Crikey founder dumped

In a show of rare commonsense the People Power political party has dumped Stephen Mayne, the founder of the puerile Australian internet blog site Crikey. The party began moving to expel Mayne, whose undergraduate-level commentary is regularly featured by the ABC's radio hosts, after the Victorian state election last November 25 in a bid to distance itself from the cavalier, sensationalist, and self-parodying style of public comment and communication with which he is associated. "This decision represents a clean break by People Power from any association with Crikey and Stephen Mayne, and a rejection by the party of the undergraduate, not-quite-grown-up, let's-sit-on-the-fence-and-throw-stones view of the world with which Stephen is associated", said Mr Vern Hughes, President of People Power in a statement released on Monday. "People Power is a serious political party with a long-term social and political strategy. We have been worried for a long time that Stephen's association with People Power has trivialised our party and our radical social change goals", he said. "As a newly formed political party, People Power's main constituency are families of children and adults who have extra needs (disabilities, social or behavioural difficulties, or mental or chronic illnesses). Our policy commitments are deadly serious and reflect the views of our constituency and our radical approach to social reform in the interests of individuals who need strong person-centred social support", Mr Hughes said. It must be asked however whether any party which ever entertained Mayne as a member could be expected to be taken seriously.