Aso makes verbal gaffe about elderly as politicians stump around

Sunday 26th July, 06:36 AM JST

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dr_jones at 11:54 AM JST - 26th July

Gaffe: If somebody says what he thinks Hypocrisy: If somebody hides what he thinks

I like people who say what they think! Help Japan! Send your elders to Hokkaido!
cleo at 12:19 PM JST - 26th July

I have it on good authority that Taro Aso isn't an LDP politician, he's actually a robot planted by the DPJ and programmed to wreck the LDP from within. :-)

Dissing the oldies???? What LDP pollie with half a brain cell would even contemplate doing such a thing? He's just alienated his largest, most loyal (up till now) voting block, and that after throwing their pensions away, fiddling with their health insurance and reminding them that they haven't long to go anyway. Now all he needs to do is diss the farmers, and the LDP can kiss goodbye to any last tiny chance they might have thought they had.
presto345 at 12:59 PM JST - 26th July

Well, maybe I am wrong. But Aso busting is not my sport. To some people it must feel really good to discredit others. I see plenty of it here. The way I see it is that the PM does not mean to insult his fellow men, whatever age group they belong to. It's just his communication and verbal skills are not that developed. The media are all over this man watching and listening intently so they can have something to write about in their pathetic columns and stir up controversy. Apparently they have nothing better to do. Pretty damn low if you ask me. What the prime minister wanted to say was that the elderly can and will still be very useful. Many of them can still work and do helpful things for society. I would guess most people over 80 are no longer interested in the kind of playing around that keeps people half that age occupied. You fill in the void about 'the kind of . . .' Give Aso a break. He is definitely not insincere. Politics in Japan seem to be about trying to destroy and discredit one's peers, trying to grab control for oneself. Not about trying one's utmost to serve the public, in spite of all the dressing in, like, 'kokumin no tame ni', etc.
bobbafett at 01:48 PM JST - 26th July

Aso has just insulted the LDP's last solid voter block

Unfortunately that is incorrect. The LDPs solid voter block is people in the countryside where elderly people still work in the fields, turn out to vote in large numbers, and probably agree with Aso.
Peaceful_Man at 01:51 PM JST - 26th July

Just the kind of comment from a person who has lived in a cocoon all his life - shielded from society - believing his born right to lead. I blame those who voted for him. He stands in a seat where he has never really lived - just his ancesters' legacy keeps him in power.
smithinjapan at 02:17 PM JST - 26th July

Alphaape: "Silly comment, but you can't blams Aso for this one. In some cases it's true."

We actually agree. I would say in nearly all cases, in fact.

Before coming to Japan, I had never had a conversation with someone who was 'retired' about their job.
GW at 04:52 PM JST - 26th July

cleo

actually aso has insulted the farmers as most are way up there age wise, I was at a friends hanami party(hasu) last night, everyone were farmers except one teacher & I was sitting feeling like a teenager & I am closer to 50 than 40, not many young farmers yet.

presto,

Aso may be sincere but it doesnt matter as he simply is unable to communicate worth a damn & doesnt appear to much intelligence if any, and what else has the media to report anyway, aint much happening here
womanforwomen at 06:01 PM JST - 26th July

if not, all he can do is go to the corner karaoke pub with run by the old mama-san and drink and sing.

isn't the old mama-san species getting extinct..

So Aso can think of some other way to keep the elderly busy.
Simon_Foston at 06:15 PM JST - 26th July

Apparently Hiroyuki Hosoda also had to apologize for saying that the media portrayed the LDP as being in disarray because the public wanted to see it that way, which "may reflect on the grade of the people." In other words, Hosoda thinks the Japanese public are a bunch of scabby proles. Charming, eh?
sharky1 at 07:05 PM JST - 26th July

In another speech he gave later in the day in Sendai, northeastern Japan, Aso explained that his comments ‘‘appear to have caused a misunderstanding,’’

I think it is Aso's misunderstanding that caused his comments...
bamboohat at 07:36 PM JST - 26th July

It seems like he made another slip of the tongue.’’

No, slip of the tongue is when you say SH!T, instead of SHOOT when you are on camera, and realize your mistake and immediately apologize.

This is Aso once again merely verbalizing those crazy thoughts up in his head.
rajakumar at 08:29 PM JST - 26th July

Aso and Hatoyama,take dig on elderly issues in japan and for their votes.

Hatoyama say its up to elderly whether they want to work,good point Hatoyama.

Aso and Hatoyama strategy to win,need more hot debates on more issues of japan and the LDP/DPJ policies.
souryeki at 09:40 PM JST - 26th July

Laugh Out Loud

Now heres a kick-off jump start for the elections campaign !
telecasterplayer at 12:54 AM JST - 27th July

Aso himself being elderly by any definition of the word.
Ninjazilla at 01:51 AM JST - 27th July

isnt "verbal gaffe" a bit redundant?