MISOGYNY MUDSLING

The way that Gillard's 'misogyny speech' has been received in the media has cause me some disbelief.  I'm not an Abbott supporter by any means but Gillard's 15 minute attack on him (views currently in the millions on youtube) was, in my eyes, opportunistic and unjustified. I am no fan of the opposition leader: his world view is cringe-inducingly old fashioned, he is verbally inarticulate, and his whole career has been built on responding negatively to every policy the Labor government has introduced. But there is nothing out there that suggests the man is a misogynist (aka, someone with hatred towards women).  The fact that Gillard's attack has received overwhelming accolades from commentators all over the world is somewhat baffling to me: sure, to the eyes of overseas viewers with little to no knowledge of  Abbott and Gillard dynamic, this may seem like a courageous win for oppressed women finally putting chauvinistic men in their place. But the fact is that Abbott has really not done anything wrong. Sure he's arrogant, sure he's disrepectful, and sure he will probably become the worst leader Australia has ever lived under when he inevitably takes office in 2013. The whole situation makes me sick to the stomach: are politicians willing to throw any mud that sticks in order to score a cheap political point these days? The recent polls are suggesting this has worked in the Labor party's favour, with Gillard at her highest approval rating in months. Looks like superficial spectacle once again pays off.