How to be subtle with ‘shut up’
For a long time, the opposition was accustomed to shouting and yelling at a head of state in the National House of Chaos — and getting a giggle in response. Things have changed since we got a Buffalo as No 1. Desperate Alliance chief whip John Steenhuisen learnt this when he found himself on the receiving end of a presidential slapdown during McBuffalo’s reply to questions on the minimum wage. “Shut up, you, Steenhuisen, and listen!” McBuffalo retorted after Steenhuisen interjected.
McBuffalo had to withdraw the “shut up” — but not without a lecture.
“I did say shut up and I’ve withdrawn that. Possibly I should have said: ‘Mr Steenhuisen, please keep quiet while I talk.’ So in future, Mr Steenhuisen, and I’m saying it very calmly: ‘Please keep quiet, I’m talking.’ ”