Liberal MP slams colleague for criticising #illridewithyou campaign

IT’s the social media campaign which even has Barack Obama talking. Now one Liberal MP has slammed a colleague for criticising #illridewithyou.

Member for Dawson George Christensen at the site of the Livingstone and Leichhardt streets roundabout in Bowen being funded through the federal Roads to Recovery program.

A LIBERAL MP has publicly slammed a colleague for suggesting the ‘I’ll ride with you’ campaign, created in the wake of the Sydney siege, was “pathetic” and “left wing”.

Queensland MP George Christensen took to Twitter yesterday to criticise the hashtag movement.

#ILLRIDEWITHYOU: Twitter sprouts anti-Islamophobia campaign

CRITICISM: George Christensen describes #illridewithyou as left wing campaign

“#illridewithyou is a typical pathetic left wing black arm band brigade campaign, casting Aussies as racists who will endanger Muslims,” he wrote.

#weridetogether & #illridewithyou - typical lefty campaigns that creates false victims. Focus on real #sydneysiege victims: Tori & Katrina.

— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) December 17, 2014

His backbench colleague Ewen Jones this morning also used social media - but this time to openly criticise Mr Christensen.

Just want to distance myself from comments by @GChristensenMP . Completely insensitive and ignorant of the motive #illridewithyou

— Ewen Jones MP (@EwenJonesMP) December 17, 2014

Mr Christensen later hit back, tweeting his own response to his Liberal colleague.

Twitter reply by Ewen Jones & others plays man & not ball. Issue is how we deal with Islamism. Political correctness drowns out discussion.

— George Christensen (@GChristensenMP) December 18, 2014

The #illridewithyou hashtag quickly took off during the Sydney siege, with people offering to accompany Muslim women on public transport.

US President Barack Obama even cited the campaign when he phoned Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

In a readout from his call, it reveals the President noted the Australian public’s “embrace” of #illridewithyou “and the Muslim leaders who have disavowed the action’s of the hostage taker”.