tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post402017059220201566..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: (Not) An Apology from the Daily MailIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger115125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-29130341044539229732009-10-05T05:09:31.665+01:002009-10-05T05:09:31.665+01:00"Dale says my comment - 'Isn't it cha..."Dale says my comment - 'Isn't it charming how homosexuals rally likeminded chaps to their cause?' - is homophobic"<br /><br />Of course it is, as well as patronizing. Saying that all 'homosexuals' - in what almost sounds an antiquated clinical term in its ude here - can be "rallied" simply because of their sexuality?!<br /><br />Complain to the fullest capacity Iain!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76020455605122247812009-10-05T01:51:18.529+01:002009-10-05T01:51:18.529+01:00I'm afraid that the Daily Mail simply doesn...I'm afraid that the Daily Mail simply doesn't like gays - in fact, it probably dislikes gay Tories more than gay lefties like me.<br /><br />However, even though I would never vote Tory, I strongly believe that gay equality should be something which people in all the mainstream parties should be able to believe in and I think you do a good job within the Conservative party<br /><br />The day I read people being described as 'overtly heterosexual' will be the day that homophobia departs the Mail!Merseymikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07231364271812168188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-52056713935965393172009-10-03T15:45:43.897+01:002009-10-03T15:45:43.897+01:00'Isn't it charming how homosexuals rally l...'Isn't it charming how homosexuals rally likeminded chaps to their cause?' <br /><br />Now Iain, if you had invited West Ham supporters instead of gay men, I wonder if he'd have thought it worth passing comment?<br /><br />Of course he wouldn't! He's an ass.Cinnanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-39430670580529624572009-10-03T14:50:44.059+01:002009-10-03T14:50:44.059+01:00"Mr Hitchens said it was not possible to be a..."Mr Hitchens said it was not possible to be a "publicly-declared homosexual campaigning for equality of status for homosexuality and be a Conservative." " So, now we know. Is Iain Dale to be targetted by the Mail group I wonder? Does he care?Philipahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03440234602399886097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26549889135027972652009-10-03T14:22:06.171+01:002009-10-03T14:22:06.171+01:00I've read the comments, and I've no idea w...I've read the comments, and I've no idea what you're complaining about.<br /><br />I think Peter may have misunderstood your invitation to attend the conservative primary even if not conservative as being an invitation specific to the audience of PinkNews, (and possibly an attempt to stack the audience in your favour,) rather than something you'd say at *any* media interview. (Just like you would invite any readers of the Daily Mail to attend too, right?) That's worth correcting, but the rest of this seems a bit over the top.<br /><br />If you aren't overtly gay, that must mean you're covertly gay, yes? But you say it openly, and everybody knows, so I don't see how that can be. Is it your position that "overtly gay" is a bad thing to be, that it be considered an insult or pejorative? That makes no sense either. So I don't understand.<br /><br />(Incidentally, I'd have no objection to being called overtly straight. It's not an insult.)<br /><br />As for bringing up the Jews (a blatant invocation of Godwin if ever there was), I'd advise you to ask Ezra Levant. Free speech includes the freedom to offend.<br /><br />If your comments were considered to incite hatred of the Daily Mail, or of homophobes generally, not for their actions but only expressing their opinions, it would be obvious that this was attempted censorship. But the system doesn't work that way round, does it? So long as some favoured groups are protected from criticism while others are not, Political Correctness will continue to be seen as the hypocritical evil it is. It does tremendous damage to the image of minorities, and that's a shame.Apologies for the rantnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-81482087781232982202009-10-02T19:01:23.923+01:002009-10-02T19:01:23.923+01:00I'm always stunned when I read people defendin...I'm always stunned when I read people defending any form of discriminatory remark, designed to dehumanise another person so that one can feel superior to them. Racism, sexism, homophobia or anti-semitism, it really doesn't matter which, is offensive and breeds hatred.<br /><br />This isn't about "political correctness" (incidentally a term adopted by the very exponents of bigotry), it's about humanity. It's about treating others how you would wish to be treated yourself.<br /><br />If you don't stand up to this kind of abuse, regardless of how "bad" you might think it is, then you effectively condone it and you allow breeding ground.<br /><br />The Daily Mail is well renowned for it's ability to shroud it's bigotry by carefully using the english language such as "indigenous" when they mean "white people" or to talk about homosexual people in a manner which effectively means "deviants".<br /><br />All those people who dismiss this should remember, one day it will be <b>your</b> turn to be the figure of hate. Who will be left to defend <b>you</b>? <br /><br /><i>First they came for the communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a communist;<br />Then they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist;<br />Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a trade unionist;<br />Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew;<br />Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak out for me.</i><br />- Martin NiemöllerIt Mattersnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-13231515234756824702009-10-02T18:27:13.941+01:002009-10-02T18:27:13.941+01:00For what it is worth (and I doubt it will help app...For what it is worth (and I doubt it will help appreciably) I have answered your call for readers to complain to Dacre and McKay. You can read my letter here:<br /><br />http://www.sohopolitico.com/2009/10/my-letter-to-mail-re-iain-dale.html<br /><br />Perhaps, in the same spirit, you will also take the opportunity to condemn serious homophobia taking place elsewhere:<br /><br />http://www.liberalconspiracy.org/2009/09/30/exclusive-david-camerons-european-ally-supports-deeply-homophobic-legislation/Soho Politicohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02884702203363420368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17372241649142861032009-10-02T16:31:57.041+01:002009-10-02T16:31:57.041+01:00I echo Rich B - it matters not a jot.
Just move o...I echo Rich B - it matters not a jot.<br /><br />Just move on and laugh the stupid buggers off!<br /><br /><a href="http://faustiesblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/brain-wiring-test.html" rel="nofollow">You might be interested in taking a brain wiring test</a>, though - to see if you have a male or female brain. Just a bit of fun!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-79434997842423567662009-10-02T16:26:22.125+01:002009-10-02T16:26:22.125+01:00I wouldn't worry too much about comments in th...I wouldn't worry too much about comments in the Daily Mail, if I were you. Britain really has moved on. (At least, it seems so to me as a straight, married guy with kids.)<br /><br />Good luck in Bracknell, Iain!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-65807062818675469652009-10-02T16:18:02.585+01:002009-10-02T16:18:02.585+01:00Not sure what your problems is Iain. A)You're ...Not sure what your problems is Iain. A)You're a Tory- Section 28 anyone?<br /><br />B)The Mail is a nasty little hated-fuelled Tory supporting rag.<br /><br />The Mail is merely giving its (mostly Tory) readership what they want.yozzanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-14191913450708328372009-10-02T15:58:31.888+01:002009-10-02T15:58:31.888+01:00Winkled Weasel @ 10:43 PM “being gay is …. threate...Winkled Weasel @ 10:43 PM “being gay is …. threatening “<br /><br />I think that you’re talking nonsense. In what way and for what reason am I (as a straight male) meant to feel threatened by gays ? Ditto Jews, blacks etc. <br /><br />I also think that you’re talking unhelpful nonsense. We all know how we are meant to think in response to this statement. We “feel threatened”. Therefore we must be acting unfairly/aggressively/in a prejudiced way towards gays/blacks/Jews/…. Therefore the special pleading / discrimination against the majority etc. is OK. The meme is a barrier to progression to a post-sexist, post-racist, post whatever-ist society where these things don’t matter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-76060492981554540982009-10-02T14:31:56.770+01:002009-10-02T14:31:56.770+01:00Maybe you just need to start getting medieval on R...Maybe you just need to start getting medieval on Rothermere's ass with a few choice questions about his tax 'non-dom' status..<br /><br />But the trouble is they would just up the ante by bringing up Michael you know who..<br /><br />This is like the mafia - don't get into the business unless you are sure you can win.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72892886483880882282009-10-02T12:44:30.813+01:002009-10-02T12:44:30.813+01:00Good on you Iain for making a stand on this. Why s...Good on you Iain for making a stand on this. Why should you have to put up with bigoted comments like that simply because you are standing to be an MP? It's a symptom of the times that candidates/MPs are expected to be fair game for any words that can be thrown at them, however offensive or untrue.Charlie Bannernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-3454576361705622492009-10-02T11:48:03.634+01:002009-10-02T11:48:03.634+01:00Just read this:
"And who is chairman of the ...Just read <a href="http://tabloid-watch.blogspot.com/2009/10/iain-dale-shocked-at-homophobia-in-mail.html?showComment=1254412027239#c8536927880736201171" rel="nofollow">this</a>:<br /><br />"And who is chairman of the PCC's Editors’ Code of Practice Committee? Step forward the legendarily foul mouthed Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail ... McKay (who Private Eye now call Peter McLie, or the "World's Worst Columnist") is a joke. If Iain gets selected at the open primary, there will undoubtedly be more of the same, and as Nick Davies demonstrated in Flat Earth News, the Daily Mail tends not to apologise unless you've got the means to sue them, and even then you need to be persistent"<br /><br />So that is how Mail employees get to be such confident bullies! I wondered why they needed so many free gifts to make people buy their product, it doesn't seem to rely on the journalism.Philipahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03440234602399886097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-20395809978529642009-10-02T11:44:57.237+01:002009-10-02T11:44:57.237+01:00Let it go, Iain.
This is just going to end up ma...Let it go, Iain. <br /><br />This is just going to end up making you look as silly as John Prescott tilting at windmills when Christopher Meyer was around...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-54721889240522153552009-10-02T11:33:48.498+01:002009-10-02T11:33:48.498+01:00i don't see what the big deal is. You ARE gay,...i don't see what the big deal is. You ARE gay, right? And you ARE rallying like minded people to your cause, right? Correct me if i'm wrong. Also, what is wrong with 'overt'? It seems you are "out of the closet" as you people like to say. I have heard your people use the word "openly gay". Is overtly gay not the same thing?kinjynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-20524935557470242502009-10-02T10:50:33.490+01:002009-10-02T10:50:33.490+01:00Iain I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, the ...Iain I hate to be the bearer of bad news but, the way you were too quick to accept the "first apology" without 101% verification of its authenticity, underlines the fact that you are just too nice and trusting to survive in politics.<br /><br />As a politician many, many people will try to dupe you, many who you might believe are on your side. That's sad to say but, it is true. That is why this Government has failed so spectacularly they believed their own propaganda and were intolerent of any opposing view.<br /><br />Only the cynical can deliver honest Government, if a survey recommends a certain course of action always find out who paid for it, before acting on it. If a Government enquiry exonerates an individual from wrong doing, study closely the terms of reference it was conducted under before accepting any part of it.<br /><br />Here endeth the first lesson on how to be an honest politician. The second part on how to fill in an MP's expense form is in the post.Flemingcragnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-74992821525211146502009-10-02T10:40:54.825+01:002009-10-02T10:40:54.825+01:00I tried leaving a comment on the Daily Mail commen...I tried leaving a comment on the Daily Mail comment section against the original article, but it seems that they are not accepting comments. They can dish it out, but they can't take it!thermalsatsumahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05779925171712284416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67073905610744802392009-10-02T10:32:42.841+01:002009-10-02T10:32:42.841+01:00And I thought there was just one bully in Derry St...And I thought there was just one bully in Derry St, working for the Mail on Sunday. Glad you can stick up for yourself, Iain, not all of us can.Philipahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03440234602399886097noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-59818176629372873872009-10-02T10:26:02.160+01:002009-10-02T10:26:02.160+01:00Iain - have put a complaint into the PCC on your b...Iain - have put a complaint into the PCC on your behalf, and encouraged others on Facebook to do the same. I think it was the word "charming" that got to me ... he clearly finds it anything but. These people should grow up and realise that it's pretty naff these days to even notice which or either gender people prefer going to bed with.Marcnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-86251834819649271002009-10-02T10:14:10.270+01:002009-10-02T10:14:10.270+01:00What is a "homosexual website"?What is a "homosexual website"?rentednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57317936311520327852009-10-02T09:48:34.429+01:002009-10-02T09:48:34.429+01:00It's easy enough with hindsight, I know, but t...It's easy enough with hindsight, I know, but the editor of the Daily Mail, rag though it may be, would probably not have written 'through' when he meant 'throw'.Paulhttp://www.bickerstafferecord.org.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-18825119398975753292009-10-02T09:43:36.478+01:002009-10-02T09:43:36.478+01:00War he wants, then war he gets.War he wants, then war he gets.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-82684505825139649712009-10-02T09:43:13.385+01:002009-10-02T09:43:13.385+01:00I'm not your biggest fan by any means, Iain, b...I'm not your biggest fan by any means, Iain, but good luck with this complaint. The Mail is bang to rights and only compound the offence with today's further unpleasant sniping.<br /><br />As soon as you read the words, "I am not homophobic/racist/sexist [delete as applicable] but..." you know what's coming and what the truth is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-7007236151420522592009-10-02T09:38:44.297+01:002009-10-02T09:38:44.297+01:00A number of comments have accused you of drawing a...A number of comments have accused you of drawing attention to your sexuality (Rich B etc) implying that it is therefore acceptable for the Mail to mention it pejoratively. That's bunkum. It's perfectly reasonable to tell people one's sexual (or indeed religious) orientation. It is natural to mention one's spouse or partner.<br /><br />But, the fact that someone states that they are gay/straight, jewish/christian/muslim/atheist etc does not excuse someone else attacking them for it. Bizarrely there are still Tories who think that gay people should keep their sexuality secret. Presumably they are also annoyed at Gordon Brown's recent apology to Alan Turing? The modern Conservative Party should have no place for intolerance of any kind. <br /><br />As for people who tell you to grow a thicker skin, 1) No one should have to deal with this kind of comment no matter how thick-skinned and 2) They've clearly never put themselves up for election, it's a strange process that results in vast amounts of rejection - those of us who have done it have plenty tough enough hides as I'm sure you do!Adam Pritchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11340875676361180846noreply@blogger.com