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Andrew Bolt: Why criticism of Defence Chief’s comments is lunacy

Sanctimonious ideologues’ criticism of common-sense precautions against rape proves they’re living on a different planet.

Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General Angus Campbell. Picture: Mick Tsikas/Getty Images.
Chief of the Australian Defence Force, General Angus Campbell. Picture: Mick Tsikas/Getty Images.

Enough with this “show empathy” lunacy. Blame my shockingly male thinking, but critics of our defence chief must live on Planet Pixie.

Take Labor frontbencher Kristina Keneally, a sanctimonious ideologue apparently with little attachment to reality.

Keneally on Wednesday denounced General Angus Campbell for allegedly implying “that women were responsible for being raped” after he’d suggested ways his first-year defence cadets could protect themselves from sexual assault.

Be aware of “the four As”, Campbell had told them — alcohol; after midnight; attractive and alone.

To Keneally, this was offensive. She wagged her finger: “I would invite Angus Campbell to reflect on his language …

“Let’s be clear: women are never responsible for being raped. Men are responsible for not raping women.”

How rude. Only an idiot would think our top soldier doesn’t know a rapist is responsible for rape.

Yes, men should not rape women. Does that need saying? Don’t our laws express the widespread disgust of rapists?

Labor senator Kristina Keneally. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire.
Labor senator Kristina Keneally. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire.

But we could chant anti-rape slogans from now to the end of time, yet still have rapists, as well as killers, paedophiles, thieves and scum of all manner of depravity — and gender.

I bet Keneally actually knows this and was just striking poses, as is now the way.

So was her leader, Anthony Albanese, who also sermonised against Campbell: “People should be able to go out at night and engage in activities.”

Yeah, der.

Do these people actually live like they pose?

I’d bet plenty they have locks on their doors. But aren’t thieves responsible for thieving?

They have security guards at Parliament House. But aren’t terrorists responsible for terrorism?

I’m sure they’ve walked children to school. But aren’t paedophiles responsible for paedophilia?

And what do they say to women who take self-defence classes? Do they instruct them to stop, because — you know — rapists are responsible for rape?

What do they say to men like me, who also check — in front and behind — when we walk down a dark, mean street? We’re just blaming ourselves? Muggers are responsible for mugging?

What do they say to drivers who still look left and right when the intersection lights go green? Don’t check, because people who run red lights are responsible for the crash?

Only on Planet Pixie could you take no precautions against what bad and stupid people can do. What planet is Keneally on?

Andrew Bolt
Andrew BoltColumnist

With a proven track record of driving the news cycle, Andrew Bolt steers discussion, encourages debate and offers his perspective on national affairs. A leading journalist and commentator, Andrew’s columns are published in the Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Advertiser. He writes Australia's most-read political blog and hosts The Bolt Report on Sky News Australia at 7.00pm Monday to Thursday.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/opinion/andrew-bolt/andrew-bolt-why-criticism-of-defence-chiefs-comments-is-lunacy/news-story/56e527204780c92c4c7d0e7df780a690