Gaffe-prone politician quits Australia election

[klr]

The original article has a video clip of the hapless would-be politico being interviewed ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23644422

Islam gaffe candidate Banister quits Australia election

An Australian election candidate who was widely mocked after she mistook Islam for a country in a TV interview has withdrawn her candidacy.

Stephanie Banister, 27, was contesting a seat in Queensland for the anti-immigration One Nation Party. She had only been in politics for 48 hours.

Ms Banister also confused the term "haram" (forbidden) with the Koran and suggested Jews worshipped Jesus Christ.

The interview, which aired early this week, went viral on social media.

''I don't oppose Islam as a country, umm, but I do feel that their laws should not be welcome here in Australia,'' Ms Banister told Seven News reporter Erin Edwards.

'Quite the fool'

She announced her withdrawal from the election on Saturday.

"With the way Channel Seven edited my interview, I was left quite the fool," Ms Banister said in a brief statement.

"I'd like to apologise to One Nation, to my friends and family, for any embarrassment this has brought to them."

One newspaper headline said Ms Banister had managed to put Islam literally on the map.

The leader of One Nation, Jim Savage, said Ms Banister continued to have the "full support" of the party executive.

He said she had been under "enormous pressure", including threats to her and her family.

Commentators compared Ms Banister to Sarah Palin, the gaffe-prone Republican vice-presidential candidate in the 2008 US election.

Even before this interview, Ms Banister was regarded as a rank outsider to win her seat, says the BBC's Jon Donnison, in Sydney.

The mother-of-two rose to prominence when she was arrested for going into a supermarket and putting stickers saying "halal food funds terrorism" on Nestle products.

She is facing charges of "contaminating or interfering with goods". If convicted before polling day, she would have been barred from standing.

[Svartalf]

According to an Aussie poster on another forum, Ms Banister was dropped off by one nation rather than quitting the race of her own movement.

[klr]

According to an Aussie poster on another forum, Ms Banister was dropped off by one nation rather than quitting the race of her own movement.

The two are not mutually exclusive. She could have been instructed to "consider her position" ...

[Svartalf]

The leader of One Nation, Jim Savage, said Ms Banister continued to have the "full support" of the party executive.

This contradicts the information given to me ... meaning that One Nation is probably as full of complete hypocrites as any standard political organisation.

[klr]

The leader of One Nation, Jim Savage, said Ms Banister continued to have the "full support" of the party executive.

This contradicts the information given to me ... meaning that One Nation is probably as full of complete hypocrites as any standard political organisation.

And this would be a surprise how?

[Xamonas Chegwé]

Just heard about this on the radio. Fucking pissed myself! Stupid people in politics are comedy gold (and, sadly, far more electable than they ever ought to be!)

[fishie]

Just heard about this on the radio. Fucking pissed myself! Stupid people in politics are comedy gold (and, sadly, far more electable than they ever ought to be!)

Hey this is what we are getting! Seen Rudds plan to stop the boats? Or abbots ideas on divorce law? The whole thing is a joke. We got nuttin.

[pErvinalia]

The irony of all this is that the leader and creator of the One Nation Party, Pauline Hanson, was even less literate and knowledgeable than this clown when she first started. This candidate is basically Hanson 2.0.

[fishie]

The irony of all this is that the leader and creator of the One Nation Party, Pauline Hanson, was even less literate and knowledgeable than this clown when she first started. This candidate is basically Hanson 2.0.

Do you remember what Hanson said first time around about how she would deal with government expenditure?
She was just gonna print more money.
True. I kid you not.

[Animavore]

I can just imagine some Malcolm Tucker type guy was in the background tearing her a new asshole and telling her to fuck off

[mistermack]

Maybe politicians ought to have to pass some kind of exam?

After all, you wouldn't want your heart surgeon holding up your spleen, and saying " is this a heart ? "

[Hermit]

Maybe politicians ought to have to pass some kind of exam?

They already do have to. If they don't get a pass mark in an election they fail to get into office.

"We get the government we deserve."

[mistermack]

Maybe politicians ought to have to pass some kind of exam?

They already do have to. If they don't get a pass mark in an election they fail to get into office.

"We get the government we deserve."

But what if they lose their keys? I did that once, and failed to get into my office.

Politics is not as simple as it sounds.

[Svartalf]

Maybe politicians ought to have to pass some kind of exam?

They already do have to. If they don't get a pass mark in an election they fail to get into office.

"We get the government we deserve."

Doesn't mean squat, the second line is correct because the examination body is apt to be even more of a bunch of morons than the examinees.

[pErvinalia]

Very true.