Conservative Politician has too much Pride to be Disabled

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A former Australian tennis player and conservative politician has angered the disabled community in Australia.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z51T67Abs3
Alexander was celebrating a by-election victory for the seat of Bennelong when asked about recovering from a tennis back injury he told a jubilant conservative crowd that "reflecting on his golden years as a tennis professional he was once eligible for a disability parking permit following a back injury - but said he had 'too much pride' to use it."

The comment has angered Australians who use disabled parking stickers as he (Alexander) suggests the disabled have no pride. It never ceases to amaze me how narrow minded and backward social conservatives are and what thoughts float around in their little heads

So since him being a conservative is highlighted, does that mean liberals are ultra touchy and get offended by every little thing?

I'm disabled to the point where I need a wheelchair at times. Wtf does his personal pride have to do with anyone else.

And personally I prefer that the tag not be used most of the time when I'm taken places and regular parking is used.

But I won't say why, if people are going to flip out over my personal attitude regarding my personal business.

I don't feel there's anything particularly egregious in somebody saying they have "too much pride" to obtain a disability permit. It's not the smartest thing to say, though.

If I was disabled enough to get a parking permit, I would get one----no "pride" there.

I did refuse the accommodations offered to me while I attended college. I didn't feel like I needed them---and I found it a real hassle to have to go up to each professor I had, and tell him/her I needed accommodations.

To me personally it's just one more thing that keeps me from being like everyone else.

And since I like going for walks, it just doesn't seem justified in my case. I'm good for up to a whole hour of steadily walking with my braces on, so I can manage walking across a parking lot.

But that's me and only about me and not anyone else.

I realise in retrospect that he probably wasn't intending to vilify the disabled, however what he said didn't come out right.

a number of prominent people with disabilities are not impressed either
http://www.news.com.au/national/nsw-act ... 52ce5c0eec

I guess the whole thing is really politics. Later on in another election it will go around that he said disabled people should be ashamed of themselves or said that they're lazy or whatever. It's really just about smearing the guy.

Perhaps he doesn't feel Disabled enough to use the sticker to take advantage of the parking space, and leaves the space so somebody who has a greater disability than he can use it. --All it is is a matter of perspective in looking at this.

Perhaps the Disabled community of Australia should check his reasoning behind his actions before jumping to conclusions and creating a bunch of drama over it.

This is silly. It's a common thing to say, especially when you're embarrassed.