Guess I couldn’t help myself. I tried to resist the temptation to make fun of Mr Abbott, but, sorry, I am lower than you thought. I saw Tony on the 7:30 Report last night, bearing his black soul to [Saint] Kerry, and I had a couple of observations:
1. Tony did the kid a favour.
Not to be mean at all, but how cool is it that the long lost son of the Rev. Tony Abbott turns out to be …ermm….not so conservative? Sorry if I make a huge leap here, but an ABC sound recordist with a ponytail is not really Liberal Party material. You just couldn’t make this stuff up if you tried! Its almost Empire-Strike-Back in its delicious twistiness — the baby faced good guy’s father turns out to be the leader of the evil Empire! Nooooooooooo!
In that instance, maybe Tony did the kid a huge favour, protecting him from the dark side and all.
2. Even when he’s nice, he’s a dick.
Abbott is a smarmy motherfucker, and I’m sorry, but I just don’t buy this sudden warm and fuzziness for the man who made a woman carry a baby to term that she didn’t want. The pain for her was obvious, and I am probably being harsh in assuming that she would have had an abortion if she was with anyone but Tony… but still… He is going to exploit this for all the anti-abortion mileage he can get.
He is a cynical, sneaky operator, and I can see whats going on here from a mile off. Tony is going to use this reunion (even though its great…) as an argument against abortion. I can just see it.
3. How the hell would you feel if you found out you were the son of Tony Abbott?
Get that man some counselling, because he’s going to need it! He has been thrust into the public eye — all his archived ABC footage displayed for the world to see, whilst going through some major life changes. Ideological challenges aside, it is a really big moment to come face to face with the father that gave you away, and I sure hope that people respect his space (Tchyeah….sure…..).