MP Peter Dunne faced backlash on Twitter last night after comparing New Zealand First to white supremacist group the Ku Klux Klan (KKK).
The United Future leader posted the following on Twitter:
NZFirst changes membership rules? Black, Jewish, or gay? You can now join the KKKhttp://t.co/bM0lzKk9qI pic.twitter.com/dvR1Q7RPcY”
— Peter Dunne (@honpeterdunne) November 11, 2014
Dunne linked to an article by the British newspaper The Independent about the KKK changing its rules for new members wanting to join the group.
His tweet created a backlash from several Twitter users.
@PeterDunneMP @CateOwen You don't think comparing NZ First to a racist hate-crime organisation is inappropriate?
— Popi Mokorahi ? (@Megapope) November 11, 2014
Asked by one Twitter user if he thought his comments were inappropriate, Dunne replied “rubbish”.
The MP for Ohariu defended his tweet, writing:
@farmgeek The attitudes of some NZFirst MPs are racist and bigoted, like the KKK in my view
— Peter Dunne (@honpeterdunne) November 11, 2014
@farmgeek Any party that promotes MPs like Prosser and O'Rourke is a disgrace in my book
— Peter Dunne (@honpeterdunne) November 11, 2014
NZ First deputy leader Tracey Martin responded to Dunne as well.
@PeterDunneMP Excuse me Mr Dunn!! And you call yourself a grown up! How very disappointing – I had given you more credit than that
— Tracey Martin (@TraceyMartinMP) November 11, 2014
Dunne also received backlash on the social media platform for campaigning for the tobacco industry.
@Harmes_and_Legs I WILL SAY THIS IN CAPITALS TO STOP THE LIE BEING SPREAD – I HAVE NEVER RECEVIED SUCH DONATIONS. CAN I SAY IT MORE CLEARLY?
— Peter Dunne (@honpeterdunne) November 11, 2014
Dunne’s tweet came after United States citizen John Abarr reported to The Independent that he intended to start a new Klu Klux Klan group in Montana, USA called the Rocky Mountain Knights, which is looking for new members regardless of their race, religion or sexual orientation.
Dunne told Fairfax Media he didn’t think his tweet was a “big deal”.
“I think people are being grossly overly sensitive and I’m just amazed by the stridency of the reaction,” he said.
“It was a flippant comment based on a newspaper article and I think when you look at some of things NZ First MPs have said over the years, particularly over immigration, there’s a bit of a link to it.”
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