Posted on 04/02/2009 2:55:45 PM PDT by naturalman1975
PRIME Minister Kevin Rudd has downplayed reports that he reduced a young female RAAF cabin attendant to tears with a tirade of abuse because he did not get a meal he wanted during a VIP flight.
An official report was filed by the flight crew about the behaviour of VIP No. 1 - Mr Rudd - after the flight from Port Moresby to Canberra in late January, The Daily Telegraph reports.
Mr Rudd, who had attended the Pacific Islands Forum, was told by the 23-year-old flight attendant that his request for a "special" meal - he is on a meat-free diet - could not be met.
Sources said the PM reacted "strongly" and a heated exchange followed. The attendant burst into tears and reported the matter to the senior cabin attendant.
She later composed herself and continued with the in-flight service.
"The crew were distressed but later in flight apologies were made by all," the report says.
But when he was asked about the incident at the conclusion of the G20 summit in the British capital today, Mr Rudd said he did not "observe" any tears over the matter.
"As I recall it, there was a flight, I think from Port Moresby, and I had a discussion with, I think, one of the attendants on the provision of food. It didn't last very long and if anyone was offended by that, including the attendant concerned, of course, I apologise," Mr Rudd said.
Mr Rudd said that as he recalled, he told a member of the crew not to worry about the language he had used.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.com.au ...
Hitler was a vegetarian, and, oh yeah a national socialist.
It is common for young girls/women to be referred to as ‘mates’ and with mates, no one takes offense.
Thing is, Rudd is the PM, and she a your professional. No excuse! Period!
He's not sure where he got on the plane???
former Aussie and young professional (geez)
Hitler was a vegetarian, and, oh yeah a national socialist.
________________________________-
I told a liberal vegetarian about Hitler being a vegetarian and she got mad as hell...at me.
Libs are such nice people./s
To be fair, Rudd is not a vegetarian. He normally does eat meat, but he was reportedly on a diet to lose weight at this time. And I can understand him being annoyed - but you don’t take it out on a junior member of air crew. You ask to speak to the NCO in charge of catering and complain to them. On this plane, I suppose it might be an officer - but it’s not the junior aircrew who is serving you.
Kevin Rude is obviously no John Howard....
Coming from Port Moresby...would human brains be considered “vegetarian”
It bothers me less that he lost his cool and picked on a young flight attendant then that he is unwilling to own up to it. He knows damn well all of the details. So, to act as if it is hard to remember the flight a couple of months ago doesn’t say much about his character.
I have heard that ONE of the reasons Neville Chamberlain capitulated to Hitler so thoroughly was that their meeting was at a location that did not allow smoking. The chain smoking Chamberlain would have agreed to ANYTHING to get it over with and go out and have a smoke! ;)
He was interfering with a Flight Crew.
He should have been arrested.
So, he didn't mean all the terrible things he said...
He couldn't remember if he took a flight, didn't notice the tears, but did recall telling the crew to ignore his language. At least the US isn't the only country that's being embarrassed by their officials.
Kevin Rude?
That’s a true story about Chamberlain and Hitler. Hitler knew he was a smoker.
Montgomery didn’t like Ike to smoke, either.
King George would deliberately light up around Monty.
Typical Left Wing Whack Job.
If John Howard had been on that plane, he would have firmly told that punk Rudd to mind his manners.
And Rudd would have complied.
Howard is a man’s man, and not to be messed with.
America lost a good friend when Australia failed to return Howard to power.
She should have offered to put a little ear wax on it and Rudd would have been happy!
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