Post by Freddy on Oct 5, 2012 10:20:38 GMT 11
Wife defends Abbott over sexism claims
Updated 12 minutes ago
Tony Abbott votes Photo: Tony Abbott with his wife and daughters. (Dean Lewins: AAP)
Related Story: Abbott blames Labor dirt unit for wall-punch claims
Related Story: Labor MP wants Abbott to explain past behaviour
Related Story: Barrister denies link to any Labor 'dirt unit'
Map: Australia
The wife of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has decided to speak out to combat claims her husband has a problem with women.
The usually media-shy Margie Abbott says a deliberate campaign is being waged against her husband to raise doubts about his relationship with women.
She has told Channel Nine the attacks are personal and groundless because Mr Abbott understands women.
"I just want to add a bit of balance to this and to present the fact that he is a pretty ordinary bloke," she said.
"No airs and graces, who enjoys time with his family and is surrounded by strong, capable women."
Mrs Abbott's story was given widespread coverage in today's News Limited newspapers.
It comes almost a month after a Quarterly Essay profile claimed that after losing a student election in 1977, Mr Abbott violently intimidated his opponent Barbara Ramjan by punching the wall on either side of her head.
When he was interviewed for the article, Mr Abbott said he had no recollection of the incident.
But the re-emergence of claims relating to Mr Abbott's behaviour at university has fed the perception, often repeated by Labor, that Mr Abbott is aggressive and has a problem with women.
His wife, however, says it is a "deliberate campaign" to undermine the Opposition Leader.
"I won't stand by and let others claim that the man I love and the father my children adore, has some agenda against women," Mrs Abbott told News Limited.
"Tony gets women. He is surrounded by strong women.
"He grew up with three sisters, has three daughters, is supported by a female deputy in Julie Bishop and has always had a female chief of staff."
The latest Newspoll which analyses figures in the past three months shows 29 per cent of women are satisfied with Mr Abbott's performance, compared with 34 per cent of men.
Mr Abbott rejected suggestions his wife's appearance is a political diversion.
"She said, 'look, this is just wrong and it's unfair... I want to say something'," Mr Abbott said.
He says she has wanted to speak out for some time.
www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-05/abbott27s-wife-talks-about-the-27real-tony27/4296898?WT.svl=news0
Updated 12 minutes ago
Tony Abbott votes Photo: Tony Abbott with his wife and daughters. (Dean Lewins: AAP)
Related Story: Abbott blames Labor dirt unit for wall-punch claims
Related Story: Labor MP wants Abbott to explain past behaviour
Related Story: Barrister denies link to any Labor 'dirt unit'
Map: Australia
The wife of Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has decided to speak out to combat claims her husband has a problem with women.
The usually media-shy Margie Abbott says a deliberate campaign is being waged against her husband to raise doubts about his relationship with women.
She has told Channel Nine the attacks are personal and groundless because Mr Abbott understands women.
"I just want to add a bit of balance to this and to present the fact that he is a pretty ordinary bloke," she said.
"No airs and graces, who enjoys time with his family and is surrounded by strong, capable women."
Mrs Abbott's story was given widespread coverage in today's News Limited newspapers.
It comes almost a month after a Quarterly Essay profile claimed that after losing a student election in 1977, Mr Abbott violently intimidated his opponent Barbara Ramjan by punching the wall on either side of her head.
When he was interviewed for the article, Mr Abbott said he had no recollection of the incident.
But the re-emergence of claims relating to Mr Abbott's behaviour at university has fed the perception, often repeated by Labor, that Mr Abbott is aggressive and has a problem with women.
His wife, however, says it is a "deliberate campaign" to undermine the Opposition Leader.
"I won't stand by and let others claim that the man I love and the father my children adore, has some agenda against women," Mrs Abbott told News Limited.
"Tony gets women. He is surrounded by strong women.
"He grew up with three sisters, has three daughters, is supported by a female deputy in Julie Bishop and has always had a female chief of staff."
The latest Newspoll which analyses figures in the past three months shows 29 per cent of women are satisfied with Mr Abbott's performance, compared with 34 per cent of men.
Mr Abbott rejected suggestions his wife's appearance is a political diversion.
"She said, 'look, this is just wrong and it's unfair... I want to say something'," Mr Abbott said.
He says she has wanted to speak out for some time.
www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-05/abbott27s-wife-talks-about-the-27real-tony27/4296898?WT.svl=news0
