Published: Thursday, 4th February, 2010 11:00am
Leader: Handcart for Mr Salter!
by Newsdesk
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BEING a Member of Parliament involves being all things to all men, and women.
For almost 13 years the member for Reading West has largely succeeded in that mission with his cheeky chappy, kick the Tories, often knockabout image.
Regularly outrageous, rarely dull, a pithy quote never far from his lips, Martin Salter has always made good copy with his willingness to take up the cudgels on behalf of the downtrodden and marginalised.
Unlike his party's former spin doctor Alastair Campbell, who once stressed that Labour "doesn't do God", Mr Salter has put in many an appearance at festivals and services across the religious spectrum and treated them with decorum and respect. Whether he agreed with their teaching in private was never a public issue and he has always been admired for that.
Whether he's feeling a little demob crazy, or his party's given up hope of retaining the Catholic vote after widely publicised divisions over gay adoptions and proposals to nationalise faith schools, is anyone's guess. But his remarks about the Pope in his blog for a national newspaper were unnecessary at best and grossly insulting at worst.
Writing for a newspaper once described as the Conservative Party's house magazine is one thing, but the many Catholics who voted for him and his party, and have admired his ability to 'get things done' during more than 25 years in politics will be feeling more than a little ambivalent today.
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tony
(Unregistered User)
Feb 7 10 17:49
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It is not my role to be an apologist for Martin Salter but I do think it is time that the "Newsdesk", whoever that might be, should put unnecessary political correctness away. I am sure that Martin's comments were meant to be amusing, not malicious. Where has our sense of humour gone? God made man in his own image and we have a sense of humour (at least, most of us do) so God must have a sense of humour too. QED. The barmier reaches of religion absolutely ask to be parodied and, as a Christian myself, I am both amused and delighted. We must learn to laugh at ourselves. I have no time for the concept of blasphemy, for the types of religious bigotry that we have witnessed in Ireland over the last 80 years, or for the recent outcries about Danish-Islamic humour. Long live Free Speech, and all power to your elbow Martin.
jim martin
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Feb 8 10 18:04
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To Tony,
If Mr Salter has made the “bloke in a dress” comment in isolation or in the context of a light-hearted commentary it would have passed by without notice or comment as did his first blog. However, despite the NuLabour spin response that he was just poking fun at the RC Church i challenge you to read the following excerpts from the same blog and tell me with a straight face “Martin's comments were meant to be amusing”;
He accused Catholic ministers of a "narrow-minded world view of Saints and the Cursed-at-Birth destined to spend an eternity burning in Hell".
-Said he finds the "hypocrisy of the Church reprehensible".
- Claimed "there's at least one group - predatory paedophiles - that are recognised by the Catholic Church as a minority that need protection. Sadly for His Holiness, this crowd aren't covered by the Equality Bill."
Mr Salter was using strong language and reinforcing serious Accusations and stereotypes against the Roman Catholic Church. Hardly “light-hearted” as he claimed.
Then you yourself say “as a Christian myself, I am both amused and delighted” by his comments. I can only question what manner of Christian it is you are to delight in such things? You also state “I have no time for the concept of blasphemy”. But of course this was never about blasphemy. No one accused Mr Salter of blasphemy! His attack was aimed exclusively at the Pope and other Catholics, NOT God. You also state “Long live Free Speech, and all power to your elbow Martin.” Again, the response to Mr Salter’s invective was not about free speech. Did you even read the original blog??? No one claims he has no right to criticise or even display his hatred for the RC Church so overtly. What people did question was his suitability as an MP and his claim the serve the whole community. You cannot make comments that mock and marginalise a significant section of the community like this and also claim to serve them at the same time. It displays the very hypocrisy he accuses the RC Church of in the very same blog!
You say you are not an apologist for Mr Salter!? Could have fooled me....
tony
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Feb 9 10 19:38
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Well, Jim, I have obviously got under your skin. Just a short response to your long critique, some of which is justified: 1. We should examine ourselves carefully and prayerfully before dismissing the claim of hypocrisy in the church. 2. You clearly believe that Martin "hates" the RC Church; Has he said that? I don't think so. 3. "Mock" and "marginalise" are also strong words. Are they justified? He has in fact cared very well for ALL his constituents. 4. My main point was that, at all costs, we must have no truck with bigotry of whatever sort, and the best way to deal with it is to laugh at it.
As a postscript it is perhaps worth adding that I am not a follower of Martin's brand of politics (but I do believe he is a man of integrity and honour), nor do I like the so-called "Equality" Bill.
jim martin
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Feb 10 10 15:14
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To Tony,
You say your not an apologist for Mr Salter but your at it again. He's a man of "integrity and honour", he has "cared for ALL his constituents" etc. Yet so far you have failed to summon a single criticism of his original "bigoted" attack on the Pope and the RC Church in general. You say "we must have no truck with bigotry of whatever sort", yet you give Mr Salter yet another free pass, while at the same time singing his praises.
Further more, you say "mock" and "marginalise" are strong words!? Are you kidding me? Did you just get back from little house on the prairie?? You pick up on these "strong words" from me and remain silent when Mr Salter says he finds the "hypocrisy of the Church reprehensible"?
Apparently you have not being practicing what you preach. Either that or you are not all you seem to be. If you are genuine then back to "carefully and prayerfully" examining your comments me thinks.....
Alex M
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Feb 15 10 10:18
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@Tony
Are you none other than Labour Cllr Tony Page? Aka one of Salter's best buddies?
tony
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Feb 20 10 20:11
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Alex M, I like your gem
but my face goes red with rage
at the thought of being Page
and my steps begin to falter
when put on the track with Salter.
However,
these are nowt to what is startin
when up against a Martin
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