Micheal Martin Chinese Gaffe

darkman2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x5Rcc17eb8

We should'nt make too much of it maybe....caught this morning with this so he was - the ex Minister for Foreign Affairs there...


"that's terrible Joe..."

Jake Rugby Walrus666

I hope that while doing that excellent impersonation, he had his two hands touching at palm, and kept bowing. Or made his eyes slanty with his fingers.

stovelid

I wonder what kind of slant his office will try and put on this?

sollar

Not offensive at all - down with the PC overlords.

bonerm

stovelid wrote: »

I wonder what kind of slant his office will try and put on this?

That's probably a slippery slope.

TheZohanS

Non-story really, and I've no time for Enda Kenny.

Kasabian

LOL.:o:o:o

I did notice that the state sponsored broadcaster had no mention of this on the 1 o'clock news but you can be guaranteed they would be all over it if it was one of the other leaders.

stimpson

The Chinese - a great bunch of lads.

Did he mention Ming the Merciless at all?

darkman2

Kasabian wrote: »

LOL.:o:o:o

I did notice that the state sponsored broadcaster had no mention of this on the 1 o'clock news but you can be guaranteed they would be all over it if it was one of the other leaders.

They did - they played it on air (on the radio).

gonedrinking

the chinese think hes one of them with a name like Mee-hal

Kasabian

darkman2 wrote: »

They did - they played it on air.

I didn't see or hear any reference on the news at lunchtime.
Was it the radio?

ejmaztec

I was disappointed that he said very instead of vely. Worst Chinese impersonation I've ever heard.

He should stick to his day job, whatever that is.:pac:

Dravokivich

Worked out great for James Caan in El Dorado...

Poor Craythur

stimpson wrote: »

The Chinese - a great bunch of lads.

Did he mention Ming the Merciless at all?

Was waiting for the obligatory Father Ted quote.

bonerm

Michael's favourite movie?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DC5pqdp64Q

grrrrrrrrrr

Kasabian wrote: »

I didn't see or hear any reference on the news at lunchtime.
Was it the radio?

News at One with Sean O Rourke.
They didnt make much of it, rightly so.
Anyone who makes a big deal out of this has little worries

the purple tin

His election posters have a real Mr Burns vibe.

big b

bonerm wrote: »

That's probably plobabry a slippery srippely slope srope.

FYP

_feedback_

It's not very appropriate for someone in his position, but not really a big deal either.

Non-story as someone else said.

Phill Ewinn

We should order him to go! Take him out for these chinese crackers, cantonese style.

flyton5

Has he said solly yet?


also this:

Kasabian

grrrrrrrrrr wrote: »

News at One with Sean O Rourke.
They didnt make much of it, rightly so.
Anyone who makes a big deal out of this has little worries

I was watching News at 1 on RTE 1. No mention there.

If he were to become Taoiseach and drops a clanger like this when talking with Merkel or Sarkosy I would see it been a big deal.

It would be a big deal in my job if I started mimicking my companies customers in Asia while referring to them in a meeting.

phasers

Exclusive shot of the emergency FF press conference called earlier

stimpson

Kasabian wrote: »

If he were to become Taoiseach and drops a clanger like this when talking with Merkel or Sarkosy I would see it been a big deal.

Yeah, but if it was Berlusconi there would be high fives all round.

Einhard

Kasabian wrote: »

I was watching News at 1 on RTE 1. No mention there.

If he were to become Taoiseach and drops a clanger like this when talking with Merkel or Sarkosy I would see it been a big deal.

It would be a big deal in my job if I started mimicking my companies customers in Asia while referring to them in a meeting.

Drops a clanger like what? What exactly was offensive about what he said? I'm not trying to defend the man here, I seriously can't figure out what you're getting so worked up about.

Debthree

LMAO! What a tool! Anyone who says this isn't a big deal is seriously delusional. This is extremely unprofessional and offensive, albeit urine-leakingly hilarious too.

orourkeda

ching chong

Orando Broom

A chink in his previously impregnable armour.

stimpson

Einhard wrote: »

Drops a clanger like what? What exactly was offensive about what he said? I'm not trying to defend the man here, I seriously can't figure out what you're getting so worked up about.

Yeah. It's not like he's the minister for Foreign Affairs anymore.

phasers

Einhard wrote: »

Drops a clanger like what? What exactly was offensive about what he said? I'm not trying to defend the man here, I seriously can't figure out what you're getting so worked up about.

Oh come on, doing a silly accent isn't exactly diplomatic.

I think it's more funny than anything, like something a lot of people do without thinking

Einhard

Debthree wrote: »

LMAO! What a tool! Anyone who says this isn't a big deal is seriously delusional. This is extremely unprofessional and offensive, albeit urine-leakingly hilarious too.

WTF is so offensive about it? Maybe I'm being particularly dozy today, but I'm at a loss. Perhaps someone could explain it to me? Is it because he put on a Chinese accent?

BizzyC

That's not much to make a deal out of really....

_feedback_

Einhard wrote: »

WTF is so offensive about it? Maybe I'm being particularly dozy today, but I'm at a loss. Perhaps someone could explain it to me? Is it because he put on a Chinese accent?

The attempt at a chinese accent is what people are referring to surely.

It is in-appropriate, in a who really cares kind of way.

It's just not something that somebody in his position should really do I think.

chin_grin

What am I rabbling against now?

Einhard

elviscostello wrote: »

The attempt at a chinese accent is what people are referring to surely.

It is in-appropriate, in a who really cares kind of way.

It's just not something that somebody in his position should really do I think.

Oh for God's sake, he was imitating a Chinese person and he put on a Chinese accent!! What the hell is offensive about that? If it was a caricature of an accent, and he done the whole goofy teeth thing, said solly and mentioned flied lice I'dunderstand the outrage, but nothing he said was in anyway racist or offensive.

Unless people think that the Chinese accent itself is somehow offensive? Would people get so angsty had he put on an American accent whilst telling a story about an American executive?

The ability of some here to take vicarious offence when none is implied or intended is amazing.

Nodin

darkman2 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x5Rcc17eb8

We should'nt make too much of it maybe....caught this morning with this so he was - the ex Minister for Foreign Affairs there...


"that's terrible Joe..."

Martin tries accent and fails....not really worth the effort of putting up on youtube.

_feedback_

Einhard wrote: »

Oh for God's sake, he was imitating a Chinese person and he put on a Chinese accent!! What the hell is offensive about that? If it was a caricature of an accent, and he done the whole goofy teeth thing, said solly and mentioned flied lice I'dunderstand the outrage, but nothing he said was in anyway racist or offensive.

Unless people think that the Chinese accent itself is somehow offensive? Would people get so angsty had he put on an American accent whilst telling a story about an American executive?

The ability of some here to take vicarious offence when none is implied or intended is amazing.

Where are you seeing all the offense and outrage?

All that I'm saying is it isn't something that a potential Taoiseach should do.

It's inappropriate

minidazzler

Debthree wrote: »

LMAO! What a tool! Anyone who says this isn't a big deal is seriously delusional. This is extremely unprofessional and offensive, albeit urine-leakingly hilarious too.

There is nothing offensive or funny about it TBH, it's a brief snippet of an accent the way he was told something. No problem repeating. Just because people find it offensive does not make it offensive in and of itself. I'd like a get a chinese persons opinion on it, guarantee they are generally OK with it. It's not like it was an attack on them.

Ill-advised, possibly, offensive, not a chance.

Dymo

I wonder for authenticity did he also squint his eye's while doing the accent?

Einhard

elviscostello wrote: »

Where are you seeing all the offense and outrage?

Well here for instance:

Debthree wrote: »

LMAO! What a tool! Anyone who says this isn't a big deal is seriously delusional. This is extremely unprofessional and offensive, albeit urine-leakingly hilarious too.

And the fact that it's even being discussed, let alone described as a "gaffe" and a "clanger".

It's not even inappropriate. If I were imitating an American, I'd probably put on an American accent. Same with a Cork person, or a French person. Would that be inappropriate too?

Unless you think there's something horrendously inappropriate about the Chinese accent itself, I fail to see what the fuss is about.

_feedback_

Einhard wrote: »

It's not even inappropriate. If I were imitating an American, I'd probably put on an American accent. Same with a Cork person, or a French person. Would that be inappropriate too?

I wouldn't think that you doing it is inappropriate . . But you aren't the leader of a big political party. If he done that in the position of Taoiseach he would look like a right tool!

Einhard

elviscostello wrote: »

I wouldn't think that you doing it is inappropriate . . But you aren't the leader of a big political party. If he done that in the position of Taoiseach he would look like a right tool!

But if it's offensive and racist (as some have alleged), then it shouldn't matter who does the accent. I agree it doesn't look great for Martin, but that's because he did such a crap accent, not because he done one in the first place.

Cú Giobach

Einhard wrote: »

It's not even inappropriate. If I were imitating an American, I'd probably put on an American accent. Same with a Cork person, or a French person. Would that be inappropriate too?

Unless you think there's something horrendously inappropriate about the Chinese accent itself, I fail to see what the fuss is about.

The big difference being you are not the leader of a major(ish at this stage) political party speaking on air.
Totally inappropriate (and embarrassing) for someone in his position to do this in public.

_feedback_

Einhard wrote: »

But if it's offensive and racist (as some have alleged), then it shouldn't matter who does the accent. I agree it doesn't look great for Martin, but that's because he did such a crap accent, not because he done one in the first place.

Ha, agreed on the accent!

I'll leave the offensive and racist stuff to whoever else feels a spot of outrage coming on.

Down with this sort of thing

Einhard

Cú Giobach wrote: »

The big difference being you are not the leader of a major(ish at this stage) political party speaking on air.
Totally inappropriate (and embarrassing) for someone in his position to do this in public.

Seriously, if it's offensive, it's offensive. It shouldn't matter who is doing the accent, or making the comment. How can an accent be offensive from one person, and be totally fine from another, when neither meant any offence?

If Martin had done an American accent, would you think it similarly inappropriate?

aDeener

Kasabian wrote: »

I was watching News at 1 on RTE 1. No mention there.

If he were to become Taoiseach and drops a clanger like this when talking with Merkel or Sarkosy I would see it been a big deal.

It would be a big deal in my job if I started mimicking my companies customers in Asia while referring to them in a meeting.

a clanger?? are you fuckin serious? :rolleyes:

Einhard

elviscostello wrote: »

Ha, agreed on the accent!

I'll leave the offensive and racist stuff to whoever else feels a spot of outrage coming on.

Down with this sort of thing

Careful now.

marzic

The Chinese Embassy has commented... "we are aware that Mr.Martin has insulted the Chinese people, he think we know fcuk-nothing, but we know fcuk-all!":D

marzic

some of my best friends....jpg

Monty Burnz

Einhard wrote: »

WTF is so offensive about it? Maybe I'm being particularly dozy today, but I'm at a loss. Perhaps someone could explain it to me? Is it because he put on a Chinese accent?

Yeah, it's the whole...

"When I meet the Mexican business leaders, they have one strong refrain, one repeated demand - they say 'arriba! arriba! andale! YEEHAA! YEEHAA!'"

Cú Giobach

Einhard wrote: »

Seriously, if it's offensive, it's offensive. It shouldn't matter who is doing the accent, or making the comment. How can an accent be offensive from one person, and be totally fine from another, when neither meant any offence?

If Martin had done an American accent, would you think it similarly inappropriate?

Of course.
When is the last time you heard a politician from any country putting on an accent in this kind of context. It's just not done, one very good reason being if a politician was complaining about another and put on an accent while quoting him/her it could be taken as offensive and affect future relations with said politician or even country.
I personally don't find this offensive just very unprofessional and totally inappropriate.