Channel 7 - Gay bashing homophobes?

[Sebastiaan56]

For those who dont know we had a Minister resign yesterday ostensibly for being "outed" by a Channel 7 reporter. He was stalked by the media and filmed leaving a gay club in Sydney's east. From what I can tell he has done nothing more immoral than express his sexuality and any fallout belongs between he and his wife. Maybe if he resigned because of her current fight with cancer he would have been portrayed as honorable. Here is the SMH's take David Campbell|Channel Seven but what do people think? Can someone do a job even if they are gay or is Channel 7 inhabited by gay bashing homophobes?

[tea lady]

Really? That is so sad. I try not to watch channel seven. If I do I spend most of my time saying "They've got to be kidding." And then the adds come on and I get so annoyed it turn the telly off.

It is very sad that someone has been forced too confront a situation by channel seven;s self serving reporting. They prolly go on about how he "shouldn't be doing this". But its just not fair that his life is ruined by it. Everyone takes their own journey in their own time. I surely would have made no difference to him doing his job. Being gay is no crime. Living a lie with the wife prolly isn't a crime either. Just painful for all concerned.

[Groggy]

Remarkable how insecure and immature some people are. That report is disgraceful and should be reviewed by the media ombudsman.

[notenoughtoys]

yeah, I'm not a fan of David Campbell but channel 7 just destroyed his life. There's no reason to do what they did, how is his seriously ill wife coping with that. Funny thing is the talkback radio I was listening to this afternoon is usually full of rednecks and even they were saying it was over the top.

Bob on the soapbox

[Big Shed]

Whilst I agree that this sort of "gutter journalism" is in pretty poor taste, I would like to point out that Mr Campbell voluntarily placed himself in a position to have his "private" life exposed like this.

It shows an appalling lack of judgment, and one would have to wonder whether a man with such poor judgment should be a minister of the crown.

I won't even go in to the morality of an act like this when he has a seriously ill wife at home, whether he visits a "gay" or straight sex club/brothel is really totally irrelevant to this.

[Ekim]

Using a Government car when visiting the gay bar was the issue, not the visit itself.

A similar situation occurred in Perth when a Minister was sacked for using a Government car to carry out an affair with another politician. The unauthorized use of a tax payer funded asset was the issue, not the affair (although in this case, the former Minister was a serial offender).


Mike

[Big Shed]

Not according to this report

Why did David Campbell resign? - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

[watson]

I need a "tongue in cheek smiley" here.

Thank Dog he's not an AFL footballer.

[wheelinround]

200k round trip from/to home, thats not what I call fair use of a tax payer funded car. On top of that if he's been drinking, then he as Transport Minister is then driving while under the influence. Something we would be booked for. So has he been using his position to avoid fines etc.

[AlexS]

I think Campbell was a pretty ordinary minister, but channel have once again failed to ascend to rock bottom in their reporting.
The only issue that I can see is whether he was vulnerable to blackmail or coercion in his former positions of police minister and Police Integrity Commission member.
Interesting question is how did 7 get the tip-off to follow him. Word is there was a big argument in his office that afternoon. Did a less than gruntled staffer drop him in it?

[Groggy]

... channel have once again failed to ascend to rock bottom in their reporting...

They set an exceedingly low standard and consistently fail to achieve it.

[Sebastiaan56]

Whilst I agree that this sort of "gutter journalism" is in pretty poor taste, I would like to point out that Mr Campbell voluntarily placed himself in a position to have his "private" life exposed like this.

It shows an appalling lack of judgment, and one would have to wonder whether a man with such poor judgment should be a minister of the crown.

I won't even go in to the morality of an act like this when he has a seriously ill wife at home, whether he visits a "gay" or straight sex club/brothel is really totally irrelevant to this.

I think he was stalked by a self aggrandising journo and as a pollie there are always plenty out there to bring them down. A risk of the profession I agree. He would not be the first or last to seek company outside his marriage. BTW there is no indication he had sex there...... Its the same as going to the pub for a beer with a mate. That is the insidious nature of the publicity. According to the Premiers interview on the radio today he has been aware of his sexuality for at least 20 years. Unfortunately our pollies dont have a private life anymore and any gutter dwelling journo can publish what they want. Imagine the headlines "Bronwyn Bishop has sex, with husband in bedroom" or "Julia Gillard didnt get any last night". Unfortunately thats where its going, and that is my objection to the whole business. Gutter journalism at its absolute worst. When the media decides what pollies (or anyone else's for that matter) morality should be, I object.

Wheelin, he gets driven. Ministers have that privilege in NSW

Alex, the Premier has denied accusations of blackmail

[jimbur]

What's the next big story - perhaps, "Minister uses floral toilet paper!"
The only answer to such a garbage station is to keep it turned off. The advertisers will eventually get the message.
Jim

[graemet]

What's the next big story - perhaps, "Minister uses floral toilet paper!"
The only answer to such a garbage station is to keep it turned off. The advertisers will eventually get the message.
Jim

Yeah, but Channel 9 are only p'd off because they didn't get the story first. Both the big commercial channels are continually dragging up muck against the other while 10 is generally in the puerile stakes as well, and the ABC sound is hard to hear over the scream of grinding axes.
I'm just going down to the shed!
Cheers
Graeme

[wheelinround]

I think he was stalked by a self aggrandising journo and as a pollie there are always plenty out there to bring them down. A risk of the profession I agree. He would not be the first or last to seek company outside his marriage. BTW there is no indication he had sex there...... Its the same as going to the pub for a beer with a mate. That is the insidious nature of the publicity. According to the Premiers interview on the radio today he has been aware of his sexuality for at least 20 years. Unfortunately our pollies dont have a private life anymore and any gutter dwelling journo can publish what they want. Imagine the headlines "Bronwyn Bishop has sex, with husband in bedroom" or "Julia Gillard didnt get any last night". Unfortunately thats where its going, and that is my objection to the whole business. Gutter journalism at its absolute worst. When the media decides what pollies (or anyone else's for that matter) morality should be, I object.

Wheelin, he gets driven. Ministers have that privilege in NSW

Alex, the Premier has denied accusations of blackmail

Sab by all accounts he has been driving himself there in this particular case. Now if he has been driven there imagine the OT the diver is getting paid for the hours. This being for personal pleasure sorry thats abuse of privalidge, no different to a member being driven to a brothel.

Will it come to light he has been there when he should have been in Parliment.

Trouble is Gillard's story will be very different.