Welcome to 3AW. Skip directly to: Search Box, Section Navigation, Content.

3AW - Fairfax Radio Network

Friday May 24, 2013

What we're talking about

Alan Jones' cruel comments went 'well beyond political passion'

Posted by: Justin Smith | 1 October, 2012 - 3:18 PM
Broadcaster Alan Jones

JUSTIN SMITH: Most people involved in Australian talk radio can do an impression of Alan Jones.

Some are very good and suitably funny. Some are just over-camp and noisy.

But I’ve found that most people will have a shot.

And here’s how it goes…

The lips are pursed and twisted. A frown is pulled, and then pulled harder. And then the eye-rolling impersonator will swing their wrists in the air and let go with a gush of abuse, opinions, mini editorials and general shock jock speak.

And the good ones will always start with a very loud “daeeeerrr”. 

It’s all good fun and it helped to bring the powerful Sydney radio giant down to a mortal level. And it kept the laughs coming until dawn after radio awards dinners and alike.

Yes, it doesn’t take much to get us going – just a cheeky white, a small audience and Jonesy take off.

But over the last few days the impersonators have gone quiet. The silly voices are silent.

Alan Jones went from being powerful and funny to bitter and lame when he used the death of Julia Gillard’s father to spit poison at the prime minister he hates so much.

Far from taking him off, it’s left us all wondering how he could summon up so much loathing for a person.

For a man who has spent many flying hours behind a microphone, you would think he had a better understating of mind over mouth. Clever things that sit in the brain for self amusement don’t always slide off the tongue with the same wit.

Although he’s not known for his warmth and understanding, there are not many people in Australian radio that have had the intellect, understanding of his audience and incredible run of ratings than Jones.

And there are not many broadcasters who have devoted their time to attacking a government.

But this was on a different level. It was well beyond political passion.

So where did it come from?

He was surrounded by Young Liberals. There had been laughs and drinks. Maybe he just got carried away in the anti-Labor mood of the night.

Perhaps he felt his power was so great that all words from the scrunched lips were tablets from the mountain.

Or maybe his hate is so strong that he would simply burst if it didn’t get out.

Hate is a strong emotion.

But after the snap of the brain, he pulled some press together and made an apology.

If it was heartfelt, I haven’t talked to too many hearts that felt it.

The statement was adlib and full of “you”s – as in “you’ve just got to be big enough to admit that you got it wrong”.

There could have been a few more “I”s. It’s not like a talk radio host to hold back on an important word like that.

And he seemed keen to point out that he spoke for 58-minutes at the Young Libs’ dinner “without a note”. Well, I guess if you’re going to offer an apology, you might as well show off how clever you are at the same time.

The last time I saw Alan was on stage performing in Annie. He did a good job. Musical theatre gained a son for a brief period. But now we have the old Jones boy back.

The whole affair brought extra pain to a grieving daughter, disappointment from a loyal audience and condemnation from across the country.

And now some big advertisers are pulling dollars out from under Jones, and country radio stations have decided to drop his networked program. These things will hurt the ego and the wallet. Two important things in Sydney

It’s amazing what a handful of words can do sometimes.

Alan Jones will recover – bruised from the battle and perhaps with a few less words in his armory. But before he does, let’s all purse and twist our lips and give Alan the frown of a lifetime.  

Sponsors drop shock jock Jones

Alan Jones (SMH) SYDNEY: Woolworths has joined the list of major corporations walking away from the Alan Jones radio program in the wake of his comments about Julia Gillard. Details here.

'Hateful, bitter & totally unacceptable'

Alan Jones at his press conference. Photo: Dean Sewell/FFX NEIL MITCHELL: I hope this surprises no one who listens to this program but I believe what Alan Jones said about the Prime Minister’s late father was offensive, hateful, bitter and totally unacceptable.

 

 

Blog comments Your Say

  • Alan Jones got it very very wrong when he referd to Mr. Gillard as dieing of shame! He forgot that labour voters have no shame!

    joe fox Tuesday 9 October, 2012 - 11:29 AM

  • Such double standards by all. Everyone shiould get off their high horses and
    their cafe latte chairs because all sides are just as bad as each other. Gillard has to grow a set because she chose to be in the game. She and all women have to cop it sweet in a very competitive environment as politics. Stop the name calling, lies and get on with the job. Also stop using the mysogynist banner everytime it actually makes it worse for all women. I am in an environment where I work with men but I don't yell mysogyninst everytime I don't get my way.

    Samantha Sunday 7 October, 2012 - 5:32 PM

  • In a sane society we would never have to hear from 'Mr' Jones again

    jen Tuesday 2 October, 2012 - 7:46 PM

  • It leaves you wondering,just how far these right wing goons will go,to get their party into power ? and
    just how stupid is the average Australian, that believes and then helps spread the bile they spew.

    jay Tuesday 2 October, 2012 - 3:18 PM

  • Like Justin Smith I have to wonder why and how Alan Jones can hate someone so much when the person concerned has done them no personal harm.
    Hatred is so ugly.

    Mark Skinner Tuesday 2 October, 2012 - 10:59 AM

  • Who were the Liberal frontbenchers who attended this function and laughed out loud at Jones' comments? And who was the SMH journalist who was there and DIDN'T report it? The only way to end the speculation is to name names. :p

    mylene Tuesday 2 October, 2012 - 9:03 AM

Post a comment * Mandatory fields