People comparing Cummings to Caroline Flack

[panhandledrama]

I am quite shocked to see a number of posts in the last few days comparing the media treatment of Dominic Cummings to that of Caroline Flack . And how we need to #bekind
Surely there is no comparison! Caroline was a minor celebrity who was hounded due to a domestic incident
Cummings told us as a nation what we can't do and then did it himself while other people lost jobs and couldn't say goodbye to dying loved ones due to sticking to HIS rules. People are outraged that other (labour) mp's have done similar but they aren't the prime ministers puppet master

Surely people can see that these are totally different scenarios and people have a right to be outraged this time!

runrunrunrunt

@TabbyMumzthe virus caused the death. The being alone part was caused by the government rules that conveniently no longer exist.

Yes, the being alone bit is a rule made by Government. A very important rule, which still exists. It is not his fault a mother couldnt be with their child.

"That's right, you keep singing from the Cumming's hymn sheet like a good little sheep. All while he's pissing himself laughing behind your back."

And you keep behaving like a lynching mob.

@TabbyMumz Yes and we need to let them get on with doing exactly that. Dealing with the virus and not side tracking this with the Cummings issue. Every bit of reporting is all about him and I for one dont want to hear it, I want the press to move on and get back to reporting on the virus etc. Its disgusting to watch, a family being hounded like that.

It's not "sidetracking"; it's part of the whole governmental response to this crisis.

Not only do the press want him hung drawn and quartered, it's social media as well.

Despicable comments .

Brexit has everything lot to do with it as well and remainers want revenge .

When lockdown first started there were lots of posters on MN expressing concern about the public blindly following, posters making up their own restrictions, and not seeing that people had to make their own risk assessments and decisions which were within the law but maybe not 'the spirit'.

They were constantly shouted down, often with abuse, and told of course everyone knew that but it was about transmissions links etc, protecting the NHS and 'the greater good'.

Now apparently, it was nothing to do with that and people were just doing as they were told, had no understanding of individual risk and would have done what they wanted if they'd just known DC went to Durham..

It’s a grotesque comparison of DC and Caroline Flack, seems pretty desperate reach for DC defenders. He broke the rules he made, repeatedly, and with COVID... I’m surprised it’s even an issue and he wasn’t chucked at the beginning ... Cabinet lying for him too... they’ve lost my vote

longwayoff
This comparison is an insult to Caroline Flack.

He may be a government advisor, but to put him lower than someone that beats up their partner is just wrong.

@BreadandMarmalade I suggest you read Marina Hyde's excellent article which was posted yesterday, to figure out who was a main catalyst of this political tribalism. www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/26/dominic-cummings-boris-johnson-terrified-sack-him

Erm we’ve left the EU already... everyone in our area voted Brexit, and we’re all against Cummings so...

We’re also in a new Tory seat and none of us are voting for a Bojo government again

To call this a lunching mob is also disgusting given what’s in the news today. Shameful.

I think the main difference is that Caroline Flack cared too much about what people thought of her whereas it's pretty clear DC doesn't give a shit what the great unwashed thinks and/or actually thrives on the negative attention.

Such a necessary thread. The Flack stuff is truly laughable. I can understand the people who are only pretending to think it and actually just don't like a right winger being criticised, so are just saying anything to make it stop. It's very obvious, but at least there's a logic there. But I'm horribly afraid some people really are credulous and bootlicking enough to believe that scrutiny of an extremely influential and unelected policy maker is bullying.

It's just the latest way of saying "shut up".

Previous attempts have failed. There will be more.

@BlackberryCane Absolutely.

To call this a lunching mob is also disgusting given what’s in the news today. Shameful.

Yes, fucking repulsive. Imagine thinking you had any kind of moral high ground posting shit like this.

I don't think it's a useful comparison, but the theme of the comparison I do agree with. We do kill people with the way we use media. We can't distance ourselves from the press, we feed them.

So he was supposed to not call an ambulance for his son now?
@TabbyMumz of course he had to. That’s the point. He should have been calling that ambulance in London, not taking a potential covid case to a hospital in a low transmission area. We weren’t travelling so that we didn’t risk exposing people to virus in different areas. This is exactly what he did as a result of his arrogance - and it was entirely predictable that it would happen if his reason for going is true. His reason, remember, was worry about what would happen to his son if both parents were hospitalised. (And remember he has family in London as well as, presumably, friends).

I wouldn't vote for the ghastly Cummings in a million years. Why is he running the country. I hope this doesn't just pass over. It's been a difficult nine weeks for a lot of people and a heart breaking time for some. And this wretched man has just brushed aside everything and done his own thing.

@TabbyMumz He didnt have to answer the questions at all. He'd already answered them to the Prime Minister. It was awful because he was literally interrogated with the full country watching him. This is something advisors wouldnt normally do. They are normally in the background. He was a broken man. I just wish it would all stop now. He's answered the questions, he should now be left alone

...And the PM answers to the electorate, who are emailing their MPs in record numbers to demand that DC goes.

You are taking about DC as if he was a lowly civil servant, rather than one of the most powerful individuals in the country. If we're looking at what advisors would NORMALLY do in this situation - they would resign. Allowing him to stay on and giving him that opportunity to put his case in the Rose Garden was affording him a privilege not usually allowed to an advisor - he has been treated better, not worse.

To call this a lunching mob is also disgusting given what’s in the news today. Shameful.

Absolutely.

I think that what he did was really really wrong and goodness knows what Boris is doing not sacking him. BUT I absolutely hate seeing people hounded in their doorstep. Especially when children are present. Surely there are better ways to hold him to account. Also, mustn’t forget it’s his boss who is ultimately accountable for whether he stays or goes (though Cummings is responsible for his actions of course).

Critiscism is fine. Being called to account is fine.

I doubt v.much DC cares what is said on MN for instance, but he does have a family who might.

Criticise and be angry? Fine. But on MN just the last few days i've seen some pretty horrific personal things said about him, his family and his child which are not necessary and actually have nothing to do with what he did and are disproportinate hatred and abuse. Same on Twitter and FB.

No-one should have paps screaming abuse outside their home, harassing their family or frightening their children.

It's a wider issue about the media, especially SM and how extreme abuse and 'cancel culture' usually under anonymity is so accepted and is damaging to individuals and society as a whole.

So that's why there are parallels with Caroline Flack and others before her.

That's what most people who object, object to. It's nothing to do with defending his actions at all.

Funny thing is, I thought about a comparison with Caroline Flack this morning.

I absolutely hate the way our press behaves these days. They are out of control and dangerous.

You are taking about DC as if he was a lowly civil servant, rather than one of the most powerful individuals in the country. If we're looking at what advisors would NORMALLY do in this situation - they would resign. Allowing him to stay on and giving him that opportunity to put his case in the Rose Garden was affording him a privilege not usually allowed to an advisor - he has been treated better, not worse.

Too Right.

Cummings is being afforded every privilege. Even the Prime Mininster and cabinet twisting themselves in knots to justify his actions. At the expense of basic common sense. They are literally making themselves look shameful FOR him.

The press outside his door is a disgrace but no less disgraceful than his actions.

I'm not sure whether what he did was right or wrong given that when its your own kid, all bets are off. But what I am sure is that if DC was driving up to Durham to destroy the last horcrux there are still people who would slaughter him. He's a pantomine villain to remainers and lefties. That being said, he did kind of leave an open net for his enemies here.