'Feeling empathy for Gordon' blog discussion

foreign_correspondent

We have all done it - we all have a public and private face... anyone who claims never to have done this is a hypocrite. Shame that yet again, personalities is dominating the discusson over policy. This article makes some good points too:
http://uk.news.yahoo.com/elections/talking-elections-post/post/talking_election/25/comment-the-attack-on-brown-is-hypocritical.html

DKLS

So what Gordon doesnt like everyone he meets, I cant see the what all the fuss is about. I dont like everyone I meet, and on occasion have been known to make disparaging remarks after the event.

mumsy_2

Can't believe I'm disagreeing with you Martin, but I'm afraid I do this time. GB completely overreacted to a seemingly very pleasant, polite person asking relevant questions at a very critical time for us all, and she'd already said she was a Labour supporter. What an idiot he is, not to have recognised her concerns, sorry but he just doesn't deserve anyones support, and as for immediatley looking for someone else to blame, well, that's what children do! Yes, he may well have been 'stitched' up, but where were his 'Minders'? I think it's a given that win or lose, he'll be looking for a new job next week, Mandelson can't wait to get rid of him. Phew, that feel better!

pandora_ann

Whilst the questions she asked may (or may not) be relevant, she asked far too many in too short a space of time, the poor man tried to answer but didn't have time before another question came. The questions themselves were almost phrased as accusations.

Martin's right, it was a private conversation in which an off the cuff remark was made out of frustration. The media vultures couldn't wait to swoop and obviously had no consideration for the woman's feelings at all. Brown has apologised yet the circus continues. Silly me for expecting people to act fairly and responsibly during election campaign time.

snowberry

I'm paid to smile at & serve customers & generally bend over backwards for them. However, there is the odd time when I mutter something under my breath (once they've gone!) when the need arises! I think my most recent *grrr!* moment was a lady who ordered earl grey tea & then came back 5 minutes later to tell me she couldn't drink it as she had just remembered that she was allergic to bergermont! Silly woman! Surely you'd know that one beforehand!
So, yes, we all do it, It just proves GB is the same as us all.

skhwoody

cannot stand the man, personally and with all the tripe he has been spouting recently, it was only a matter time before this happened.

He was complaining essentially about not been put in that position with that woman, however she was a member of the public who for once was not a stage managed supporter.

I cannot condemn him for his comment, as most people will spout off some steam one time or another, however for me it brought to light the totally controlled environment the politicians are within, and anything not controlled by them always shows up controversy as they do not know how to converse with normal people on their level, no matter which party they are from.

What i was annoyed about in this whole matter was when he went to apologise to the woman, he held court with the reporters outside her house apologising while grinning inanely and removing any sincerity he was showing from his apology.

MadMac_2

Well put Martin, I have to admit I laughed when I heard Gordon's comments played back! We are all human, we all slip up. He let his guard down for a few seconds and he will probably pay for it, he won't make the same mistake twice!

I won't comment on what the lady was saying to him, but I couldn't personally have stood there listening to her so I guess I was hearing it in much the same way as he was. Everything is open to interpretation and the world would be a dull place otherwise. I wouldn't be a politician, however much you paid me!

skhwoody

MadMac wrote: »

but I couldn't personally have stood there listening to her so I guess I was hearing it in much the same way as he was. Everything is open to interpretation and the world would be a dull place otherwise. I wouldn't be a politician, however much you paid me!

Surely as a politician that is the bread and butter of his job, listening to people.... i think this is where all politicians have gone wrong.

JenniO

Without wanting to get lynched here, maybe the man was just calling a spade a spade?

My elderly neighbour says enough off colour remarks to me about people of differing ethnic origins to her that puts the shudders up me. :eek:

skhwoody

there are many people who i know who are just like that, however he is in the highest office in the country and should guard his tongue, after all he is the leader of the party who has made people afraid to express views without being tarnished with a label.