Has the real gist of the comments that lead
to John Brogden’s downfall been missed?

Have a look at this paraphrase of the
remarks that appeared in The Australian yesterday in an item by former Strewth columnist
Nick Leys, a sharp journo:
“Helena Carr, married to Bob Carr since 1973, is Malaysian, and Mr Brogden
joked that she was no longer needed by the former premier.”

Crikey readers don’t need to be told old
goss or have the dots joined. The implications of this account of the comments
are clear. They make Carr the target, not his wife – and the other comments
tasteless but inadvertently racist and sexist.