Post by lennie on Mar 11, 2007 6:58:59 GMT -5
Downer's 'dirty attacks' unnecessary: Opposition
from ABC Online
The Federal Opposition says Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer should be pulled into line for continually attacking Kevin Rudd.
Earlier this week, Mr Downer questioned Mr Rudd's integrity, claiming it was "very interesting" that he had different versions of the truth regarding an issue from Mr Rudd's childhood.
A newspaper report quoted the relatives of a man Mr Rudd said evicted his family from a Sunshine Coast farm when the now Labor leader was 11.
The man's children denied he evicted Mr Rudd's family and said his name is being dragged through the mud.
Mr Downer accused the Opposition Leader of acting only in his personal interests.
"Mr Rudd is one of those people who would say absolutely anything to advance his own personal interest," he said.
Shadow Treasurer Wayne Swan said the Prime Minister should pull Mr Downer into line.
"His behaviour on television this morning was conduct unbecoming of a senior Minister in a Howard Government, you wonder how low these dirty attacks can continue," he said
Mr Swan claimed the attack showed the Government was getting desperate, and compared the war of words to a title fight.
"It really reminds you of the sort of final rounds of a title fight where the challenger is so desperate in the eighth round because they've lost the early rounds, so they're out there just swinging wild punches everywhere."
________________________________________
This is filthy style politics that in the end must work against Alexander Downer.
from ABC Online
The Federal Opposition says Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer should be pulled into line for continually attacking Kevin Rudd.
Earlier this week, Mr Downer questioned Mr Rudd's integrity, claiming it was "very interesting" that he had different versions of the truth regarding an issue from Mr Rudd's childhood.
A newspaper report quoted the relatives of a man Mr Rudd said evicted his family from a Sunshine Coast farm when the now Labor leader was 11.
The man's children denied he evicted Mr Rudd's family and said his name is being dragged through the mud.
Mr Downer accused the Opposition Leader of acting only in his personal interests.
"Mr Rudd is one of those people who would say absolutely anything to advance his own personal interest," he said.
Shadow Treasurer Wayne Swan said the Prime Minister should pull Mr Downer into line.
"His behaviour on television this morning was conduct unbecoming of a senior Minister in a Howard Government, you wonder how low these dirty attacks can continue," he said
Mr Swan claimed the attack showed the Government was getting desperate, and compared the war of words to a title fight.
"It really reminds you of the sort of final rounds of a title fight where the challenger is so desperate in the eighth round because they've lost the early rounds, so they're out there just swinging wild punches everywhere."
________________________________________
This is filthy style politics that in the end must work against Alexander Downer.