New Zealand elects its third Jewish prime minister

[C.MAXIMUS]

New Zealand elects its third Jewish prime minister

http://www.worldjewishcongress.org/news/globalnews/gn_archives/2008/11/gn_081113_nz.html

New Zealand has elected the third Jewish prime minster in its history and its first conservative government in nearly a decade, ending the rule of one of the world's longest serving elected female prime minister, Helen Clark. John Key, a 47-year-old former currency trader and leader of the conservative national party, promised to be a moderate amid fears some of the country's policies on global warming and indigenous people could be rolled back. Voters on Saturday elected Key to lead them through a recession worsening because of the global financial meltdown.
Key's mother, Ruth Lazar, is a Jewish immigrant from Austria and is an active member of New Zealand's Jewish community, which has about 5,000 members.

[marktigger]

So What?

Has this any relevence to his abilities as PM?

[IDF_TANKER]

So What?

Has this any relevence to his abilities as PM?

Nothing really, just more points to New Zealandian democracy and tolerance (I'd guess this would be the point of the article, given its origin).

[Invisigoth]

Ahhh jehuuuuuuuudi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ;) Well good for him, hope he takes good care of the Kiwis. :)

[boet faas]

why is the fact that he is Jewish even mentioned? Is he going to make laws that will deprive others of their basic human needs or what?? Be glad he is not an ANC member. Now that is something that should be feared.

[Kaplanr]

The fact it's #3 makes it even a bigger yawn. Move on peeps, nothing to see here.

[Dr_Fünke]

why is the fact that he is Jewish even mentioned?

presumably because some people feel that race or religion is an extremely important criteria for a world leader



anyway, best of luck to him. don't think much of that rodney hide fella from what I've heard so far.

[BW2]

The fact it's #3 makes it even a bigger yawn. Move on peeps, nothing to see here.

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t313/RawSenses/officerBarbrady.gif

[Peris]

Nothing really, just more points to New Zealandian democracy and tolerance (I'd guess this would be the point of the article, given its origin).


electing a Jewish PM earns more points in democracy and tolerance? how do you count the points? different religions earn more or less points?:roll:

[IDF_TANKER]

electing a Jewish PM earns more points in democracy and tolerance? how do you count the points? different religions earn more or less points?:roll:

Not necessarily Jewish, a minority representative in general. You are right, in an ideal world it wouldn't be an issue, however only a couple of weeks ago electing a slightly more tanned president in the biggest world democracy was called a revolution.

[TheKiwi]

As an election issue, it rated a zero here. There was far more interest in whether he'd signed off on a dodgy deal 20 years ago when he was a securities broker (he didn't but his signature was sort of similar to someone who did if you held it in a certain angle and a certain light).

[NicNZ]

How amusing. The article trumpets it but the reality is that pretty much no one in the country knew (or cared) that he was jewish. If anything, I would say that the party tried to keep quiet about it, since he looks like any other white guy.

Though it does explain his past involvement with financial institutions...

[oldsoak]

Dunno much about John Key - does it look like he might improve on Helen ?
A chap with a background in financial instituitions might be an asset. Sometimes a hard nose is better than the starry eyed.

[brandenvonbeneckendorff]

during the election, no one has mentioned that john key's jewish, i dont think new zealanders care about that at all, prob except some crazy nuts.
And he has not shown the public any jewishness, as far as what i have observed.

Don't know whether he'll be better than helen clark, i mean despite i generally in favour of a centre-right govt, i reackon helen clark is one of the most capable PM's in nz. It would be hard to surpass her. But still let's see what will happen to John Key.

PS: his daughter looks emo...

[TheKiwi]

Dunno much about John Key - does it look like he might improve on Helen ?
A chap with a background in financial instituitions might be an asset. Sometimes a hard nose is better than the starry eyed.

He's very centre of the political spectrum, and he campaigned on "Doing things just like Labour did only we're not Labour".

Is this a good thing? Time will tell I suppose. He's a nice enough guy in person, albeit a little ego centric (as most pollies are).

[TheKiwi]

How amusing. The article trumpets it but the reality is that pretty much no one in the country knew (or cared) that he was jewish...

There was a write up of it in the NZ Herald about 2 months before the election which made mention of it.

No-one cares, not even the Green's who are always on the lookout for "Teh Evil Joo's Conspiracy"

[GazB]

Dunno much about John Key - does it look like he might improve on Helen ?

Funny that some seem to place importance on beauty when it comes to female politicians.

Many pointed out how unattractive Jenny Shipley was, yet Jim Bolger, the guy she replaced was no looker either.

I didn't know John Key was Jewish till I read this thread and I can't say I care either way about it. Wouldn't care if he was catholic or protestant or even an athiest. It is not really that important to the job.

What I would care about if his entire focus was his religion and that interfered with his job.

What I liked most about Helen Clark was that she was no John Howard or Tony Blair. When America said jump they asked how high... or they just jumped.

With Key I think it is likely we will become Americas 54th State. (After UK and Australia... and Georgia.)

[NicNZ]

Sounds like the words of a former Soviet spy to me.

[Flagg]

Nothing really, just more points to New Zealandian democracy and tolerance (I'd guess this would be the point of the article, given its origin).

I just learned John Key is Jewish.........wow if I had known that I would have voted for the other guy....errrrrr, girl :)

Your post implies that had I voted for Helen Clark that I would be INtolerant....


That may not be the intention of your post, but that's how it comes across to me.

I'm just glad I live in a country where my religious and/or ethnic background doesn't prevent me from a legitimate shot at ANY and EVERY role in private, government, and military service. :)

Unfortunately, for some who have consumed far too much PC Kool-aid, or who represent "minorities" I was left with the choice of voting for:

"The Jew"

or

"A****** Woman"

Which means I have to choose between being a Jew hating "Big H" holocaust denier

or

A hillbilly(Coaster) anti-feminist, anti-equality, anti-alternative lifestyle choice hater


Thanks for that.

If Kiwis can vote into Parliament a trannie, where the fact that she(now a she) is a trannie doesn't really matter...I think Kiwis being "tolerant" is pretty F'n obvious.

I';m just glad a PC Jewish lesbian feminist didn't ask me how I voted last week, there's no way I could have won that debate

[TheKiwi]

...

A hillbilly(Coaster) anti-feminist, anti-equality, anti-alternative lifestyle choice hater

...


Well you are from the South Island. :D

[uTu]

the 3rd jewish person!? who were the other 2? & why weren't the authorities informed!? Least he wasn't Maori :p

The institutions he worked for got in trouble as a result of Government meddling. I'm very respectful of his professional background, not anyone would even get looked at for the positions he has held.

The more involvement with America & Israel the better. Hmm the hui this weekend should be interesting

shalom

[Flagg]

Well you are from the South Island. :D


Correct........3 parts Cantabrian......1 part Coaster :)

[Flagg]

the 3rd jewish person!? who were the other 2? & why weren't the authorities informed!? Least he wasn't Maori :p

The institutions he worked for got in trouble as a result of Government meddling. I'm very respectful of his professional background, not anyone would even get looked at for the positions he has held.

The more involvement with America & Israel the better. Hmm the hui this weekend should be interesting

shalom

Yeah, maybe I'm a bit too optomistic, but I was left with the impression that the Maori Party may be able to do a deal with National, based on comments by Turia and Sharples.

I'm quite glad Key made a point to try to work in with the Maori Party even though it wasn't necessary.

Better moving forward together than in opposition.......we're going to need as much unity as we can get in the next few years.

[GazB]

When Obama got elected the first thing I thought was... what a sh!t of a time to get elected.

Still they are politicians... they know the answers... if things get better it was me. If things get worse it was because of the situation I inherited from the previous lot.

[Fiber]

Are jews allowed to eat sheeps intestines? If not, he won't be a real kiwi would he?

[GiladS]

Are jews allowed to eat sheeps intestines? If not, he won't be a real kiwi would he?

It's actually a part of Jewish cuisine (reffered to as 'Kishke').

[Insane Tadpole]

Sweet, Jews are awesome. Thank god Helen has gone.

[C.MAXIMUS]

The intention of the article is just to highlight the fact to the Jewish community in general. I dont think there was any self congratulating aspect to it but indeed it is very interesting that it did happen. As well, like everyone mention, very few people were aware of it.

I dont think it would have happened in the UK, when David Milliband stepped forward to challenge for the leadership of Labor all sorts of conspiracy/rubish came out of the woodwork.

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

New Zealand elects its third Jewish prime minister

No.

New Zealand elected a Prime Minister who as it happens is of Jewish descent.

The man doesn't consider himself Jewish.


Nothing really, just more points to New Zealandian democracy and tolerance (I'd guess this would be the point of the article, given its origin).

Yeah, cos NZ needs all it can get with it's rich history of autocracy and intolerance towards it's minorities. Just gotta drive through Otara and witness all those bulldozed houses and 2000lb bomb craters.


I'm quite glad Key made a point to try to work in with the Maori Party even though it wasn't necessary.


Well, if we have a 'Jewish' Prime Minister what will that mean for a people that a number of Israeli posters here have likened to the Palestinians?


...but indeed it is very interesting that it did happen...

Only someone with no idea of the culture and societal structure of New Zealand would think it was interesting.

Plenty of people knew about John Key's heritage prior to the election. No one cared. Contrary to the popular opinion of certain sectors of the world's populace we really don't give a **** either way about his religious tendencies.

They were, are and will continue to be a non issue.

His competance and ability to govern are the only things of real interest to NZ. And they aren't predetermined by his heritage.

But don't let that stop you bleating about it.

[oldsoak]

Funny that some seem to place importance on beauty when it comes to female politicians.

Many pointed out how unattractive Jenny Shipley was, yet Jim Bolger, the guy she replaced was no looker either.

I didn't know John Key was Jewish till I read this thread and I can't say I care either way about it. Wouldn't care if he was catholic or protestant or even an athiest. It is not really that important to the job.

What I would care about if his entire focus was his religion and that interfered with his job.

What I liked most about Helen Clark was that she was no John Howard or Tony Blair. When America said jump they asked how high... or they just jumped.

With Key I think it is likely we will become Americas 54th State. (After UK and Australia... and Georgia.)

dunno about the looks mate, its the brains I'm worried about. dont care what shape or size the ars* is, just whether the owner does a good job. You dont have to be Labour to be independent of US foriegn policy.

[uTu]

Are jews allowed to eat sheeps intestines? If not, he won't be a real kiwi would he?

stop your ridiculous stirring ok! it's the steak & cheese pie test:p

Things are gonna work out good.

[tecumseh11]

You might as well say that New Zealand elected Helen Clark as its fifth Scottish prime minister or something.