What do you think?
Has Abbott stuffed up or is it invasive tabloid journalism by 7?
I reckon there are faults from both parties. Abbott was being told how the soldier's death was basically caused by a series of coincidences and unlucky events which couldn't have been prevented- the response that 'at the end of the day, shit happens' is pretty justified I reckon. It wasn't insensitive, especially considering he was talking to troops where that language is pretty commonplace.
And I think 7 went a bit over the top with it considering the context. To exploit the emotions around a soldier's death for what was a minor slip of the tongue was a bit over the top.
However I think the reason that this has got so much airtime is it feeds into an impression people have about Abbott- he is not prime ministerial and he is prone to saying things without fully thinking them through. This in itself will not harm the Abbott brand, but I can see it as part of a montage of 'Abbott gaffs' that could be used against him at election time.
I'm sure Abbott is a good bloke, but he can't keep dropping these blokey slang phrases into conversations with anyone- the media, the military or the public. As much as he wants to be the 'everyman', it has to stop somewhere.
Has Abbott stuffed up or is it invasive tabloid journalism by 7?
I reckon there are faults from both parties. Abbott was being told how the soldier's death was basically caused by a series of coincidences and unlucky events which couldn't have been prevented- the response that 'at the end of the day, shit happens' is pretty justified I reckon. It wasn't insensitive, especially considering he was talking to troops where that language is pretty commonplace.
And I think 7 went a bit over the top with it considering the context. To exploit the emotions around a soldier's death for what was a minor slip of the tongue was a bit over the top.
However I think the reason that this has got so much airtime is it feeds into an impression people have about Abbott- he is not prime ministerial and he is prone to saying things without fully thinking them through. This in itself will not harm the Abbott brand, but I can see it as part of a montage of 'Abbott gaffs' that could be used against him at election time.
I'm sure Abbott is a good bloke, but he can't keep dropping these blokey slang phrases into conversations with anyone- the media, the military or the public. As much as he wants to be the 'everyman', it has to stop somewhere.