Who feels sorry for Gordon???

[MrsForgetful]

I do.

I do and I don't like him either.

I think it's more worrying that he didn't like being put in the position of talking to the public without it being stage-managed, rather than what he actually said though.

And even more worrying that his media team aren't looking after him properly. It doesn't say much for his management skills ...

And I would have had more respect for him if he had just been human and said "sorry - that was an almighty cock-up" - or words to that effect - rather than lie and say "I misunderstood what she said".

Actually I'd like GB better if he was like that all the time, in my little fantasy world if the PM thought someone was being a bigot he'd be able to tell them to their face.

Unfortunatly, in reality, his feet probobly wouldn't have touched the ground on the way out of office..

I feel sorry for both of them.

The only ones enjoying this are the media, who will quite happily harrass Gillian duffy in the name of a good story, and continue to bully GB (whilst they ironically bang on about him being a bully)

winner? Murdoch. I bet he is kicking himself this didn't happen before the sky debate, instead the viewing figures will benefit BBC.

Gorden Brown proved what kind of person he is. He thinks he ought to rule us all but is contemptuous of us and doesn't think he should have to have any contact with us on a personal level. If the microphone had been turned off, many people would have continued to be deluded about him. Lucky chance I think.

His apology might have been believable if he hadn't had such a supercilious sneer on his face.

No love lost here!

I think that this has been blown out of all proportion by the bloody media.

This is NOT a story. Why waste time on this ridiculous bloody event when there are far more important things to discuss. Such as policy on NHS, education, the war and the state of the armed forces, bureaucracy, transport. NOT Gordon Brown's PRIVATE comments made about one person.

This has really made me angry at the utterly ridiculous media which is concentrating on shock stories rather than things that actually matter.

In my opinion that woman was bigoted. It doesn't matter that she is a dear old lady. There are lots of dear old people around who are utterly racist and hold Love Thy Neighbour attitudes. However, GB couldn't have called her on it when the cameras were on, of course not, so I don't blame him for having a rant in private. Good on him. I personally think he is a good chap but this campaign must be like wading through treacle for him. I do feel very sorry for him on a personal level.

And I don't believe the bullying stories. It is a load of crap imo. He is probably a sod to work for. Good. I want the PM to be strong and forthright. And if people get shouted at when they don't do things right - good. Pressure at work is a good thing.

I feel sorry for him. I don't think he's a bad person. I don't support his policies but he seems geniune and decent.

But--that lady was entitled to ask the question she did. She wasn't being a bigot. It's a question lots of people are asking and it just proves to me that some elements of the Labour party have no idea what the view on the street is on issues such as immigration.

I think her comments were bigoted. She commented on Eastern Europeans flocking to the UK. They are here perfectly legally as members of the EU. Gordon Brown did try to gently pull her up on her comment by pointing out that there are a million Brits working in other parts of the EU, so it is working both ways.

I did feel very sorry for him. If he'd got in the car and said "do you know, she's quite bloody right about the Eastern Europeans" THAT would have been a story to tell.

Poor Gordon - shows he's human

Missanne I salute you.

His aides summed it up for me by saying they were relived it had not been worse as he is known for his tirades of abuse and anger in private - even stabbing the car seat with a pen once.

I do feel sorry for this lady who IMO said nothing bigoted, just that she was worried about imigration as well as tax, pensions and her MAIN point the national debt. She is not a politician and not media savvy and does not deserve any of this.

Gordon Brown is an idiot and the fact that he LIED that he misunderstood her rather than come clean and say sorry means he has lost my vote.

ex - labour party voter.

a day later and having had more time to consider this I think she was entitled to say what she did, it obviously is a great concern of hers although maybe not well expresses

I think the government should have addressed immigration more head on when the going was good and nobody much cared, but now that there is a recession, obviously everybody cares

Nevertheless it was a private moment and I don't really think it ought to have been broadcast, it is a shame that tonight's debate instead of being about the economy, is going to be about this

also it is starting to feel like this woman is being exploited, she did look quite hurt and bewildered yesterday

I feel sorry for him but IMO what he said shows a lack of judgement. He said "that was a disaster" which if the mics had been turned off would not have been true: He had just met a labour voter, she challenged him, he dealt with it well and she was pleased and happy and said she would still vote labour. So if it had ended there it would have been a good thing. He thought it was a disaster - but why - because someone challenged his views? because he had to face challenging questions from a voter? It became a disaster, yes, but started out well for him.
All the comments about sky - the news broadcasters share recordings of sound/filming footage to save hassle/money/ GB having to wear lots of microphones so it was being shared with the BBC anyway who I'm sure would also have braodcast it if they were in control of the mic.

Well, he did choose to become an MP and prime minister and knew he would end up under the magnifying glass and criticised . People are rottena dn will jump down their throats at every opportunity. However, i hope the Tories get in !!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree the lady is allowed to ask any questions she wants and as PM Gordon should be able to answer. However, the way she asked the questions and the way she phrased things showed a lack of thought and tolerance. I am not sticking up for Gordon as PM, like I said, I won't be voting for him but not because of this one incident. I agree hat it's been blown out of all proportion and at the end of the day, she is just one ill educated old lady. Tme to move on and focus on the debate tonight. Gordon has gone neither up nor down in my opinon. The media coverage of it has been ridiculously over blown, we have bigger issues here.

Westwingfan - in my dreams Jed Bartlett is PM!

She was expressing bigotted views, she displayed an intolerance to a group of people whom she sees as different to herself.

Of course there are people who are worried about people coming from other countries to work because the strong work ethic and skills people bring with them make it painfully obvious that there are a lot of British people who can't compete. So long as someone has the legal right to work in the UK it should be the best person for the job whatever their nationality. There is a lot to be said for improving education and the opportunities for people to gain more skills but it takes more time and effort to change attitudes and in my limited experience negative attitudes are the overriding problem.

tbh, I am that there are seemingly so many people who think it's acceptable for people to make reference to imigrants in the way that woman did. So it's ok to state that eastern europeans are flocking to the country - if she'd said blacks, or indians, or muslims would people have thought that was ok too?

The most worrying thing is that his first thought was to blame a member of his team for 'setting him up' with Mrs Duffy in the first place.
If he can only cope with speaking to people who are going to toe the line and fawn then he isn't up to much.

Everyone saying 'oh it was a private conversation', that doesn't matter. He is a politician, he put himself up for election and therefore into the public domain. He must expect his every word and move to be scrutinised, it goes with the territory.

I'm amazed that so many here are feeling sorry for him. Couldn't you hear the mysoginistic tone in his voice 'just some bigoted woman'?
Why have so many women left his cabinet? Now we know.

I'd vote for Jed Bartlett too! Shame we're stuck with real people.

transcript and full video of what Mrs. Duffy said
www.channel4.com/news/articles/vote_2010/when+gillian+met+gordon+the+full+transcript/3629187

It is not that it is ok to refer to people in derogatory terms but it is clearly a concern to her and there are areas where immigration and the changes brought about by immigration are a huge issue, not discussing it and 'owning' the debate will make people vulnerable to knuckle head bigoted and ignorant rhetoric

speaking as an immigrant

and not 'owning'

Hear, hear MrsForgetful(but Murdoch wouldn't let David Cameron get caught out... would he....)

Its the press that runs this country...

wannaBe - I know! I share your I said earlier on this thread that I think a lot of people don't even understand that their views are bigotted as it's almost becoming the norm for people to talk this way. "I'm not a racist but..." I think that some think that it's okay to express views about Eastern Europeans which they would never dream of saying about someone of African or Asian origin because they're not commenting on the colour of their skin iyswim.