Daily Telegraph columnist and 2GB announcer Miranda Devine has argued that journalists should not use the phrase ‘marriage equality’ as it’s a propaganda phrase.
Speaking on Channel Ten’s ‘The Bolt Report‘ Devine said the media was biased in it’s coverage of the marriage debate and was being unfair to Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
“It is just a collective howl of protest against Tony Abbott,” Devine said, “and for doing what? For allowing the public to have a vote on a highly contentious issue and unfortunately the media rather than playing the observer is playing the barracker, the chief barracker for the marriage equality crowd, right down to the language that they use.”
“Who knows with same sex marriage, we’re just getting this wall to wall propaganda. What is the truth, is there really a consensus that 72% of the public want to have same sex marriage. We don’t know because there has never been anything but the one argument.” Ms Devine said.
Ms Devine said the Prime Minister could “walk on water” and many people in the Australian media would still find fault.
Host Andrew Bolt suggest the phrase ‘marriage equality’ was an example of Orwellian new speak. Mr Bolt said many ABC presenters were trying to tilt the discussion by using the “loaded” phrase.
Ms Devine said the practice was more widespread than just the ABC.
“It is right across the media, ‘marriage equality’ is the propaganda, that is the language of the marriage… [pauses] same sex marriage crowd, the lobby group, it is so deceptive.”
“If there is such an overwhelming consensus in the community for same sex marriage then why can’t you just use the correct, the honest terminology, what are you trying to hide?”
Ms Devine said people who linked the decision not to change marriage laws with suicide rates in the LGBTI community were “despicable”. Ms Devine said it was a strategy to shut down debate on the issue.
“The one tactic is to say that everyone who upholds traditional marriage is a bigot and a homophobe, and then you go a little bit further and you say ‘and you’re going to cause young gay people to commit suicide.'” Ms Devine said.
Ms Devine said there were only two times in the past where the media had shown such biased coverage of an issue. Ms Devine cited the referendum to become and republic and the introduction of a carbon tax.
“Who was on the right side of history, even though he as being denigrated as being on the wrong side of history – Tony Abbott. The monarchist activist, and then in 2009 he stood against the tide on the ETS, on Rudd’s ETS, and he won the leadership of the Liberal party and subsequently an election.”
“These people who are saying he’s on the wrong side of history, he may not be.” Devine said.
In a column published a day earlier Ms Devine set out a similar argument to her discussion with Andrew Bolt saying time will tell if resisting gay marriage will be Abbott’s “trifecta” alongside defeating the republican movement and the carbon tax.
In her column Ms Devine said the reaction to the move for a people’s vote from the supporters of same sex marriage was “insane”.
“It’s too expensive, they say. It’s unnecessary. It will cause suicides. Are they listening to themselves? The commentary is insane.”
OIP Staff
i’m not sure which one is more repellent and obnoxious – her or Abbott.
Never heard of her, along with probably everyone else, therefore jumping on the band wagon to get her name in headlines. Pity it’s on the wrong side !
Never heard of her, along with probably everyone else, therefore jumping on the band wagon to get her name in headlines. Pity it’s on the wrong side !