What the ambassador told the ABC about Trump while off the air
The US’s former ambassador to Australia, Jeffrey Bleich, was always a popular figure Down Under, so Dr Mumbo has some good news for his fans. Mr Bleich must be getting ready to move back to the southern hemisphere…
While the allegiances of the longtime Barrack Obama loyalist probably wouldn’t have come as a surprise, diplomats are supposed to keep up a veneer of political neutrality.
Which Bleich managed to do during a cross with the ABC’s 7.30 back in October, while chatting about the presidential race between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton.
But off the air, it was a slightly different matter. After wrapping up his chat with journo Hayden Cooper, Bleich made that traditional promise of the influential to leave America if Trump won.
Luckily, Dr Mumbo has the tape.
After the formalities wrapped up, Bleich told Cooper: “I think that was about as neutral and as ambassadorial as I could be. Trust me, Hayden, if he wins, I’m moving back to Australia. Find a room for me.
“And don’t air that.”
Sadly, as Jacketgate’s Amber Sherlock could have told him, the old saying “Always treat the microphone as live” is there for a reason.
Dr Mumbo will be waiting at Sydney Airport’s arrivals gate to welcome you back, Mr Bleich.
‘ABC’s leaked Trump video’ on your email subject line….. and this nothing story…. click bait! Fake News! whatever you want to call it
the swamp is self draining
To publish this article and air the video is in extremely poor taste. Whilst off-air videos are often published/leaked which at times is a questionable practice, to publish this video where Jeffrey Bleich specifically requests for it not to be aired is a complete DISGRACE, lift your game Dr Mumbo and don’t join that “race to the bottom”. While you’re at it a published apology to Jeffrey Bleich wouldn’t hurt either.
Airing this tape is pretty poor form. It reduces candid relationships.
What an extraordinary piece of appalling ‘journalism’. You have in one click bait piece destroyed your own reputation.
Really? A non-story. And I agree with other who’ve said that you should have respected his expressed desire for privacy. Quite different to the Sherlock case
The question is how this got out. I wouldn’t be rushing to appear on 7.30 or talk to old Hayden about anything if off the record comments are distributed to media. Really poor form by the ABC and a bit questionable of you guys to run it.
Wow … I didn’t know there were so many holier-than-thou people in the advertising industry. Then again, Mumbrella comments are being noticeably infiltrated by people who have nothing to do with the industry lately, so it’s probably them.
If Hayden leaked the tape, then he should be immediately sacked. A HUGE breach of confidentiality. Mumbrella should not have published either to respect the Ambassador’s explicit request.
Ugh really… why would you post this? You’re embarrassing yourself, Mumbrella.
Hi Nick,
Thanks for your comment.
Where we have a duty of confidentiality to somebody we always respect it.
When we do not – and we don’t in this case – where something takes place in a professional setting, our default would be to disclosure.
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
So Tim, what do you think will happen to Jeffrey now?
Given that these days he’s a partner in a law firm, nothing at all.
I’m fairly sure that Donald Trump isn’t going to forcibly extradite him to Australia. What do you think?
Cheers,
Tim – Mumbrella
Oh yeah, what an unprofessional thing to do … the Ambassador that is.
Why post this? Because it’s something somebody doesn’t want to be published. That’s one of the key definitions of news.
And you published it because? No respect…there was an element of trust here that has been completely dishonoured. I have been in media for a long time – where are your ethics Mumbrella? Or are you of the belief that if it was said out loud it is useable? A request is a request and should be respected and honoured. I shall remember not to trust you with anything…
So you go “by the book” and not “by the human”…relationships are not important to you – sensationalism is?
Perhaps not holier than thou – perhaps – look after humans first…and I had a lot to do with the industry…
I doubt so too. But this will be an awkwardness that he no doubt doesn’t need or want. More importantly, I think that you don’t care about people you ‘report on’ as long as it gets people to read your material.
Poor form Tim. On the back of Amber Sherlock story last week. Good for you that you have friended some folks in production who send you stuff they shouldn’t, but it’s a very lazy and cynical approach to reporting ‘news’. Get off your arses and go and get a story worth reporting.
If someone says to not air this, and then you go ahead and do the opposite, that just doesn’t sit right with me. That’s dirty behaviour.
(Edited under Mumbrella’s comment moderation policy)
whoa ! what a disgraceful breach of trust by Mumbrella and the ABC…. and regardless of whatever bullshit rationalisation you try and spin about public interest or justifying the post simply BECAUSE someone didnt want it posted on the flimsiest justification of that being “one of the key definitions of news” ?? is it any wonder politicians and public figures use such anodyne language when speaking to the press ? …. they can’t trust them on or off the record
In this thread: People commenting on a media website who don’t understand what media does
What does the viewer gain from this aside from some titillation? Nothing in my opinion. It’s not news and it’s harmful.
TIM,
Sadly you have it wrong this time. It was made clear the comments were off the record.
I am a big fan but…….
Sorry, but I tend to agree with the comments here. Pretty poor form to publish this video Mumbrella. Really comes down to a question of ethics and journalistic professionalism, which is clearly lacking in not only publishing this story in the first place, but then trying to justify your actions once called out as being inapppripriate.
The question really should be is it Newsworthy? That a known Obama appointee might off the cuff and when they believed they were off air say something potentially negative about a candidate for the opposing party . I don’t think it is. I think publishing this is just purely designed to embarrass the former ambassador and that’s no really a good enough reason.
Mumbrella – Great format – pleased to have found you – sick and tired of PC and stupid ranters and squealers articles comments and fake news pages – Report bit as it is . . Thank you – Chris
There are a suspicious amount of trolls on this thread. Mumbrella – continue to keep the bstrds honest and the mainstream informed – keep going doing good things.