Blunder Down Under
Aussie Dave | Feb 09, 2005 | 3 comments
Cherie Blair should write a book on How Not to Win Friends and Influence People:
Cherie Blair began her controversial tour Down Under with a blunder last night – by calling her Kiwi hosts Australians.The PM’s wife delivered her insult TWICE in front of VIPs including New Zealand prime minister Helen Clarke.Mrs Blair, 50, might have hoped she would get away with her gaffe – because she’d had the British Press booted out.But guests who had paid up to £380 to attend the charity dinner in Auckland were horrified.“Calling us Australians was the worst mistake you can imagine and she did it twice!” said one businessman. “And her speech was boring.”
A blunder, yes. But an “insult” or “worst mistake you can imagine”? Hmmmph! Now that is insulting!
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
People here are talking in disgust about her very generous fee too – all whilst she is raising money for kids with cancer. She has a lifestyle to support, but it seems a bit rich.
I dunno… I have some Canadian friends who bristle at being called Americans (even though it is trued from a purely geographic standpoint). I think in this case it was more Kiwi sensitivity from living so long in Australia’s giant shadow, combined with a speaker who was horribly ill-prepared.
I was about to say! We Canadians aren’t exactly impressed when we get labelled as American, but I wouldn’t say it would be the *worst* mistake ever.