Sydney siege: MPs bicker as Barack Obama applauds

COALITION MPs have attacked each other over the #illridewithyou campaign, which won plaudits from Barack Obama.

COALITION MPs have attacked each other over the social media response to the siege, as the #illridewithyou campaign won plaudits from Barack Obama.

The campaign was inspired by former federal Greens candidate Rachel Jacobs, who in the midst of the drama wrote on Facebook about a tearful hug she shared at a Brisbane train station with a Muslim woman.

The White House’s account of a phone call with Tony Abbott revealed the US President “conveyed admiration for the strength, resilience and compassion of the Australian people … Noting the Australian public’s embrace of #Illridewithyou and the Muslim leaders who have disavowed the actions of the hostage taker, the President also praised Australia’s rejection of any violence taken in the name of religion and the fear this violence seeks to stoke”.

Townsville-based MP Ewen Jones yesterday distanced himself from the claim of LNP colleague George Christensen that #illridewithyou was a “typical pathetic leftwing black arm band brigade campaign, casting Aussies as racists who will endanger Muslims”.

IN DEPTH: Sydney siege

Mr Jones tweeted: “Just want to distance myself from comments by (Mr Christensen). Completely insensitive and ignorant of the motive.”

Mr Christensen, who advocates criminalising the wearing of Islamic headscarves in public, replied: “Twitter reply by Ewen Jones & others plays man & not ball. Issue is how we deal with Islamism. Political correctness drowns out discussion.”