,” he added.
However Opposition frontbenchers have defended Mr Abbott’s comments saying politician’s should be judged on their actions rather than their utterances.
Liberal Opposition frontbencher Ian Macfarlane described Mr Abbott as a “straight shooter” and compared him favourably with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s failure to follow through on a number of key issues.
“What we are seeing from Tony is very much a straight shooter,” he told Sky News, “When it comes to action [Prime Minister] Kevin Rudd just walks away.”
National coalition partner frontbencher Senator Barnaby Joyce said he agreed with his leader’s statement saying it was true that, “What is said in the heat of battle is sometimes different to what you say in the cold and clinical moment.”
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He's been exposed that he harbours core and non-core policies. What he doesn't say is just as loud because those could indeed by the core policies. However, lets be honest the only thing he's been consistent on has been re-introducing individual contracts and unfair dismissal laws.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by globaleye and globaleye, Rich Bowden. Rich Bowden said: 'Phoney Tony Admits to Being Economical With the Truth: http://su.pr/1QZ13g #7.30report #abbott #politics [...]