See an Australian Politician Lash Out After She is ‘Meowed’ At During Hearing
- Posted on June 2, 2011 at 7:37am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Have you ever been “meowed” at? You know, like a cat? Has anyone ever made that noise to you — especially if you’re a woman — when you bicker, or make a strong statement? Well, Australian Labor senator Penny Wong was meowed at by a male colleague recently, and she didn’t take real kindly to it.
Wong, who is also a cabinet member because of her dual position as the Federal Minister for Finance and Deregulation, was speaking at a recent hearing when she was interrupted by opposition Senator David Bushby. When Wong sternly said Bushby should let her finish, Bushby meowed — like a cat. And Wong had enough:
While Bushby originally tried to defend his remarks, he eventually issued a full apology after members of both parties decried his actions.
“Quite clearly my reaction to Senator Wong was in the heat of a very robust debate,” he said according to The Telegraph.
“My reaction clearly caused offence to Senator Wong and I have unreservedly apologised to her for that and she has accepted that apology.”
(via Gawker)
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Comments (126)
suffolkva
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:42amMeow………
Report Post »mrsmileyface
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 2:20pmWhy must feel like that…why must I chase the cat?….nuthin but tha dawg in me. Bow wow wow yippie yo yippie yea!!!! MR :)
Report Post »publicuss
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:37amCheck out The Bolt Report on Austalia’s Channel Ten. Ms. Wong is just wrong most of the time and likes to insult others but can’t take it herself. If it’s too hot in the kitchen lady, go to the laundry room and start folding towels for your fellow muslims!!
Report Post »Fight for America
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:34amA – holes exist.
Report Post »III Percent
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:34amShe was right in dressing down the catcall. Men do this to women to try and belittle them.
It does not really matter how she looks. Just another attempt to belittle. Have you taken a look at some our male politicians, past and present, such as Ted Kennedy, Kucinich, Weiner, on and on.
Report Post »LukeAppling
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:29amI pray Obama, Schumer, Reid, Durbin, Frank see this and realize how they are just like the aussie male-rude, condescending and wrong.
Report Post »UlyssesP
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:26amShe should have barked back and growled like a Shar Pei.
Report Post »R.A. Bullseye
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:23amIt was inappropriate mostly because she was more he than she.
Report Post »lketchum
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:12amGood for her!
This guys was a jerk and candid debate should be welcomed, irrespective of where we stand on any issue.
As the father of four young woman, I am very aware of how difficult it is for woman to have to work opposite complete jerks. Allow debate to stand on merit alone – as with all other issues.
Report Post »Starvin Like Marvin
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:06amI know this is a blog and everyone is a jerk when hiding behind anonymity but really? This article title and the stupid comments about her being mannish, a lesbian, liberal, etc… are completely off topic. Acting like this on the senate floor shouldn’t be acceptable anywhere in the world, and implying that its ok because shes probably a liberal or a lesbian just furthers the viewpoint that the left has of the right. Lastly, she didn’t freak out or melt down, she stated that its inappropriate for someone to call another senator catty on the senate floor, and it is……..
Report Post »Bhaub
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:13amYep. But sorry, Starvin Like Marvin, this is The Blaze. The people here ARE to the right, they’ve conservative, they‘re white male Christians who don’t like seeing women being willful or authoritative. And they surely would hate a lesbian. Plus she’s a LIBERAL! GASP! Anything she says HAS to be bad.
Ah well. She did an awesome job smacking down a sexist jerk, and she did it with great command of her voice and speech. Good for her!
Report Post »Starvin Like Marvin
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 11:16amI didn’t even see where it was said that she actually is a liberal, maybe I missed it, but is that just assumed she is a liberal because she looks professional and doesn’t talk like a moose shooting cheerleader?? ha ha
Report Post »Bhaub
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 12:23pm“You betcha!”
Report Post »patriotwoman
Posted on June 3, 2011 at 2:44amSo you two (Marvin and Bhaub) are more than supportive of this woman’s right to stand up for herself. “Ah well. She did an awesome job smacking down a sexist jerk, and she did it with great command of her voice and speech.”
But from that you go right into full sexist Palin-bashing mode. .”..she looks professional and doesn’t talk like a moose shooting cheerleader?? ha ha”
So you’ll both step right up to defend a **liberal** woman, but you’re fine with bashing a conservative woman. Did I get your message right?
Neither of you is smart enough to see the disconnect.
Report Post »Drum Man
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:05amI’d be checking to see if “it” has an adams apple…
Report Post »silentme63
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:04amChinese lady with a British accent sounds like I’m back in the twilight zone, MoeW, wow..
Report Post »conservativewoman
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:01amI am dismayed by some of the comments on this woman’s looks by male posters in this forum. If I wanted to join in that type of thinking, I might point out that the man meowing might be angry at women due to their lack of attention because he is old, balding, and over-weight. But that would just be tacky!
Report Post »conservativewoman
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:52amMy husband spent time in Australia when he was single. The men there are very chauvanistic. When attending a party, he noticed the men and women socialized in separate groups in separate rooms. Weird!
Report Post »My husband decided to party with the women and needless to say, he got all the female attention. Hehehe! My husband has always been a smart guy.
USeless
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 5:24amHow old is your husband,146?
Report Post »goodgrubguy
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:41amGood for her for hitting him between the eyes with it right then and there. In the bar with the blokes, go for it, but in a serious discussion during any governmental conversation it has absolutely no place.
Report Post »Angus Scrimm
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:29am“Why don’t you meow when a woman does that?” Ummm…they just did you Rachel Madcow wanna be. Grow up and learn to take some shots when you get all mean with that threatening scowl on your face. I think a bear-like GRRRRR would have been more appropriate than a little meow anyways. Okay, you proved your point…you’re more of a man than they are. From meow to WAHHH! in 2.2 seconds. A new record!
Report Post »DebbieFisher
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:26amThere is no such thing as a set of rules for one group of people and a different set of rules for the other group(s). Trying to make it so results in costs too great to bear, as was ultimately proven by the “Jim Crow” laws of yesteryear right here in America. I don’t care what sort of identity the individuals involved had — liberal or conservative, male or female, or even meat-eaters versus vegetarians. What counts at this moment is that Bushell made an inappropriately disruptive interruption, and then compounded the offense with an act of overt hostility totally unacceptable for the occasion. At least, however, he was man enough to acknowledge the wrongs he had done and make a full apology — which is better than what some commentators are doing.
Report Post »purecolorartist
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:17amWhy is Dana Loesch sitting behind ‘her’?
Report Post »brntout
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:13amplatitude,platitude,wherefore art thy platitude?
Report Post »mrzmac
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:59amWho cares if she was feminine or masculine…she was speaking in a forum that was professional and the “gentleman” in question should be ashamed for stooping to that level of sarcasm!
Report Post »jtm
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:27amHave you ever seen a debate in the British House of Commons? It’s a free- for -all, and on some occasions fights fist fights break out. No etiquette involved. She can’t take it, she should go. How trite.
Report Post »Nick Pable with Buckshot
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 11:18am@JTM
Report Post »“Have you ever seen a debate in the British House of Commons?” Yes dozens and you obviously haven’t. Fist fights have never broken out and there is a strict etiquette – “Unparliamentary language” can result in your being suspended from the chamber.
As for the lesbian gibes, I would expect it from dumbagrandma but the rest of the comments disappoint me. She showed far more professionalism and control than most blazers could ever manage.
mrzmac
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 1:21pm@ JTM
Report Post »She was not speaking at the British House of Commons and with your way of thinking respect and manners should never be a goal…lets just go with the flow; no need to act like we have a thinking brain just go with our “id” responses…how trite indeed!
let us prey
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:40amEverything in Australia is angry. From funnel webs to cabinet members.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:02amLol.
Don’t gey me started on Aussie jokes. I’ve got 1000 of them (and they have just as many about us).
They are nice people, though. I have lived there for many years (not consecutively, though) and it’s a great country.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:15amOK, just one…
Kiwis and Aussies enjoy “slinging off” at each other, but usually in a good-natured way. Aussies occasionally accuse Kiwis of molesting sheep. When they say this to me I always agree with them and I tell them this story.
A Kiwi and an Aussie were driving along a New Zealand country road when the Kiwi spots a sheep with its head caught in the wire fence. Not one to let a chance go by, he slams on the brakes, rushes over to the trapped animal, drops his trousers and mounts her while the Aussie watches.
When he’s finished, he steps back and says to the Aussie “OK mate, your turn”.
So the Aussie sticks his head in the fence.
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:27am@nzkiwi
Report Post »Haaa good one. I would like to visit there some time.
nzkiwi
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:30amOops, sorry, this isn’t the forum for that sort of thing.
Want another one?
Report Post »let us prey
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:44amLets hear it
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:34pmThe word “hard” was deleted. Idiotic auto-censor. What’s wrong with the word “hard”?
Report Post »Andrew from Down Under
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:39pmThe thing about Kiwis is their funny accent, where the say “fush and chups” instead of “fish and chips”, “sux” instead of six, and so on! Half the people I work with are Kiwis and we “guve then crep about ut all the tum”! Having said that, we’re both ANZACS, and were proud of it!
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:13pmLol.
I was waiting for an Aussie to show up!
And yes, we are proud Anzacs. If someone should attack one of us, they’ll get both of us.
Until that day we will continue to happily poke the borax at each other.
And drink lots of “pees”.
Ours is better.
Report Post »Andrew from Down Under
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:21pmOne word of advice when dealing with the fine folks from “Un-Zud” (NZ)- don’t bowl underarm to them!
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:34pmThe America‘s Cup yacht regatta was held by the USA until the Aussie’s took it away from them in the early 1980′s. The US got it back and then the Kiwis took it way from them.
When the Aussies challenged us for the cup, their yacht unhappily broke in half and went to the bottom during the race.
New Zealand immediately announced that we were making a design change to our vessel.
We decided that we would put a glass bottom in our yacht so we could keep an eye on what the Aussies were doing.
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:56pmThis is true.
My father was flying to Australia a while back. He was in one of those three seat sections with himself on one side, an Aussie on the other side, and an American in the middle.
My father and the Aussie bloke started firing the latest jokes at each other to amuse themselves, as is our wont. The American didn’t realise that this sort of thing is fairly normal. With a somewhat alarmed look on his face he hunched himself down in the middle seat and muttered “Jesus Christ!”
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 3, 2011 at 1:33amThey took the whole joke and all they left was the dried up little word that they originally killed!
Oh the humanity!
Report Post »truthistheweapon
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:26amI have to agree with her. What he did was innapropriate.
Report Post »jtm
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:22amIs there a woman involved here? Where?
Report Post »heavywx
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:25amIt’s Pat
Report Post »beerios
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 2:29pmVery nice. I’m assuming an SNL reference?
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 7:49amShe was not feminine, that’s for sure. I thought she was right on calling the man down, however.
Has everyone forgotten proper etiquette? You speak; someone else speaks; you speak again; they listen; they speak; you listen? I am appalled at the lack of respect and absolute crudity in communication now. I just hate it when talk-show or hosts of programs talk over their guests. HOW RUDE! If you don’t like the person or his/her outlook, don’t ask them on your program. Helllll0???
Same applies to public speaking forums. Someone speaks. We listen. We speak, they listen. Key word being LISTEN!
Sometimes, the best answer is silence.
Report Post »Chris1000
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:02amAmen! I could not agree more! O’Reilly is one of the worst interrupters of all. He invites a guest on, then interrupts to tell us what HE thinks! Drives me crazy!!!
Report Post »Nervous Investor
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:27amAgreed.
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:40amAgreed. I can‘t watch O’Reilly for that reason. They all do it but Bill is the worst. Makes me nuts.
Report Post »teapartyconservatism
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 5:02pmLazy O‘Liely’s so called “Factor” investigations are simply his superficial unsupported opinion, rather than any valid investigative research beyond being blindly satisfied by slothfully scratching the surface of most issues.
Sad to see how Beck buddied up to O‘Liely and is similarly also ignoring Obama’s ineligibility by failing to be a natural born citizen, meaning one born in the U.S. of U.S. citizen parents and his further ineligibility by dual citizenship for being born a British citizen pursuant to the British Nationality Act of 1948.[1]
Each authoritative definition of a NBC stipulates citizen parents (plural). First Congress, Ses II, Chp 3, Sec I, 104, 1790: “the children of citizens.” Bingham, House floor, 1866: “of parents not owing allegiance.” Supreme Court, Minor v. Happersett, 1874: “of parents who were its citizens.” Senate Res 511, 2008: “born to American citizens.”
Congress is hiding behind the birth certificate controversy rather than act and jeopardize reelection. Their deceptive dereliction of duty was deftly codified by rhetorically requesting guidance from the CRS on just the birth certificate issue. The expected reply was the infamous Maskell memorandum.[2]
Demand congress remove Obama!
1. Donofrio, http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=134881
2. Maskell, http://www.scribd.com/doc/41131059/CRS-Congressional-Internal-Memo-What-to-Tell-Your-Constituents-Regarding-Obama-Eligibility-Questions
Report Post »Moocephus
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 7:44amIt was very wong of him to do that. Ok move along…no story here.
Report Post »hayesstephen
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 11:10amOh how droll!! It was wong, but wong being meowed is wonger yet!! If two wongs don’t make a wight,than tell me how the helll do you make a weft or go stwait? The man was just clearing his throat, he had a hair ball coming up.
Report Post »SeekerofTruth
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 1:00pmOh wow, how wong of you!
Report Post »Andrew from Down Under
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:28pmThere was a very famous quote from Australia’s immigration minister, Arthur Calwell, back in the late 1940s, who was opposed to Asian immigration (and he was Labor, our progressives), which went:
Report Post »“Two Wongs don’t make a White!”
teddrunk
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 7:40amWas that a woman? An effeminate leftist guy? A lesbian? What the hell was that?
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 7:57amBoomerangs at 30 paces. Joe Wilson is still correct, Barry is a Liar.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:02amAr least he was saying he thought she was female….Looks like a dude…
Report Post »roman74
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:05amDon’t be an ass-hat TEDDRUNK!
Report Post »It’s this kind of BS that upsets me. There are many reasons why I don’t like Democrats/Liberals as well as some Republican/Conservatives but even you should know what’s the proper behavior in a professional environment. Actually, seeing what you posted pretty much sums up your level (mentally). I am praying for you in hopes that you become a better person and maybe someday offer something intelligent on this website.
penismightier
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:06amShe was right. Butchy though, no doubt about that.
Report Post »lovenfl3
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:07amI think she was spot on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbXPpBLlc1U
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:25amIf you knew more about her, Ted, you would be impressed. She is very bright and very tough.
She is also a lesbian and a left winger, but do not make the mistake of underestimating her.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:31amIf a valid point is made, who cares if it comes from a man or a woman?
Report Post »NOTAMUSHROOM
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:35amMs. Wong was absolutely justified and remarkably reserved in her response to that moron who insulted her so blatantly. Geez, what an ass.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 9:58amRoman, sorry if I offended your senses. In no way was I condoning the meowing. I do stand by my opinion that I’m tired of people trying play both sides of the fence. You’re either male or female. Dress and act the part. If that offends you, well too bad.
Report Post »penismightier
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 10:29amTed, there are lesbians in the world and she sure looks like one. I still don’t understand why God created lesbians and homosexed men. That is a mystery.
Report Post »MikeDiesel
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 12:06pmTed, do know anything about her politics? You assume by the way her hair is cut that she must be a liberal lesbian. I mean, according to Wikipedia, she is in fact openly lesbian, and super liberal, but still…uh, never mind. I probably would have meowed at her too.
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 12:23pmShould have barked like a dog!
Report Post »Pastor Ray
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 1:34pmAs in the days of Noah the Sodomites and other EVIL are running rampant the only thing we are yet lacking is the Devils Angels diddling the daughters of MEN. So as soon as the ABOMINATION stands in New Temple we are there!
Report Post »redrolr
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 1:51pmWhat does it matter?
Report Post »Melvin Spittle
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 2:02pmThats not a man, man….
Report Post »crackerone
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 2:05pmGuess it beats smacking her with a shovel!
Report Post »hifi74
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 2:17pmI saw his last night on the news and thought then that she acted with candor and was dead on in her response to him. This is no different then how the left treats Mrs Bachmann and Mrs Palin, and is not at all how they or her should be treated. I don’t mind it when the left gets snippy and they are wrong, it’s when they get snippy and they are right. And Mrs Wong was absolutely right.
Report Post »FlatFoot
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 2:18pmWell, first of all, obviously Penny Wong is a frustrated man trapped in a woman’s body. Secondly, he meowed at her strictly to illicit the response he received. He baited her and she not only bit, she took the whole hook, line, and sinker. Her response wasn’t the shock and dismay of a woman peer and equal belittled, it was a response of self-righteous aggrandizement. She wants to be perceived as a man and treated like a man equal, which makes sense because she is a man trapped in a woman’s body.
Report Post »brian8793
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 2:27pmYou guys are sick. I’m ashamed to know that you guys probably consider yourselves Conservatives. This is why I never say I am a “Conservative,“ but that I ”Lean to the right.”
I don’t want them to think I monkey around with the likes of you gorillas…
Report Post »MikeDiesel
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 3:04pmOh, Brian, lighten up!
If you lean to the right, it’s probably because your left leg is longer than your right. They have inserts for your shoes that can help with that.
Report Post »Happy Killmore
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 3:41pm“Penis Mightier”. What a crazy name!
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 4:43pmDefinitely the guy was a liberal progressive. This is how they act when they hear things that they don’t like. They cannot stand things like truth, honesty, having the people take care of and control their own lives.
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 6:48pmGood for your girl, tell that lib to shut the hell up and act civil. Uh for got… they cant act civil, so just shut the hell up lib.
Report Post »Armed Patriot
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 6:54pmGod didnt CREATE gays and lesbians, its a choice. It is a sin according the laws of Moses (God) stated in Leviticus. As it is a sin, it is something to be fought against by the individual, like alcoholism, drug addiction, or infidelity. God didnt create me as an alcoholic but it is my moral duty to refrain from the act. We all have our sins to refrain from.
Report Post »Andrew from Down Under
Posted on June 2, 2011 at 8:13pmPenny Wrong is indeed a half-Asian, half-Australian, lesbian, and have never trusted her. Having said that, in this case, she was right.
Report Post »The Big Pickle
Posted on June 3, 2011 at 10:08amThat’s an austrialian?
That’s a woman?
What the heck is going on in the world?
I heard that austrailia is being over run by asians, just like America is being over run by messicans.
Sad…the only White country left in the world is Latvia.
Report Post »The Big Pickle
Posted on June 3, 2011 at 10:09amI would have demanded it was indeed a woman and checked it for a penis.
Report Post »WeekendAtBernankes
Posted on June 4, 2011 at 1:58pmPresenting herself as a little boy doesn’t make the “meowing” any less rude or disrespectful. How tasteless. In our country he’d have been slapped with a sexual harassment suit! (Not a good thing -.-)
Report Post »