"you Sir, Are A Racist!"

[sp1814]

Does Geoffrey have a point?

I won't beat about the bush...I am posting this because I want to ridicule. That's my agenda (can't accuse me of being dishonest).

Now that I've said that - I believe that Mr Bloom is a complete idiot...a man who doesn't understand what racism is.

However, the reporter could've framed the question a bit better...perhaps, "Looking at the conference brochure, do you think you may be limiting your appeal by excluding black and Asian faces?" Media URL: http://youtu.be/jzPBn5SLcxE
Description:

[jno]

I think he may have been a little tongue-in-cheek there, but it seemed to throw the reporter, didn't it? And rightly so because, as you say, the question could have been framed much more pertinently.

And I even think he was a bit hard-done-by over the sluts business - as someone suggests in that clip, sluts aren't the same as sIags, the word's long been in use to describe women who... well, who don't clean behind the fridge. Non-dedicated housekeepers, not sexually promiscuous females.

I don't really want to defend him but if this is the worst people can accuse him of, then he's harmless.

[Gromit]

Mr Bloom and Mr Crick are both idiots.

Not having a black face on a brochure is not racist, they are entitled to put on their brochure who they like. No laws have been broken and black people are welcome to vote for UKiP if they like.

But to ask "why aren't there black people on your brochure?" is not racist either. Why Bloom could not give an honest answer instead of whacking the reporter over the head is a mystery. It was a teap, but by refusing to asnswer the question, it looks like there is something to hide when there isn't.

[jim360]

That's as may be, but the meaning of "***" has changed, recently, to also have sexual connotations. So if nothing else it's showing that he's just a bit behind the times.

Frankly, though, the way he conducted himself in that interview was appalling.

[Gromit]

Teap = trap

[jno]

jim, I think it's always been open to having sexual connotations; but it was entirely clear from Bloom's words at the time that this wasn't the sense in which he was using the word.

Being behind the times isn't a big deal. As I said, if that's the worst they can accuse him of...

[mikey4444]

I don't think that the sl*t word was that bad either, but really...Godfrey Bloom harmless ?

It pains me to admit it but UKIP are starting to look ever so slightly like a proper political party. They still have some way to go but its a start at least.

But Bloom has effectively ruined UKIP's AGM. I heard Farage being interviewed on the Today program this morning and I actually found myself feeling sorry for him. Not an awful lot but its a new experience for me, so I am still getting used to it !

Bloom acted appallingly on the street, in view of a TV crew, completely unprofessionally. What on earth was he thinking about ? He is a complete wassock and Farage should sack him with immediate effect.

[sp1814]

Not sure why my YouTube link didn't display correctly.

Yes, I agree - but Bloom inferred racism from what Crick said. A cannier politician would have said, "Look, we in UKIP have a broad based appeal and we are certainly not going to put a couple of black faces on our brochure in order to tick boxes. That in itself would be the most insulting form of tokenism".

Now, it's easy for me to come up with that, because I've had time to think it up, but a politician with a profile as high as Mr Bloom's really ought to be able to conduct himself a little better, because at the moment...he's coming off a little...

...mental.

[pixie373]

He has made himself look a bit daft at times, but don't thing he was necessarily wrong either time. Often, I think seeing racism or sexism where none was intended is quite common and says more about the "accuser" than anything.

[ichkeria]

He was baited and fell for it hook, line and sinker.

[sp1814]

pixie373

But Crick didn't mention racism. It was Bloom who accuse Crick of being racist, not the other way around.

[askyourgran]

The Bongo Bongo land remark was a mistake, Bloom is old hat and not up to todays standards of tactful /PC verbiage, I had given him the benefit of the doubt then. But this time was a mistake too far imho, he's shown himself up to be idiotic, slattern is the word he was aiming for, and although Crick's question was provocative in bringing up the race card, Bloom shouldn't have bopped him on the head losing his cool. He's too old and he's shown us a little about Ukip's facade. Amateurish.

[pixie373]

The reporter was asking why there were only white faces, so it was him who brought up racism, although he may not have used the actual word.

[sp1814]

pixie373

Mr Bloom accused the reporter of racism.

All their reporter did was ask a question.

Politicians should be able to answer a simple question without accusing reporters of being racist, and without throwing a childish tantrum.

[ichkeria]

There's a large middle ground of common sense between bland PC verbiage and the way Godfrey Bloom has of expressing himself. I don;t think there's a virture in it. He doesn't express himself or his ideas any better by referring to "Bongo Bongo Land" etc etc. There is no sudden enlightnment on the part of the listener. Just the sound of a certain element cheering his "plain speaing". But at some pint UKIP needs to move beyond that constituency. Then their problem will be alienating their original loyalists :-)

[ichkeria]

"some point" I meant - I think (!)

[askyourgran]

sp, Crick was baiting Bloom, Crick was the one who brought up the race card, about only White people on the cover of the brochure, what else could be inferred there? He was baiting Bloom to make some ad hoc statement about colour, or lack of it. With hindsight he could have said "Well look mate I didn't design the cover, but we do have x amount of coloured people from BB Land as members of UKip" Bop! "don't be impertinant!"

[sp1814]

askyourgran

That's what a good journalist should do.

They should ask politicians difficult questions, not to mollycoddle them. This is how journalists treat the three main parties, and senior members of UKIP should be treated no differently.

[DaisyNonna]

How on earth does one clean behind the fridge? Can't move mine.

[lady-janine]

same here daisy. mine is a fixed unit (probably as most are). so i'm a ***. heyho not the end of my world. too much to do that's interesting to bother about it.

[mikey4444]

Godfrey Bloom...a selection of of his "bloomers" on You tube :::



Its nice to start the day off with some humour don't you think !