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Pin the tail on John Key
WILLIE JACKSON
There’s a new political game in town called ‘Pin the tail on John Key.’
It started with the Prime Minister pranking 26-year-old café waitress Amanda Bailey. Bailey works at a Parnell café frequented by the Key’s and over a six month period, Key would tug on Bailey’s ponytail, thinking he was horsing around each time he and his wife went there. The Key’s home is walking distance from the café.
There’s no doubt Key’s behaviour was inappropriate and we all know it’s NOT Ok to touch others without their consent but what the Prime Minister did was hardly a federal offence and he had no ulterior motives as his wife and security detail was with him.
What Key thought was harmless fun, has turned into a PR nightmare.
We all high five and pat each other on the back and horse around when we see friends, and I believe this is what Key was doing. But he was portrayed as a bully, and now the psychiatrists, psycho analysts, do gooders, naysayers and of course the women’s groups are all having their two quid’s worth.
When Key realised his pranks were unwanted and unwarranted, he apologised to Bailey and delivered two bottles of wine to seal the deal. Even that has now being misconstrued as a bribe in a bid to shut her up and yes it was probably a bit tacky but I don't think Key has suddenly become Bill Clinton overnight and Amanda Baily Monica Lewinsky.
This fiasco was wrong on many levels, not least Key’s inappropriate touching.
But Bailey, who has left leanings politically, may hold the key to this game. Her bosses say she has very strong political views, so they have more than likely been on the receiving end or are well aware of her views.
But once her claims had entered the blog a sphere and the World Wide Web it became everyone’s business and a matter of fact.
Key was grilled and questioned about tail gate while en route to Gallipoli, where he is attending the 100th Anniversary of Anzac Day.
And I guess like our brave soldiers who went to Gallipoli in World War 1, Key also never saw this barrage of abuse coming and would likely have wished he was in a trench instead of the front line of the media.
Tune into Paakiwaha with Willie Jackson. Current affairs from a Maori perspective. Mondays on Radio Waatea
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