Is the Women’s Weekly campaigning for Labor?

Late Tuesday afternoon. I walk into the newsagent and purchase my first copy of The Australian Women’s Weekly (not that there’s anything wrong with that). But just to reassure male readers I offset it with four hunting/fishing magazines.

Obviously, I’m not the only one intrigued by the Tony Abbott interview. But let’s begin with the Women Weekly’s opening message to readers. Editor-and-Chief Helen McCabe types (p.9):

So, does he [Abbott] have a problem with women? I don’t think so, but there are certainly women who have a problem with him. I suspect the profile (see page 18) won’t change anyone’s opinion about Tony Abbott, but I hope it sheds some light on the alternative prime minister, as we prepare to go [sic] the polls again this year.

Apparently, Rudd is loved by all.

Still, the article is suspiciously political for a supposed neutral magazine. Just listing Abbott’s various positions on (a) abortion – a controversial topic; (b) contraception – a controversial topic; (c) sex before marriage – a controversial topic; (d) “gay marriage” – a controversial topic; (e) IVF for same-sex couples – a controversial topic; (f) piercings – a controversial topic; (g) alcohol – a controversial topic; (h) drugs – a controversial topic….and so on….looks like Catholic-baiting.

Now I’m not certain if The Australian Women’s Weekly is The Labor Party’s Women’s Weekly, but I wonder if Rudd’s various positions have been scrutinised in a similar fashion. So have they?

Bizarrely, the negative words of an unnamed blogger and comments on other so-called women’s websites are used to stress the point: Catholic Abbott is a divisive figure. And we read some anti-Abbott points from the seasonal vegetarian, Mia Freedman, a politically-correct blogger.

In an election year I want to know if Rudd will be given the Abbott treatment. Will The Australian Women’s Weekly list his views on abortion, contraception, sex before marriage, “gay marriage”, IVF for same sex couples, piercings, alcohol and drugs? Will Editor-in-Chief Helen McCabe run a piece with unnamed right-wing bloggers and their views on Kevin Rudd? Will The Australian Women’s Weekly draw our eyes to Andrew Bolt’s views on Rudd, to offset Mia Freedman’s leftwing views?

Maybe McCabe tried to convince herself, “Okay, I need to run a hit piece on Abbott but I don’t want to look bitchy.” And yet, bitchy is the first word that comes to mind. The Women’s Weekly is campaigning for Labor.

Ben-Peter Terpstra is an Australian satirist who blogs at Pizza Trays And Beer Bottles. You’ll find more revealing passages like the above at his Quote Digger blog.