Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) members were outraged at a remark by KMT Chairman Lien Chan (
Lien said yesterday that he did not insinuate anything or have specific KMT members in mind.
He was referring to an exchange on Saturday during his visit to Tainan and Kaohsiung, his first trip outside Taipei since the presidential election.
During a chat with lawyers in Kaohsiung taking part in the vote recount, one of them said to Lien that KMT members who resisted the party's move to hold protest rallies or urged the party to accept its defeat in the presidential election are "wimps."
Lien agreed and said that those wimps should leave the party.
"When someone voiced his opinion and concern about [the KMT having wimpy members], we of course have to make a response to that," Lien said. "His question was not directed at certain individuals and my answer was not directed at anyone specific either."
Lien's remarks elicited an uproar among a number of KMT legislators, who yesterday said the party chairman's remarks were inappropriate.
KMT Legislator Apollo Chen (陳學聖) said that Lien should not regard those who harbored different views as "wimps."
"Lien's remarks lacked consideration and were hurtful to party comrades," said Chen, whose remarks were echoed by fellow KMT Legislator Chang Chang-tsai (
Another KMT legislator, Hsu Chung-hsiung (
Saying that the party now more than ever needs to stay united, KMT Vice Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung (吳伯雄) yesterday called on fellow party members not to dwell on the topic.
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