Thats a bit harsh dalma. Helen Dale's article is perhaps not very well thought out and poorly phrased but it doesn't warrant a rebuke that is that strongly-worded.

Helen, its probably not the brightest thing to take full aim at a member of your alma mater. But leaving that aside, perhaps more thought and less hyperbole?

I agree with the points Woulfe made and perhaps the most shocking thing is that I'm defending Tony Abbott. Perhaps this was reverse marketing all along :-o

continued..

platinum blonde lookalikes !
Surely, she is not suggesting desperate " seppuku " - ugh hari-kiri, as an early alternative for his trivial vocal misdemeanours ? Petty, petty.

It's beyond an intellectual joke, that someone would want to see another's downfall, simply because one disagrees with her cause ? As a practising Counsellor, she is beyond redemption - who would engage her ?

To his credit, Abbott has always worn his ethics on his sleeve. Devout to the point of recklessness, he espouses the Catholic dogma against abortion, contraceptives, loose morals, etc precisely as advocated by Pell, Pope Benedict XIV, the Vatican, etc. As Health Minister: " we have a double standard, when someone who kills a pregnant woman's baby, is guilty of murder ( in the eyes of the Law ) but a woman who aborts an unborn baby is exercising her right of choice ". He riled against the 100,000 abortions performed in Oz, 2004. Vehemently opposed the drug RU486, and an outspoken critic of UK based "pink and blue" testung kit, to determine the sex of the foetus.

He has been a moral crusader since his seminary days, and for those infanticide perpetrators, give him some credit at least.

Finally, he should be applauded for his solidarity and consistency.
By the swing of things, Tony Abbott is destined for larger things. He would get my vote for PM and the Lodge, any day.

The point is, however, Abbott's advice is not bad. Most young people act more like barn yard animals (whe it comes to sex) these days.
Posted by Leigh, Friday, 29 January 2010 10:58:15 AM

Correction: most young people, in particular, females between 14yrs-18yrs are LURED to be raped and sexually assaulted after being drugged via ONE glass of alchohol [at 15yrs generally at a sleepover with boys texting to offer their FIRST taste of alcohol]. Following assaults, the majority of teenagers I know, then commence sleeping around casually, thinking it will psychologically assist them. Some suicide, some end up with chronic eating disorders, some abstain from sexual intercourse for years. Generally there are validated 'reasons' for young people sleeping around. NO YOUNG PERSON should be EVER compared to barnyard animals if they are not hurting themselves or any other person. An ARCHAIC and OUTDATED IGNORANT NARROWMINDED term and statement Leigh. Tony Abbott SHOULD think about how his statement would affect young rape victims I deal with.

And Darma: never trust a politician who is a christian hypocrite. He does not practice what he preaches. The day I first clapped eyes on this politician and observed his body language: was the day I viewed his lack of intelligence and lack of foresight, unrealistic ideals, and shrewdness. Of course, Tony Abbott would make a statement along those lines: most Australians are of christian background: non-practicing or not, and what a blackmailing statement psychologically and publicly, to load upon one's daughters.

Those that spruik too soon.....his daughters have a way to go yet....and there is always ONE black sheep in every family. Poor man...I hope he wont be too let down and embarrassed.

'we are unique' is so right in feeling sorry for the poor Abbott daughters. How much pressure must they now feel to display virginal behaviour at all times until they are married?

Catholic (and other patriarchal religions) men have always ranted and raved about the sanctity of the female virgin. While the women are often found out if they are not virgins on their wedding night, not so the men!

What a wonderful life these supposedly pious men had back in the bad old days before contraception and the dawning of the wonders of sex for women began.

They could run around and have sex all they liked, and then tell the little woman they married that they came to the marital bed as virginal as their beloved.
No wonder many men would love to go back to these days!

By the author's standards, unless she is a paragon of virtue, there is no reason why she should not be shamed for her opinion every time she makes a hypocritical statement, particularly if she is not woman enough to admit her mistakes.