Didn't take long for Alan Jones to start blaming everyone else - including the journalist

Reluctant as I am to have his visage on my blog, this shot fits perfectly...

The almost unanimous condemnation of the atrocious comments by talk radio 'shock jock' Alan Jones appear to have achieved precisely what a number of commentators predicted: a faux apology, followed shortly thereafter by blame-shifting to everyone else, in this pathetic attempt at defence in News Corp media.

And foremost of course on the blame list is the journalist who had the temerity to pay for a ticket to an open-invitation Liberal Party fundraising event, to use a private email address, attend that event, and - oh my gosh - record the speech being given at that public event. Even the Listening Devices Act (NSW) gets a look-in. Sorry Jones - a public address is not a "private discussion". (I've had cause to study that piece of deliberately vague law-making myself...)

Along the way, the blame shifting gets spread or implied on:

• the Prime Minister for refusing to take his call so he could faux apologise in person
• emissions trading for obviously justifying his utterances
• science, for daring to suggest that CO2 could be a pollutant
• social media and its users - and an ALP Minister's wife - for saying unkind things about Alan Jones, because - you know - just because one can dish it out by the sluice bucket doesn't mean having it come back at you doesn't really really hurt
• grocery watch, fuel watch, carbon tax, asylum seekers, a carbon tax floor price, debt and pink batts, because...you know
• of course there was the tasteless person at the earlier party who apparently came up with his lines, because being a little naive, how was he to realise how offensive they were
• and the whole humourless world in general for not recognising that undergraduate evenings are raucous affairs where anything goes.

But it really doesn't matter, because the whole beat-up was just:

"inspired by a ruthless determination to silence legitimate comment and condemnation of government policy...to silence or punish anyone who dares to articulate one political certainty."

Surely this is the most poignant line of his whole defence:

"What I am suggesting is that some seem to practise the standards they selectively condemn."

Yes - that warrants serious consideration. Because this guy's THE EXPERT at that. Perhaps people should apply more thought before racing down to his level. Because it's seriously mucky down there in the sewer.

You'll note that the News Corp websites all have Comments turned off for this particular article. Figures.

UPDATE: It seems the sponsors/advertisers are starting to feel the heat and are bailing. Mercedes Benz and Freedom Furniture are no small victories for common sense.

And some radio stations too. Perhaps it is time we in Canberra started asking questions of our own 2CC? They have him on every day. Twice! Here's their email address: info@2cc.net.au.

Oh, and this photo is just to precious to pass on:

UPDATE 2: Triple J have posted this charming little bit of Alan Jones audio. And you thought Kevin Rudd's outburst was something? Must be fun to work with... [Strong language warning.]