Paxman vs. Galloway
No matter what you think of Gorgeous George, Jeremy Paxman’s interview with him last night was off the map (As in “bizarre and out of line”. I think some readers thought I was endorsing Paxman’s diatribe. I don’t like Galloway, but good lord, Jeremy.) Anyone have a link to a transcript? Post at the discussion page, please.
OK, here it is:
JEREMY PAXMAN: Mr Galloway, are you proud of having got rid of one of the very few black women in Parliament?
GEORGE GALLOWAY: What a preposterous question. I know it’s very late in the night, but wouldn’t you be better by starting by congratulating me for one of the most sensational election results in modern history?
JEREMY PAXMAN: Are you proud of having got rid of one of the very few black women in Parliament?
GEORGE GALLOWAY: I’m not — Jeremy, move on to your next question.
JEREMY PAXMAN: Well, you not answering that one?
GEORGE GALLOWAY: No, because I don’t believe that people get elected because of the colour of their skin.
I believe people get elected because of their record and because of their policies. So move onto your next question, because I’ve got a lot of people who want to speak to me.
JEREMY PAXMAN: Are you proud…
GEORGE GALLOWAY: If you ask that question again I’m going, I warn you now.
JEREMY PAXMAN: Don’t try and threaten me, Mr Galloway, please.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: You’re the one who’s trying to badger me.
JEREMY PAXMAN: I’m not trying to badger you, I’m merely asking you whether you’re proud of having driven out of Parliament one of the very few black women there — a woman you accused of having on her conscience the deaths of 100,000 people.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: Oh, well, there’s no doubt about that one. There’s absolutely no doubt that all those new Labour MPs who voted for Mr Blair and Mr Bush’s war have on their hands the blood of 100,000 people in Iraq, many of them British soldiers, many of them American soldiers, most of them Iraqis. And that’s a more important issue than the colour of her skin, I may assure you.
JEREMY PAXMAN: Yes, because you then went on to say including a lot of women who had blacker faces than her.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: Absolutely right. Absolutely right. So don’t try and tell me that I should feel guilty about one of the most sensational election results in modern electoral history because the person I defeated is a woman or a…
JEREMY PAXMAN: I put it to you, Mr Galloway, that Nick Rainsford had you to a tea when he said you were a demagogue.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: I’m sorry?
JEREMY PAXMAN: Nick Rainsford. You know who I mean? Nick Rainsford, Labour MP.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: I don’t’ no, I don’t know him.
JEREMY PAXMAN: So you’ve never heard of him?
GEORGE GALLOWAY: I’ve never heard of Nick Rainsford, no.
JEREMY PAXMAN: What else haven’t you heard of?
GEORGE GALLOWAY: Well, I’ve been in Parliament a long time.
JEREMY PAXMAN: He’s a parliamentary colleague of yours until very recently.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: Well, most of them just blend one into the other, Jeremy. They’re largely a spineless supine bunch, and…
JEREMY PAXMAN: Have you every heard of Tony Banks?
GEORGE GALLOWAY: Yes I have, yes.
JEREMY PAXMAN: Right. Tony Banks was sitting here five minutes ago and he said you were behaving inexcusably — you had deliberately chosen to go to that part of London and to exploit the latent racial tensions there.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: Well, you are actually conducting one of the more, even by your standards, one of the most absurd interviews I have ever participated in. I have just won an election. Can you find it within yourself to recognise that fact, to recognise the fact that the people of Bethnal Green and Bow chose me this evening.
JEREMY PAXMAN: We recognise it.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: Why are you insulting them?
JEREMY PAXMAN: I’m not insulting them. I’m not insulting them.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: Yes you are. You are insulting them. They chose me just a few minutes ago. Can’t you find it within yourself even to congratulate me on this victory?
JEREMY PAXMAN: (sarcastically) Congratulations, Mr Galloway. How do you propose to use your time in?
GEORGE GALLOWAY: Thank you very much indeed. I’m off.
JEREMY PAXMAN: Oh, I see, it’s another occasion you’re not wanting to talk to someone who doesn’t agree with you.
GEORGE GALLOWAY: No, no, no, no. Actually, Jeremy, it’s too, it’s too late.
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