London's Mayor Suspended!

[Donn]

What a deal! He compares a Jewish journalist to a concentration camp guard, and gets a 4-week vacation, with full pay!

BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4746016.stm)

"Ken Livingstone was recorded asking reporter Oliver Finegold if he is a "German war criminal".

Mr Finegold replies: "No, I'm Jewish, I wasn't a German war criminal. I'm quite offended by that."

The mayor then says: "Ah right, well you might be, but actually you are just like a concentration camp guard, you are just doing it because you are paid to, aren't you?" "

[ 02-24-2006, 03:20 PM: Message edited by: Donn ]

[Ian McColgin]

Remarkable. And surprising, given how often in Britian vigorous debate goes well past vigor and into insulting bad taste. The remark just does not seem that out of the ordinary. Nor does it seem right for any but the voters to punish a politician for anything that's not a crime.

[Donn]

You call a 4-week paid suspension "punishment?"

edited to add..Tantamount to torture, eh? tongue.gif

[ 02-24-2006, 03:32 PM: Message edited by: Donn ]

[Antonio Majer]

At this point, an Italian-like Mayor would start naming everyone "German war criminal", claiming the same severe punishment, even more severe maybe
---
btw, Berlusconi named a German Politician "kapò" some years ago, but wasn't suspended. Europe is a huge pot, you know.

[Donn]

:D "Punish me next! Punish me next!"

[casem]

I wonder if the mayor had also been Jewish would he have been suspended.

[JimD]

How can a polished, professional politician think it's ok to publicly say what he truly thinks?

[Donn]

Really!

<img src= "http://cagle.msnbc.com/news/TrentLott/LottGifs/gorrell.gif">

[uncas]

Aaw heck...he just wanted some time to spend on his boat.

[ 02-24-2006, 05:58 PM: Message edited by: uncas ]

[Meerkat]

The office of Mayor of London isn't quite an elective office, is it?