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Being Steve Irwin

Actually, that could just as well read "hating Steve Irwin", which appears to be the latest fad among Labor, the cultural Lefties, and the Arts chatterati. Miranda Devine has an article on the fallout from Irwin's declaration that John Howard was the "greatest leader ever" and the "greatest leader in the entire world". Of course, you can't say that if you're an actor or on television, so the usual suspects are now doing their best to ruin Irwin.

Suddenly Irwin the likeable, outback ocker became Irwin the greedy "millionaire" Howard-lover. For some people, this was unforgivable.

The letters pages of newspapers exploded with venom and journalists sharpened their poison quills.

"After his public comment to the effect that John Howard is the greatest prime minister this country has ever had, I no longer take him seriously as an apolitical or intelligent wildlife advocate," A. Bass of Sutherland wrote to The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

A reporter from The Age in Melbourne questioned why Irwin had turned down an invitation to Bill Clinton's presidential farewell dinner. "Does it tell us more about Steve Irwin than he might want us to know?" he wrote. Irwin had "thick skin", the article went on to say. "There's no getting through to the heart or the soul. And let's not make the mistake of going for the head."

There were snide stories about Irwin's invitation to the Lodge for a fancy "partisan barbecue" Howard hosted for visiting US President George Bush, complete with snaky references to the $25,000 cost.

There were stories attacking Irwin's character. "For crocodile hunter Steve Irwin charity really does begin at home, with the millionaire 'donating' $175,000 to himself," began one story in The Courier-Mail in Brisbane. This $364 a minute of taxpayers' money was supposedly for "one day's work" shooting a quarantine awareness TV ad. The Federal Opposition and ABC Radio tried to whip up a crocodile-cash-for-comment scandal, linking the payment to Irwin's praise of the Prime Minister.

Finally, last week, Irwin was forced to defend himself, issuing a statement explaining the money was for a whole year's work on the quarantine campaign, not one day, and that he had given every cent to a new koala hospital at his Queensland zoo...

http://www.mediaman.com.au/articles/crocodile_hunter.html