TPP leader’s gaffes
On Sunday afternoon, Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) Chairman and presidential candidate Ko Wen-je (柯文哲) spoke at a youth forum in Taipei along with TPP legislator-at-large nominees Chen Chao-tzu (陳昭姿) and Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌).
During the event Ko said that “men in Taipei go to bars for business, not for entertainment, because on Saturdays and Sundays they have to go home and pretend to be well-behaved.”
This remark has led many people to suspect that Ko is somewhat lacking in his awareness of morality and gender issues. His comment is seen as conveying a stereotype of male behavior and values, and as conveying a biased attitude toward men that is inaccurate and unfair.
However, Ko promptly changed his tune during an interview on the UFO Lunch radio program on Monday, in which he said that “many bars in Taipei are places for talking business and making deals.”
When reporters asked TPP vice presidential candidate Cynthia Wu (吳欣盈) what she thought about his comments, she replied with a laugh: “You know our chairman makes a lot of gaffes, so you do not need to dig this kind of hole for me to jump into.”
Wu said that she was concentrating on political standpoints and suggested that the media should go and ask Ko’s wife or other people close to him.
Why does Ko make so many verbal blunders?
Apart from what he said about bars, he has said discriminatory things about women and the LGBTQ+ community. As recently as Nov. 15, at a meet the presidential candidates event in Taipei, Ko said that he extended gender groups to include psychological, emotional and adaptive disorders.
As well as encouraging a discriminatory atmosphere with regard to sexually diverse and gender-diverse groups, this remark comes as a slap in the face for Taiwan’s awareness of gender equality.
As a political leader, surely Ko should set an example for the public. He should act like a leader and be a role model. He should think more carefully about what he is going to say each time he appears in front of the media and the public, and he should understand how heavily prejudiced words can weigh.
Ko’s words and deeds should demonstrate respect and support for social diversity rather than reinforcing stereotypes or convey prejudice, but as things stand his remarks might have a negative influence on society, especially on Taiwan’s society, which has been promoting gender equality and respect for diversity.
Ko is contending for the presidency, but the numerous discriminatory remarks he has made have already caused widespread social concern and controversy. His remarks have had a serious impact on people’s trust in him and their willingness to vote for him. They make people wonder whether he is fit to serve as president.
On the road toward next month’s election, Ko must act firmly to prove his commitment to Taiwan’s social diversity and equality.
Jeremy
Taipei
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