Bob Piper and the LibDem
I haven’t really commented on the situation surrounding last weeks completely blown out of all proportion fained horror by the oh so sensitive Tories who saw fit to use an image placed on Bob Piper’s website to do a bit of political point scoring.
There were also those out there in the blogosphere who hinted at Bob being a racist although I’m yet to spot one who was actually stupid enough to say so.
That is, until tonight when this dropped my way.
This is Colin. He’s a LibDem. You can find out a lot about him on his website. He likes to travel, he urges you to contibute to the LibDems on his site, he’s a training officer for the LibDems in the West Midlands and he used to work for the RSPB until he took up his current job, but for some reason he doesn’t seem too keen to mention what that job is.
But first, let’s deal with what he wrote. If you can’t be arsed to click the link, here it is:
“Racism is not funny Bob!
9.08.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 15th Dec 2006
Labour Sandwell Councillor and blogger Bob Piper earlier this week had a ‘blacked-up’ David Cameron picture on his website with a whole load of negative comments about BME people. Bob its just not funny and even less funny that an elected Councillor thinks it is appropriate to put on his blog.
Thankfully he has taken it down now, he has also stated that he will be taking a break from blogging. However it’s not enough he should stand down from public office and Labour should have the guts to throw him out of the party. Believe me if this was a Liberal Democrat I would be urging that course of action.”
Now from the title of this article, I’m going to stick my neck out and accuse Mr Ross of calling Bob Piper a racist. What factual evidence he has for this I’m unsure but I’m sure he must have the evidence otherwise he wouldn’t be so stupid to write it. He also states that the post on Bob’s site that caused all the nonsense last week contained a:
“whole load of negative comments about BME people”
Here’s a bit of advice for Colin, as no doubt he’s going to end up at this site very soon. When commenting on things, it’s handy to have read them in the first place. I did read the original post by Bob and there was not one single word mentioned that could possibly be construed as being negative towards BME people.
So here’s the question. Will we be seeing the same kind of furore over a LibDem training officer calling an elected Councillor a racist? We will see.
Oh, yes, almost forgot to mention. Colin’s job. The one he doesn’t seem too keen on mentioning on his website. He’s the assistant to the LibDem group and Ian Shires the Leader of the LibDems on Walsall Council.
You know, it’s funny, because these jobs that by the way are paid for by the council tax payer tend to be politically restricted. Meaning that those employed in these roles by a local authority are not allowed to actively campaign for a political party. However Colin sees fit to fundraise, train and campaign for the LibDems. Word has it he’s been very busy in Tettenhall lately. He was also the LibDem candidate for Wolverhampton South West in the 2005 General Election. Me thinks there should be some questions asked up at the town hall.
I’ll leave on this note and this ones just for Colin when he finds his way to my site. Please don’t try and be a smart arse and delete your article and claim I’m trying to slander you in any way. I’ve got the original screenshot safely stored should you muppets threaten me with legal action. Have a nice day.
15th December 2006 in LibDem Bashing, Walsall MBC
Scrybe responded on 15 Dec 2006 at 11:50 pm #
Need I even comment? Nice post – succint, and on point. Let’s see if he deigns to respond……
Political Penguin responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 12:03 am #
I haven’t been threatened with libel by the LibDems for a while now, I must be doing something wrong. Either that or they know better from past experience.
Good luck with the new job BTW.
Paul Macmanomy responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 8:32 am #
Just goes to show that any idiot can get a blog site. This plonker clearly doesn’t know the first thing about Bob Piper and in view of his comments can’t possibly have read Bob’s blog – both of which would seem to be a bit of an essential requirement if you are going to run your mouth off and perpetrate this sort ofd scandalous slur on someones character. Can’t say I’m surprised by the connection to Walsall Council – they spent the best part of 25 years trying to destroy Bob Piper I guess their bitterness knows no end eh?
Will Parbury responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 11:09 am #
He is also active on the wolverhampton lib dems site as well. Mr Ross had better enjoy his weekend as he wont enjoy monday morning. I just love exposing corruption and the abuse of public funds by the Liberal democrats.
Bob Piper responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 11:36 am #
In fairness to fat Colin, his job is as a political adviser to Councillor Ian Shires. Now I know some officer posts are politically restricted, but even fatter Ian is even more politically restricted. The man doesn’t have a political thought in his head, and if he is looking for Colin to put one there, he’s likely to have a pretty long wait.
Scrybe responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 12:27 pm #
lol @ the posts on here.
thanks for the congrats, I’m tremendously happy about it, and a little relieved I can now talk about it (been wanting to do so for a while, as my previous “happy bunny” posts attest).
I now await the comments on Sandwell…..
Political Penguin responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 5:03 pm #
Scrybe, you really have to be careful if you’re thinking of making a foray into Sandwell. Dangerous people like Unity and Bob live there. Anyway, any chance of fixing the link on your site to mine? Enjoy the ‘happy bunniness’.
Scrybe responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 5:15 pm #
Sorry, didn’t realise there was a problem with the link – will fix it now.
Fortunately, I do not have to venture to Sandwell itself, I just happen to know a lot about the place. But should I ever visit, I would expect pintage from both of those individuals.
Scrybe responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 5:18 pm #
should be fixed now.
Sam responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 9:12 pm #
Isn
Sam responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 10:50 pm #
Colin didn
Political Penguin responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 11:27 pm #
Good evening Sam. Nice to know there’s a LibDem supporter in Small Heath. I take it you suffer from that common ailment of not being able to read what is staring you in the face.
Colin’s headline was: ‘Racism is not funny Bob!’ I think that’s pretty clear as to what Colin said. If Colin were not trying to say that Bob was in some way racist then why did he use his name? A headline saying ‘Racism is not funny’ would have sufficed were he to be talking in a generic way regarding the issue and I would have whole heartedly agreed with him.
Second point. Colin accuses Bob of using a ‘whole load of negative comments about BME people’. He didn’t, plain and simple, no questions about it. So on that basis Colin is stating a factual inacuracy and should if nothing else publicly admit he’s said something that isn’t true and apologise.
Will I be tackling everyone who suggested that the posting or even Bob could be racist? No, because if you had read the first part of my article you would have seen this:
“There were also those out there in the blogosphere who hinted at Bob being a racist although I
Sam responded on 16 Dec 2006 at 11:52 pm #
How do you know if am from Small Heath or that I am a Lib Dem supporter?
Is everything always about party politics? No I don
Political Penguin responded on 17 Dec 2006 at 12:10 am #
Oh dear.
I know you’re from Small Heath because I’m clever enough to know how to finger you IP address. I also know you’re a Telewest customer and that you use Internet Explorer.
I also know that on various occasions throughout the day you’ve been sitting at your computer continuely clicking the refresh button in the hope of finding that I have responded to you.
I’m having a good guess at your political allegiances as you’ve dropped by my site and posted comments for the first time to defend a LibDem who has clearly overstepped the mark.
No everything isn’t always about party politics as if you take the time to have a look at some of my previous posts then you’ll find I’m equally adept at having a pop at my own side.
Sam responded on 17 Dec 2006 at 12:29 am #
Yes, I have been looking at your site as well as many others. Yes, I am bored so have come back to see if the comment was posted. Guess what, it also seems you are bored and or have nothing better to do, cos you took the time to track me etc and responded with a comment quite quickly.
I have been to your site many times. Haven
Bob Piper responded on 17 Dec 2006 at 10:23 am #
It probably is offensive to Colin to describe him as fat… but he IS so it is also a description. I’m not sure this point about political restriction is relevant. I thought those appointed as political advisers to Parties wewre excluded. It would be pretty daft to have a political adviser who was politically restricted.
Anyway, I’ve clicked young Colin’s box and sent him a comment, but strangely he hasn’t seen fit to answer.
Sam responded on 17 Dec 2006 at 10:21 pm #
Glad to have been of assistance.