After being labelled a "gentleman" by supporters for claiming he "went easy" on Prime Minister Helen Clark because she is a woman, Don Brash has now commented on women's rights, asserting "Let me assure you, one thing that I am not is a feminist." Speaking to reporters yesterday, the National Party leader said he strongly supports women's rights, but he agreed with a supporter who said being penalised for "being polite as a male" was a common problem under this "social engineering Government" run by "very much of a feminist Prime Minister." Dr Brash went on to explain why he was so sure of not being a feminist while being strongly in support of women's rights, saying “A feminist is by definition a woman. Can you have men feminists?” In Kapiti yesterday, Don Brash again said he does not regret saying he "went easy" on Helen Clark during a recent TVNZ debate "because she is a woman", saying "I'm not going to back off what I said. I don't want to be impolite to anyone whatever their gender."
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 25th August 2005 - 12:00pm