Underbelly overruled

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Last updated on July 16th, 2017 at 11:39 am

How might a Labor government view Israel?

Barry Cohen, the last Jew to serve as a federal minister, is still “very concerned” about Labor’s anti-Israel underbelly. “There are sections of mainstream Labor branches that are quite viciously anti-Israel,” he says.

Not so much at the higher levels, though, where the current leadership is the most pro-Israel since Bob Hawke. Not that it has much to do with Israel, being more an issue of general decency, but this is noteworthy:

In the mid-1990s, Jeremy Jones, who compiles an annual report on anti-Semitism in Australia, received a call from a woman in Brisbane about a giant swastika. He told her to go back, photograph it and remove it. “When she returned, there was someone whitewashing over it,” Jones recalls. “He introduced himself; it was Kevin Rudd.”

Good on him.

Posted by Tim B. on 09/24/2007 at 12:07 AM
    1. If true, that’s one of the only decent things I have heard of Kevin Rudd doing.

      As Tim said, Good on him.

      Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 24 at 12:15 AM • permalink

 

    1. He only wanted the space to put some left wing message

      Posted by Toryhere2 on 2007 09 24 at 12:18 AM • permalink

 

    1. Would he do the same to a hammer and sickle?

      Posted by Penguin on 2007 09 24 at 12:20 AM • permalink

 

    1. I’m Kevin and I’m here to help. Kudos to you Kev.

      For once a politician whitewashes over something and I approve.

      Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 09 24 at 12:23 AM • permalink

 

    1. Another urban myth is born

      Posted by Pickles on 2007 09 24 at 12:28 AM • permalink

 

    1. Not all of his front bench shares these views.

      Posted by Habib on 2007 09 24 at 12:33 AM • permalink

 

    1. It’s the rampant anti-Americanism of the Labor Party apparatchik (and the left wing in particular) that concerns me more.

      —Nora

      Posted by The Thin Man Returns on 2007 09 24 at 12:38 AM • permalink

 

    1. What would be interesting is if Rudd painted it it the first place…

      Posted by anthony_r on 2007 09 24 at 12:39 AM • permalink

 

    1. It’s not Rudd’s more reasoned views that would cause concern re Israel, but the virulent frothing from other ALP heavies.

      Nice post, Tim.  Good to see some practical even-handedness, as pluralism is the hallmark of civilization.

      Posted by Olrence on 2007 09 24 at 12:48 AM • permalink

 

    1. Good move by Rudd if the story is correct. Basic decency should be a hallmark of all pollies, both sides have to many that fail that test. (and all the greens)

      Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 09 24 at 12:58 AM • permalink

 

    1. Is this Tim’s way of saying he welcomes our new overlord?

      Posted by Margos Maid on 2007 09 24 at 01:08 AM • permalink

 

    1. Did he “smear” the whitewash or use broad brush strokes, creating a “fair and balanced” distribution of the paint? Did he consult the walls owners, forming a committee or did he act alone? Enquiring minds want to know.

      Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2007 09 24 at 01:14 AM • permalink

 

    1. Mind you though, it’s a sad day when a politician expressing abhorrence, nay, even taking action over a swastika is considered worthy of special mention.

      Posted by Nic on 2007 09 24 at 01:22 AM • permalink

 

    1. John Kerry was for painting swastika graffiti before he was against it.

      Posted by Shaky Barnes on 2007 09 24 at 01:24 AM • permalink

 

    1. #11

      et tu Blairus ?

      Posted by Pickles on 2007 09 24 at 01:25 AM • permalink

 

    1. Like being evicted by a representative of the evil capitalist landlord class or being raised in a statesman this story has a touch of the apocryphal myth about it.

      He said an anonymous woman said Kevin Rudd did …

      Those soft pink delicate hands wielding something as course and plebeian as a paintbrush?  I don’t buy it

      Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 09 24 at 01:48 AM • permalink

 

    1. You sure it was That Kevin Rudd?  Just kidding.

      Posted by yojimbo on 2007 09 24 at 01:56 AM • permalink

 

    1. Being pro-Israel is the only decent, ethical and intelligent stance.
      That small country is on the frontline and they’re doing a great job. This recent raid on Syrian weapons facilities made my week…

      Posted by Honkie Hammer on 2007 09 24 at 02:39 AM • permalink

 

    1. In the mid 1990’s I heard a screech and a yelp outside. I went out to investigate and saw a puppy had been run over and seriuously injured.

      I ran back inside and called the RSPCA for advice as to what to do. “Just hit it on the head with a stick” the girl said.

      I went back outside with a stick, but a passer by was bandaging it’s wounds. He said that he would take it home, nurse it back to health and bring it up as his own.

      I asked this kind stranger his name. He introduced himself as Kevin Rudd.

      Posted by Pickles on 2007 09 24 at 02:55 AM • permalink

 

    1. What’s he got against ancient Indian symbols anyway?

      BTW- he may find himself in strife with the National Trust if he decides to emulate this effort on the foyer floor of the Sydney Customs House.

      Posted by Habib on 2007 09 24 at 02:55 AM • permalink

 

    1. In the mid 1990’s I was mowing my front lawn and me mower conked out. Try as I might, I couldn’t get the *&^%ing thing started again and went to the shed to get me tools to fix it.

      Whilst rummaging in the shed for a sledge hammer big enough to fix it, I heard the mower start.

      I went out the front and saw a fellow who was finishing me lawn for me. He had also left an esky full of piss on the verandah and said: “No worries, have a beer while I finish your lawn”

      When he finished the lawn and washed and put away the mower, he introduced himself: “My name is Kevin Rudd”.

      Posted by Pickles on 2007 09 24 at 03:09 AM • permalink

 

    1. #5, #17 and other cynics – I can confirm the incident as reported is quite genuine.

      At the time (February 1996), Rudd was the ALP candidate for the seat of Griffith.

      Posted by Dan Lewis on 2007 09 24 at 03:21 AM • permalink

 

    1. I can see the headlines now: “Rudd whitewashes Nazi activity”

      Posted by Flashman on 2007 09 24 at 03:36 AM • permalink

 

    1. oh, look at the comments on the article.  Someone let Marilyn Shepard out.

      Posted by entropy on 2007 09 24 at 04:11 AM • permalink

 

    1. #24

      I had also noticed that. Marilyn Shepherd has either lost interest in The Australian’s blog, or they have come to their senses. Obviously the SBS blogs are fair game and I regret she’s now found The Bully as well.

      Chances are she only found the article via a link on Loewenswine’s blog. She’s convinced he’s one of the “good Jews”. You know, the ones who are happy to be killed…

      Posted by Dan Lewis on 2007 09 24 at 04:24 AM • permalink

 

    1. #25,25 Marilyn managed to get a whole rant out without mentioning children overboard. That’s gotta be a record for her.

      Posted by Gibbo on 2007 09 24 at 04:40 AM • permalink

 

    1. It’s what Bonhoeffer would have done.

      Posted by chrisgo on 2007 09 24 at 06:11 AM • permalink

 

    1. This from the Blair’s Law website “Active Sydney”
      “The Sydney Morning Herald isn’t telling Australians that while he’s in Washington, John Howard is to receive a ‘prestigious’ award from Zionist organization B’nai B’rith. This article looks at Howard’s Zionism and suggests he is probably a crypto-Jew.
      John Howard is off to Washington, reported the Sydney Morning Herald last night …What the Herald didn’t tell … is that between his Sunday and Tuesday appointments with Bush, Howard will receive ‘the prestigious B’nai B’rith international Presidential Gold Medal for his “outstanding” support of Israel and the Jewish people at a ceremony’ in Washington … Thanks to selective media reporting, it would come as a great surprise to most Australians to discover that Prime Minister Howard has performed ‘outstanding’ services to Israel. Presumably, what the Herald doesn’t want the Australian public to realize – but what Australian Jews are allowed to know – is who Howard, along with Bush and Blair and the other most fervent supporters of the Iraq war – is really working for … he’s working for Israel.

      [H]e has performed numerous other favours for the Jews over the years …

      (1) Forced the withdrawal of an invitation to Yasser Arafat from the then-deputy prime minister, Tim Fisher, to visit Australia in 1997.

      (2) Put in place an extradition treaty with Latvia in order to enable the extradition of alleged war criminal Konrad Kalejs, specifically as called upon to do by Australia/Israel Jewish Affairs Council …

      (3) Has made Australia join the U.S. in the United Nations as the sole source of opposition to measures that would hold Israel accountable for its persistent mistreatment of the Palestinians. As AIJAC Director Rubenstein put it in 2002, ‘at the United Nations under John Howard’s leadership, the Australian government has abstained from or opposed morally skewered [sic] and sometimes viciously [sic] anti-Israel resolutions. It’s assisted Israel’s admission into the WEOG Group at the United Nations. Australia was right to stay away from the conference of high-contracting parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention in December that convened solely for the purpose of hectoring [sic] and delegitimizing [sic] Israel. Above all, at the Durban Conference on Racism, which just turned into a display of the very evils they were supposed to combat, Australia took a vitally important role in moderating [sic] the proceedings.’

      (4) Aligned Australia with the neocons’ insane and destructive war on Islam …
      In addition, there have also been allegations that the Port Arthur massacre was actually an Israeli operation: Joe Vialls, “Special Forces at Port Arthur” here and Judicial Biz, “Port Arthur Massacre” here. Although I can’t claim to have seen any evidence implicating Israel so far (other than the fact that several key members of the Australian anti-gun lobby are apparently Jewish), the massacre, which … could well have been a ‘baptism of fire’ by which Howard proved his willingness to sacrifice Australian lives for Israeli interests. If Port Arthur was a Zionist black op, it is not hard to see that Howard would have earned the eternal gratitude of Israel …

      … there is a generous amount of information already in the public domain on the ‘outstanding’ services Howard has been performing on for Israel for ten years. But if Jews are allowed to know about it, doesn’t the Australian mainstream media have an obligation to tell the Australian public about it?

      … In any case, it is hardly Howard’s first such honour – he has a seemingly endless list of Jewish plaudits. In 2000, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Bar-Ilan University … In 2002, he was bestowed ‘the American Jewish Committee’s Award for distinguished public service for his record and that of his government, for his steadfast alliance with the United States, its strong support for and close bilateral ties with the state of Israel and his open and warm relations with Australia’s Jewish community.’ In 2004, the American Jewish Committee awarded him the American [sic] Liberties Medallion. ‘Previous recipients of the award include Martin Luther King, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Vaclav Havel, Natan Sharansky, and Elie Wiesel.’ (SOURCE) And in 2005 [?], he was awarded the Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce’s highest honour, the Leon Liberman Award for trade.  The B’nai B’rith medal looks like merely the capstone to a period in which Jewish organisations have thanked Howard at every opportunity for his years of devoted service to Israel.”

      Posted by McAnzac on 2007 09 24 at 06:15 AM • permalink

 

    1. #28

      Brilliant. It even included a reference to Joe Vialls, a world-class nutter, who died a few years ago and whose tombstone probably reads “if you are reading this, Mossad got to me”.

      I reckon you could get a Government grant to conduct research into whether there is a correlation between antisemitism and stupidity. I mean, seriously – what a bunch of oxygen thieving morons.

      Posted by Dan Lewis on 2007 09 24 at 06:20 AM • permalink

 

    1. John Howard is …. probably a crypto-Jew.

      is that like a zombie wearing a yarmulke?

      Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 09 24 at 06:27 AM • permalink

 

    1. The main difference between us and the lefties?

      Tim was willing to run a story that was nice to Mr Rudd, and comment favourably on his behaviour.

      Some people left comments along the same line.  I don’t expect everyone to.  That would be sucky and out of character.

      Try though to get Larva-proles to do the same thing about John Howard and GWB.  To start with, they’d never run a nice story, and even if they did, 100% of the knob-jockeys would howl it down, claiming that Howard does not have time in between decapitating babies and bleaching the eyeballs of baby fur seals to do a nice deed for anyone.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 06:34 AM • permalink

 

    1. I was coming out of the pie shop at Morningside when this weirdo offered to wash my feet- I thought he was some sort of pervert, so I hoofed him in the gob with my cherry red Docs; as he curled up on the footpath on Wynnum Rd, he gasped “my name is Saint Kevni- don’t hate me because I’m a dork”.

      Posted by Habib on 2007 09 24 at 06:41 AM • permalink

 

    1. #31 I think in your last line you have explained why a lefty site would never run a story about HoWARd or BusHitler doing a nice thing: because neither man actually WOULD do a nice thing.  Simple explanation.
      /sarc

      Posted by Not My Problem on 2007 09 24 at 06:49 AM • permalink

 

    1. *LOL* as all the stories here show, Rudd really IS here to help!

      If that swastika story is true, that is a courageous and principled act. Note that he used intitiative and his own labour – he did not call talkback radio to complain, did not lobby anyone else or hold a street theatre demo against the government Swastikas – he got rid of it himself.

      Posted by carpefraise on 2007 09 24 at 06:52 AM • permalink

 

    1. We was doin’ donuts with the Skyline in the carpark at Cannon Hill, when this cherebby lookin’ arsehole come up, an’ said “wouldn’t you boys be better occupied with a campaign against the way contracts are eroding your work conditions?”

      We said “Doesn’t fuck with the dole, so why should we give a fuck, four-eyes?” and tied him onto the back bumper and took him for a scrape.

      I would’a voted for him if he didn’t cry so much.

      Posted by Habib on 2007 09 24 at 06:58 AM • permalink

 

    1. I was starving hungry in a crowd of 5000, and all we had between us was five bread rolls and two hot dogs…

      Posted by SwinishCapitalist on 2007 09 24 at 07:24 AM • permalink

 

    1. If you do not learn from past Labor Governments, you are bound to repeat them.

      Posted by blogstrop on 2007 09 24 at 07:25 AM • permalink

 

    1. It was a terrible business, our unit suffered mightily at the hands of the enemy.
      I was badly wounded in the charge and evacuated to the field hospital at Scutari.
      I knew my number was likely up.One dark and frozen night I lay in my hospital cot,my feverish body wracked with pain, when I had a vision of an angel in white.
      ‘This is it’  I thought preparing to meet my maker.

      The angel drew nearer and I focused on that heavenly visage, made clear now by the light of a simple oil lamp it held aloft.
      And the angel spoke to me

      “I’m Kevin and I’m here to help!”

      I was saved

      Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 09 24 at 07:52 AM • permalink

 

    1. eeniemeenie, the word is “coarse,” meaning something rough or crude. A “course” is a travel route (“his course led him through the woods”), a sequence of study (“She took a couple of courses of Applied Psychology”), or a verb meaning to chase or hunt {“The hounds coursed after the fox”).

      This sort of thing drives me crazy.

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 09 24 at 08:11 AM • permalink

 

    1. #39, Of coarse your correct Andrea. I to hate it when people dont get there spellings write.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 08:17 AM • permalink

 

    1. Yeah, it mukes us konservatvers look likk werr ignorant morens. An we kant sperll.

      Posted by Habib on 2007 09 24 at 08:38 AM • permalink

 

    1. An Cretans.

      Posted by Habib on 2007 09 24 at 08:40 AM • permalink

 

    1. Andrea

      OK, time to breaks out the Zulu spears, whips, chains, shackles, high heels and black leather outfit.
      wow, andrea you look positively yummy…i mean foreboding

      Posted by El Cid on 2007 09 24 at 08:45 AM • permalink

 

    1. Having infuriated Andrea I was going to sit quietly here in the corner averting my eyes and trying hard not to draw attention to myself.

      But if there are going to be whips, chains, shackles, high heels and a black leather outfit I might well be persuaded to make some more spelling misstakes

      Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 09 24 at 09:09 AM • permalink

 

    1. This spelling business is putting two much where on my keyboard.

      Were what you like – but black leather sounds good.

      Wear will I be?  Out putting too and to together.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 09:13 AM • permalink

 

    1. It seams that some of the comments hear might annoy some people.

      But their’s a rich seem here, and I’m going to keep on miming it for all its worth.

      But I two hate it when spelling gets all fowled up.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 09:25 AM • permalink

 

    1. Bugger.  Should have said “sum people”.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 09:25 AM • permalink

 

    1. eeniemeenie – my advice to you is this:

      “Tow the line”.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 09:27 AM • permalink

 

    1. Here me out.

      I herd what Andrea had to say.

      But I’m on a role here.  It’s been a sloe day at the office

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 09:32 AM • permalink

 

    1. I’m plane out of ideas.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 09:32 AM • permalink

 

    1. I’m taking the rode less travelled.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 09:33 AM • permalink

 

    1. I CAN HAZ WIP. I HURTZ U REEL SOON.

      Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2007 09 24 at 09:44 AM • permalink

 

    1. Guys, I did my first pilates session tonight and I’m feeling it.

      Please don’t make me laugh any harder. Youse are literally killing me!

      Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2007 09 24 at 10:06 AM • permalink

 

    1. Has anybody seen McAnzac’s paintbrush?  Or did KRudd bury that too?

      Why are we praising the Ruddy idiot for destroying evidence?  Which of his fellow travelers painted it in the first place?

      Posted by richard mcenroe on 2007 09 24 at 10:18 AM • permalink

 

    1. Please stop, its moor than I can bear.

      Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 09 24 at 10:41 AM • permalink

 

    1. I”m feeling the wurst for wear now

      Posted by eeniemeenie on 2007 09 24 at 10:50 AM • permalink

 

    1. Bee careful Andrea may resort to violins if we arent carefully.

      Posted by thefrollickingmole on 2007 09 24 at 10:55 AM • permalink

 

    1. Oh. My. God.

      I come in late and this is what I see:  suicidal commenters baiting the Webmistress.  It must be Monday.

      Posted by RebeccaH on 2007 09 24 at 11:04 AM • permalink

 

    1. NOT ME, Rebecca. I said Andrea looked yummy….ummmm foreboding.

      OOPPSS!

      Posted by El Cid on 2007 09 24 at 11:41 AM • permalink

 

    1. 55

      Please stop, its moore than I can bear bare.

      Ahhhh, that’s better.

      Posted by El Cid on 2007 09 24 at 11:45 AM • permalink

 

    1. #60 El Cid!

      Moore? Bare? Did you really have to do that to me?!

      Posted by Ash_ on 2007 09 24 at 01:12 PM • permalink

 

    1. Stoop! Do you all want to be beaned?!?

      Posted by paco on 2007 09 24 at 01:14 PM • permalink

 

    1. I think this topic has been dun to death.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 04:38 PM • permalink

 

    1. I think there must be a floor in my character to carry on this whey.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 04:41 PM • permalink

 

    1. Help!  I am in the throws of some strange affliction!

      Oh know!  What if it’s hoarse flew?

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 04:46 PM • permalink

 

    1. Annoying Andrea is no mean feet.

      What is the correct response when she barks an order?

      Come to attention.  Salute.  Yell, “Eye eye ma’am”.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 05:01 PM • permalink

 

    1. Beauty is in the aye of the beholder.

      It’s thyme I went to work.

      I will sea you all later.

      It’s for the grater good.

      Posted by mr creosote on 2007 09 24 at 05:31 PM • permalink

 

    1. Sometime in February 1996, I heard a knock at the door. I opened the door and a fellow was standing there with his tongue darting in and out, much like a Lace Monitor.

      “Hello, my name is Kevin Rudd and I am the candidate for Griffith” says he.

      “What a memory you have” says I.

      Posted by Pickles on 2007 09 24 at 05:32 PM • permalink

 

  1. life gets complicated when people aren’t completely “good” or “evil,” despite our desire to see them that way.
    Bummer, eh?

    Posted by daddy dave on 2007 09 26 at 12:12 AM • permalink