I said in the post Pussy Pass for Judith Collins;

John Key has already made this an impossible situation for himself, when after failing to hold Collins to account he glibly told New Zealand:

‘Well I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes if there was repeat of it.’

It was suggested to me recently that Collins’ big mistake (regarding Oravida) was not to come clean right in the beginning and show she understood that she needs to maintain a distance from her husband’s business activities. It is the arrogant way she dealt with the media that is damaging her reputation most.

That was not the way I saw it. I have no doubt Collins knew exactly what she was doing and when there was the prospect of being found out she chose both to lie to the media and withhold the truth from the Prime Minister.

Then there is a question of whether this is relevant to MENZ?

To me, yes, I believe it is. Whether it is gender politics, White Ribbon or the processes of domestic violence research, men’s place in society is constantly under scrutiny, if not threat. This is also an occasion where as a role model to men John Key is showing a pattern of behaviour, excusing women, for what would normally be considered unacceptable behaviour. It would be easy to dismiss this as politics but I would ask the question would you accept the same behaviour from your daughter but not your son. Should your daughter look up to Judith Collins’ behaviour and expect a father to treat her the same way, and society to treat her in the same fashion.

We do have to look at the behaviour of politicians as relevant to a modern society; politicians now make it a habit of coming into schools in pursuit of young minds and as parents we need to be much more aware of the impact they are having on our children. We should not be creating an impression amongst our daughters that they (our daughters) are entitled to a different set of values and accountability.

What transpired this weekend from Judith Collins has caused John Key (our Prime Minister) to front up again as Collins’ personal apologist, saying her behaviour was;

“completely inappropriate” and she will be “very careful going forward”

I have spoken to my naughty little girl and it won’t happen again. Hell, this is the Minister of Justice we are talking about here, and it will surprise me if New Zealand has much respect for his management of this situation and his acceptance, not tolerance, his acceptance of Collins’ behaviour.

What did actually happen?

This wasn’t an off-the-cuff gaff – once again (this was premeditated – organised, thought through and planned), where Collins, invented a story, attacking an individual journalist, as some way of excusing the Maurice Williamson Saga

I could say it was only a female journalist so it doesn’t matter; but I am sure like many men who have been to Family Court and can relate to the false allegation, Katie Bradford will have felt humiliated in the court of public opinion by this false allegation.

Apparently there was an apology posted on Twitter, but what we are seeing here is the same pattern of behaviour, where Collins is not prepared to front the media when she has to account for herself. Once again there is an arrogance that suggests the media is ‘there for my use when I choose to use it to my advantage’.

Worse was to come when Collins accused media (who did no more than report the facts) of being responsible for Maurice Williamson’s resignation.

So, the Prime Minister lacks credibility, he didn’t think that one through, he simply offered up Maurice Williamson to a media pack hungry for blood. Collins in his position would have defended Williamson’s behaviour?

Should Collins still be Minister of Justice; is John Key still being ridiculously weak with Judith Collins?

Am I being too harsh, expecting too much from politicians?

This is not a Menz topic; should we stick to the likes of prostate cancer, forestry accidents and Family Courts frustrations?