The China Post published a commentary from a Dr. William Fang on how Tsai Ing-wen, the DPP Chairman, should have dealt with the accusation from DPP traitor Shih Ming-teh that she is gay:The most effective way for Tsai to deal with the controversy should have been to give a swift and unmistakably clear denial of all the rumors. Tsai's angry refusal to respond for whatever reasons as well as widespread questioning of Shih's motive will only lead to more damaging speculations about her.Fang's commentary is rather weird in its tone and wording, as if Fang is trying to be ironic and failing miserably, but it does point out that speculation about her sexuality may hurt her in Taiwan's political culture. Contrary to Fang, Tsai's response, taking the high road, I thought was the right one for both her and for the island's political culture. Had Tsai utterly denied the rumors, it would confirmed that this kind of attack on someone's sexuality is both effective and legit. Instead, her response delegitimized this type of attack itself, pointing towards the day when it will be unacceptable to publicly hack on the sexuality of prominent individals in Taiwan.
This attack on Tsai was universally condemned in the Blue and Green press in Taiwan. Focus Taiwan has a sample.
Fang himself seems to be promoting Shih. See this one from 2007 and this piece from March of this year extolling the virtues of Shih, who has become a pathetic self-promoting lunatic. Note that both Shih and Hsu Hsin-liang, both DPP turncoats who went over to the KMT after democratization, are talking about independent candidacies. My, wouldn't that be useful to the KMT to have two DPP turncoats running a campaign that might attract a few pan-green voters in what could be a very tight election! It's the kind of thing that is so useful to the KMT, if it didn't exist, it would have to be invented.....
Lots of people are peeved at this attack on Tsai, but remember this crap?
Remember the rumors constantly swirling that President Ma is gay (Johnny Neihu had a field day with them)? Chuang was making a coded attack on Ma's sexuality. Same crap Shih Ming-teh pulled this week.Chuang also branded KMT presidential hopeful Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) a "sissy," saying he was befuddled by Ma's popularity among female voters. Earlier this week, Chuang accused Taipei City Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) of imposing "blue terror" when the city tried to stop the construction work from proceeding.
When asked if the ministry approved of Chuang's conduct over the last few days, Tu said Chuang is "a model public servant worthy of emulation by all government workers."
Hopefully when this current flap over Tsai's sexuality fades, then people will remember how utterly childish and medieval this kind of attack is and it will stop, and they will finally realize what a pathetic, cringing Wormtongue Shih Ming-teh has become in what should have been the golden years of a long and honored career of service to the people of Taiwan.
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I think Tsai's response is spot on. You know when someone says something so offensive that you just turn and walk away because fighting back is basically dignifying their idiocy with a response that it doesn't deserve and attention it doesn't merit? I see that here. If she vigorously denies that she's gay, it could be seen as a slam on gays (a group I do believe the DPP would like to court) as people whose lifestyles are undesireable (if not, why the strong denial?) rather like the way Obama vigorously denied being Muslim, or simply drawing out an episode that didn't merit attention to begin with.
ReplyDeleteOr as she put it - if she responds to this, then that's affirming that this line of questioning is acceptable, which it isn't.
I wouldn't call it "medieval" though: I'd call it "elementary school". My first thought when reading Shih's remarks was of those two bullies on the first season of South Park - the ones who never said anything besides "heh heh heh that's gay". Shih's no smarter than they are, and clearly no more mature.
BTW, my word verification is "mister". Heh.
Will this hurt Tsai's support among socially conservative DPP voters in the south?
ReplyDeleteIs this why Shih decided to bring the issue up?
I think she handled the situation very well, and there has been no evidence that it has damaged her support so far.
I think in the South as long as she is not KMT, they don't care what she is.
ReplyDelete"Will this hurt Tsai's support?", I don't think so. What I'm hoping for though is that people start to see the elegance of this future Taiwan president and where she will lead Taiwan to and how she would transform this country into a more civilized one and compete with the world. At least that's how I feel.
ReplyDeleteIn the U.S. it would certainly need some kind of response, but I agree that a flat denial would have the disadvantage of legitimizing the style of attack. However the attack could be ridiculed. I think Tsai could simply explained that she's not interested in Mr. Fang, that he shouldn't take it so hard.
ReplyDeleteI think too often the DPP doesn't seize opportunities to turn KMT attacks back against the attackers.
I think in the South as long as she is not KMT, they don't care what she is.
ReplyDeleteYes, but will it make them more likely to support Su over Tsai in the primary?
When will a gay politician in Taiwan be able to come out of the closet in ? I think we are still some way off that point.
The ''letter'' is rather weird in its tone and wording, as if Fang is trying to be ironic and failing miserably, but it does point out that speculation about her sexuality may hurt her in Taiwan's political culture.
ReplyDeleteSire, Dr Fang did NOT write a ''letter'' he wrote a commentary! get your facts, er, straight.....!
Yur right. Changed!
ReplyDeleteHowever the attack could be ridiculed. I think Tsai could simply explained that she's not interested in Mr. Fang, that he shouldn't take it so hard.
ReplyDeleteROFL. If I ever meet the man, I will steal this line.