Jeremy Clarkson was only being silly, says David Cameron

[fedsron2us]

Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand may have been dispatched, but the BBC still has one high octane presenter who can prompt the leader of the opposition to join thousands of people in outraged response to a flippant suggestion that public sector strikers should all be shot.

Jeremy Clarkson's remarks on Wednesday night's One Show prompted more than 5,000 complaints to the BBC – and a political storm in which Ed Miliband said his remarks were "absolutely disgraceful and disgusting". It fell to his friend and Boxing Day dining companion David Cameron to provide crucial, if lighthearted support to the presenter who earns an estimated £1.2m from his work for the BBC.

The prime minister, in a TV interview, played down the incident: "That's obviously a silly thing to say and I'm sure he didn't mean that. I didn't see the remark but I'm sure it's a silly thing to say."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/dec/01/jeremy-clarkson-david-cameron-strikes?newsfeed=true

Yes Dave just like that bloke who tweeted about wanting to blow up Nottingham Airport because he could not get a flight from there was making a joke. That did not stop him getting a criminal conviction for incitement.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/may/16/britain-turns-serious-david-mitchell
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/11/twitter-joke-trial-appeal-verdict

And some of those dumb arses who posted comments on Facebook about looting the local shopping precinct during August riots probably thought they were having a laugh too until they got four year in the pokey for their troubles.

Presumably the law on this matter is only for the little people not politicians or celebs.

[T_i_B]

1. The Daily Mash sums up this furore rather well IMHO

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/society/outrage-over-reaction-to-clarkson-reaction-reactions-201112014617/

The vortex of indignation began just after 7pm when Jeremy Clarkson, the country's highest ranking oaf, presented, without a hint of irony, his detailed plan to shoot public sector workers in front of their families.

Within moments Tony Parsons, the official Left-Wing Clarkson, said people who criticise public sector workers were Nazis while, John Prescott, the former Lord High Oaf, said his successor was guilty of a 'hate crime'.

In turn Parsons was accused of outrageous anti-Semitism while Prescott was forced to deny being deputy leader of the Khmer Rouge during the 1970s.

Seconds later the country was straining at the limits of its 140 character allowance in a bid to react to the reaction reactions in a way that was guaranteed to provoke a reaction.

[fedsron2us]

2. Clarkson is an idiot

Since he receives a million quid in license fee payers cash he is also a hypocrite for taking a pop at other workers paid out of the public purse. However, it is not his comments that annoy me but the ludicrous double standards applied by politicians and certain elements of the media who think it is fine to laugh this incident off but then demand swift retribution to people who make similar jokes about sections of society they hold sacrosanct. As mentioned above stating that you were 'only having a larf' did not seem to cut much ice in the courts back in August when certain Facebook and Twitter posters found themselves hauled before the judge.

[dipsydoodle]

3. Complaints over Clarkson strike comments reach 21,000

The BBC has received more than 21,000 complaints over Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson's remarks that striking public sector workers should be shot.

He was censured with his comments on The One Show and Unison called for him to be sacked. He later apologised.

Unison said it welcomed the apology and invited Clarkson to spend a day with a healthcare assistant.

BBC Audience Services said the Corporation had received 21,335 complaints as of 09:30 GMT.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-15999234

Seems to have beaten Ross and Brand both of whom went on to earn even more.

[Nihil]

4. Yet another storm in a teacup.

If only the people who were so busy being "disgusted" would address
a fraction of their energy to the underlying issues, Unison et al
would not have to had gone on strike.

The injustice that they were protesting is far worse than some overpaid
talking head making a bad taste comment yet the big furore splashed across
the moron box (and the muppet papers) is now focussing on Clarkson's mouth
rather than the government's hypocrisy ...

:eyes:

Bread & fucking circuses while the people are being ripped off left,
right & centre by the most corrupt bunch of politicians (and their
sponsors) since Caligula ...