Blogosphere reacts to expenses scandal

Former Labour Minister Shane Jones was today forced to apologise for buying pornographic movies using taxpayer money, sparking swift and damning reaction from the public.

A storm erupted after ministerial credit card records going back six years were released this morning, revealing expenditures on everything from flowers to flights and alcohol.

An nzherald.co.nz poll showed 70 per cent of readers thought Jones should lose his job - a sentiment echoed by several prominent bloggers.

Kiwiblog's David Farrar wrote that Jones' political career was all but over.

"I doubt Shane Jones' line that he is a 'red blooded adult' will go down now. The issue isn't that Shane has watched porn - most men and many women have. The issue is that he charged it to the taxpayer."

There could be grey areas over what ministers could charge, he said.

"But no one could have a reasonable expectation that hotel porn is a legitimate work related expense."

Farrar also pointed out that former UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith lost her seat after revelations that her husband had charged one porn movie to the taxpayer.

Political journalist Duncan Garner called it a major setback for Jones' career, saying he would be lucky to stay in Parliament.

"Shane Jones has just suffered the biggest blow of his career. He will be lucky to survive this."

If he didn't resign of his own accord, "Labour's list ranking committee is likely to demote him so far down the list for the next election that he never gets back to Parliament", Duncan said.

Over at No Right Turn, the politicians involved were slammed as "thieves".

"An ordinary person caught stealing from their employer in this fashion would not just be forced to pay the money back, but would also likely be facing dismissal and prosecution. We should apply the same standard to politicians."

Although some charges appeared to be innocent mistakes, a clear and consistent pattern of abuse was emerging.

Without constant scrutiny, politicians would continue to run amok, he said.

"Whether Jones watches porn is his own business. But we shouldn't be paying for it. What next? We'll be asked to pay for strip-clubs and hookers as well?

"Jones is going to be mocked mercilessly for this for the rest of his (hopefully short) political career. And he will deserve every bit of it."

Meanwhile, The Standard blogged: "I'm all in favour of transparency and frugality, but I really don't need to know that Shane Jones might have rented a porno or that Carter charged a bottle of wine for this or that."

However, he went on to call for spending records from the last National government to be released.

"After all, there are still quite a few ministers from that government back in cabinet, such as Nick Smith, Bill English, Tony Ryall, Maurice Williamson and David Carter.

"Have the Nats done this while Phil Goff and his advisors are in China on purpose?"

And according to Whale Oil (Cameron Slater), Jones' gaffe was the worst kind of error any politi­cian could make.

Jones staunchly denied being a "sex fiend", prompting Slater to draw comparisons with former US President Richard Nixon.

"He has made the clas­sic 'Nixon' error. Pres­i­dent Richard Nixon said 'I am not a Crook' when explain­ing his role in the Water­gate scan­dal. From that day for­ward, every­one thought he was exactly that.

"Just resign already."