Goff's Gaffe: "...at the moment"

Time to eat humble pie. It's my own fault. I tend to give people the benefit of the doubt. I try to put things in the best light and not assume the worst. It's an approach that usually serves me well.

Sorry Audrey. Sorry Colin. Sorry even to the NBR.

If what Phil Goff is reported to have said in the NZ Herald this morning is a correct quote, then Goff really is on the hunt for Helen's job and a calculation on his part of a poor showing at the coming election would explain the timing as nothing else can.

Mr Goff did little yesterday to make amends for his public admission that he wants Helen Clark's job if Labour loses the election.

"There is no question about leadership at the moment," he said yesterday when questioned about his pre-recorded television interview.

A seasoned politician who wanted to end discussion about leadership would usually give such an answer unconditionally, without qualifications such as "at the moment".

That little "at the moment" does convey to me confirmation of Goff's immediate (not eventual) ambitions (hence my apology to those whom I disagreed with yesterday) and a certain lack of regard for his own party and its fortunes in the coming election. If I were a Labour supporter, I'd be fairly annoyed with Phil at the moment.

It's not all about you, Phil. Good luck with that.

Meanwhile, I'll let my post from yesterday on this matter stand as a reminder to me to be more humble and make it clear when I'm speculating versus asserting.