Liberals – Bowen plays race card in Labor smear

Bowen plays race card in Labor smear
14/08/10

Chris Bowen should be ashamed of himself for quite deliberately playing the race card in the worst possible way, against the Liberal Candidate standing against him in the seat of McMahon, in the lead-up to polling day.
Mr Bowen has engaged in gutter politics by questioning the commitment to Australia of an Iraqi immigrant who fled during the war to start a new life in this country.
Jahmal Elishe was brutally beaten and his business destroyed by the militia in Iraq.
Having already fled once before because his family are Christians, he decided in 2003 that it was time to leave for good. He has now established a new life in Australia, for himself, his wife and their children, and is running a business in Fairfield.
There is no doubting Mr Elishe’s commitment to Australia and his community which has given him and his family a new life. This is why he is standing for parliament and as part of that process, has taken all reasonable steps to rescind his Iraqi citizenship.
Chris Bowen has raised his nationality in a blatant and vile smear campaign.
It is extremely disappointing that a Cabinet Minister and the Labor Party campaign spokesman would lower himself to such undignified levels.
Again, this demonstrates how NSW Labor will do whatever it takes in a bid to cling to power.
Julia Gillard must reprimand Mr Bowen, or it will prove that the “real” Julia is indeed a puppet of the NSW Labor machine.