10-09-2023, 03:29 PM
Only discovered who he is accidentally when he featured in this article. The chap often seen in the backgrpund of photos with Luxon is Simeon Brown.
A Baptist, & in view of his backward looking views perhaps not surprsing that he's remained in the background.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politic...luding-evs
This article is about a challenge he faced last year & which he apparently survived. Can't say I like the sound of his particular set of beliefs; very right wing American & anti women.
I'm really starrting to believe that perhaps anyone with such beliefs should be discouraged - or prohibited - from becoming a politician.
https://www.politik.co.nz/taliban-nation...challenge/
"Right-wing National MP Simon OÔÇÖConnor is now facing a challenge to his re-election.
National Party officials will not reveal the names of the contenders, but one is believed to be Claire Ward, the sister of former Whaleoil blogger Cameron Slater. OÔÇÖConnor ÔÇö who is married to Simon BridgesÔÇÖ sister ÔÇö is regarded as one of the National caucusÔÇÖ so-called Taliban of evangelical Christians.
 
A former Catholic seminarian, he is an outspoken opponent of abortion and proudly wears the label of being one of the partyÔÇÖs leading conservatives. ÔÇØ] represent a, a core conservative constituency of the National Party,ÔÇØ he told POLITIK yesterdayÔÇ£It doesnÔÇÖt matter if itÔÇÖs abortion, euthanasia, my strong stance on communist China, free speech, support for Israel; I donÔÇÖt know which of these or other things that the challengers might be upset about.
But because of LuxonÔÇÖs own battle with public opinion over his evangelical Christianity, being seen to back OÔÇÖConnor runs the risk of reviving that debate. It would also run the risk of alienating deputy leader Nicolas Willis, who is widely regarded as a liberal feminist.
But OÔÇÖConnor is not on his own in the ÔÇ£TalibanÔÇØ grouping. Other supporters include Pakuranga MP, Simeon Brown; Kaipara ki Mahurangi ┬áMP, Chris Penk and list MPs Melissa Lee and Harete Hipango. However, OÔÇÖConnor is generally seen as the flag bearer.┬á
He startled many of his colleagues with a hardline speech opposing the March 2020┬á Bill to decriminalise abortion. ÔÇØThis is a bill which the Prime Minister herself is behind,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£I say that once again for the public: this is a bill that the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is behind.ÔÇØ
A Baptist, & in view of his backward looking views perhaps not surprsing that he's remained in the background.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politic...luding-evs
This article is about a challenge he faced last year & which he apparently survived. Can't say I like the sound of his particular set of beliefs; very right wing American & anti women.
I'm really starrting to believe that perhaps anyone with such beliefs should be discouraged - or prohibited - from becoming a politician.
https://www.politik.co.nz/taliban-nation...challenge/
"Right-wing National MP Simon OÔÇÖConnor is now facing a challenge to his re-election.
National Party officials will not reveal the names of the contenders, but one is believed to be Claire Ward, the sister of former Whaleoil blogger Cameron Slater. OÔÇÖConnor ÔÇö who is married to Simon BridgesÔÇÖ sister ÔÇö is regarded as one of the National caucusÔÇÖ so-called Taliban of evangelical Christians.
 
A former Catholic seminarian, he is an outspoken opponent of abortion and proudly wears the label of being one of the partyÔÇÖs leading conservatives. ÔÇØ] represent a, a core conservative constituency of the National Party,ÔÇØ he told POLITIK yesterdayÔÇ£It doesnÔÇÖt matter if itÔÇÖs abortion, euthanasia, my strong stance on communist China, free speech, support for Israel; I donÔÇÖt know which of these or other things that the challengers might be upset about.
But because of LuxonÔÇÖs own battle with public opinion over his evangelical Christianity, being seen to back OÔÇÖConnor runs the risk of reviving that debate. It would also run the risk of alienating deputy leader Nicolas Willis, who is widely regarded as a liberal feminist.
But OÔÇÖConnor is not on his own in the ÔÇ£TalibanÔÇØ grouping. Other supporters include Pakuranga MP, Simeon Brown; Kaipara ki Mahurangi ┬áMP, Chris Penk and list MPs Melissa Lee and Harete Hipango. However, OÔÇÖConnor is generally seen as the flag bearer.┬á
He startled many of his colleagues with a hardline speech opposing the March 2020┬á Bill to decriminalise abortion. ÔÇØThis is a bill which the Prime Minister herself is behind,ÔÇØ he said. ÔÇ£I say that once again for the public: this is a bill that the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, is behind.ÔÇØ
in order to be old & wise, you must first be young & stupid. (I'm still working on that.)