Perhaps the most amusing part of this morning’s shouty lecture was when he called his critics bullies. The hypocrisy of this is so breath-taking it is actually, in its own way, quite awesome. Almost admirable in its scope.
Readers may remember I was verbally abused by Alan Jones at the anti-carbon tax rally he led outside Parliament House last year. I approached Jones from the back of the stage (he was taking a break as shadow Enviroment Minister Greg Hunt addressed the crowd), introduced myself so he knew I was a reporter, and asked him whether he was being paid to address the rally.
I had a vague feeling beforehand that he wasn’t going to respond well but I made myself do it anyway, because I thought it was a valid question. And yeah, he didn’t respond well. I could tell from the way he turned puce.
It was telling that after shouting a few choice lines and ordering me: ‘‘You just stand there so we can let people see who you are!’’, he grabbed the microphone.
Because if you’re Alan Jones, there is no point in sorting out a dispute one-on-one, where there might be some semblance of an equal playing field. You must broadcast the outrage, and rally your followers behind you. That’s how bullies roll.
He abused me in front of the crowd, and then heckled me for cowardice as I left the area with my colleague Richard Willingham. I don’t know what would have happened if I’d stayed. I only know I felt the sort of rush of blood to my head, the racing pulse and the pure upset that reminded me of when I was bullied by two boys during a mercifully brief but miserable period at primary school.
‘‘Where is she? Can’t stand and front! Can’t stand and front!’’ Jones shouted as I retreated to the safety of Parliament House.
I can’t claim to be anything but heavily biased against Jones given this fracas, which really did ruin my day. But I think I can pretty objectively state that I was bullied by him. This puts me in esteemed company.
The reason why we are seeing such a strong out-pouring of criticism against Jones (and while it is far from the lynch mob he sought to turn on me that day, it is what you might call a gleeful stacks-on) is because people love to see a bully taken down.
Jones uses his power to push his views, rally votes for his favoured politicians, and do enormous amount of charity work. He also uses it to vociferously and mercilessly bully his opponents with violent language and ad hominem attacks.
Now we see a truly populist social media campaign challenge his power and call him out on his bitter hatred of women. It is manifesting real results, however short lived they may be. And Jones is - to use a vulgar phrase - absolutely losing his s***.
