Wednesday, June 07, 2006

IS THE MEDIA BLOWING THIS STORY OUT OF PROPORTION???


IMG_3945, originally uploaded by Oldmaison.

IMG_3968

MLA defends 'weather girl' comment, files suit
Last updated Jun 7 2006 11:01 AM ADT
CBC News
Liberal MLA Mike Murphy has slapped Tory Margaret Ann
Blaney with a slander suit for accusing him of making
a sexist remark in the legislature.

Murphy, a lawyer, filed the action in Fredericton
court Wednesday morning. Blaney was served with the
suit in a back corridor of the legislature soon after.

"These is a line in the sand and she's crossed it,"
the Moncton-area MLA said. "It was an innocuous
statement and she knows it."

Blaney, who represents Saint John Kings, told
reporters that Moncton North MLA Mike Murphy referred
to female weather broadcasters in a derogatory way
during Question Period last Friday.

"He was talking about the budget," she said. "He said,
'I want the minister to tell me what proof he has from
any district engineer,' very professional term, 'any
departmental official,' again, professional in
approach, 'any climatologist' professional 'or any
weather girl,' " she said, recalling Murphy's
comments. "You know, we've moved on to the 21st
century. I thought it was derogatory and I thought it
was inappropriate and I thought it was the kind of
language we shouldn't be employing in the house."

Murphy said he is outraged that Blaney, who served as
minister responsible for the status of women from 1999
and 2006, interpreted the statement in that way.

He said he never intended the term "weather girl" to
be offensive. "This is a slur against my family name.
This is a slur against my wife, this is a slur against
my children — of the five of them, two are teenaged
girls and this is an insult to them."

Murphy is seeking general and special damages, and
costs. He says he will drop the suit if Blaney
apologizes for the accusation. So far, she has refused.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

This complaint coming from a Conservative who made best looking barbie in the legislature last year in a farce about nothing else to write about at the time.

I think having the nickname (barbie)around the legislature can't be all that career boosting either.

She didn't seem to have a problem posing for the front page of the Irving Tabloid last year with her Liberal counterpart Mr.Burke Alias (Ken)

I don't recall her complaining about her position on that although most New Brunswickers at the time didn't think it was all that(Cute)that this is what she called "getting the job done" Huh What job???????

Margret if you can't handle the heat get out of the boys club!

Anonymous said...

This complaint coming from a Conservative who made best looking barbie in the legislature last year in a farce about nothing else to write about at the time.

I think having the nickname (barbie)around the legislature can't be all that career boosting either.

She didn't seem to have a problem posing for the front page of the Irving Tabloid last year with her Liberal counterpart Mr.Burke Alias (Ken)

I don't recall her complaining about her position on that although most New Brunswickers at the time didn't think it was all that(Cute)that this is what she called "getting the job done" Huh What job???????

Margret if you can't handle the heat get out of the boys club!

Anonymous said...

And I suppose most of you would love being called "Weatherboy". The whole business is frivolous at best.

Anonymous said...

She looks like barbie doll. What can you say?