Labor MP Raps About Carbon Tax, Murders Rock And Roll

Are you sitting comfortably? Good, because things are about to get surreal.

In a case of seriously bad judgement, or simply thinking ‘well, it worked for Obama…’; Craig Emerson, Labor’s Minister for Trade and Competitiveness, thought it would be a good idea to sing his response to questions about the carbon tax debate.

During an ABC News interview on the lawns of Parliament House in Canberra today, Dr Emerson was asked about the mood in Whyalla – the town Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has previoulsy said would be “wiped off the map” if the controversial new carbon tax was to be officially introduced.

Emerson’s illogical response? “This is the mood in Whyalla…”

A version of Skyhooks’ 1975 song, “Horror Movie” begins to play over an unidentified device as Emerson begins what can only be described as some very cringe-worthy wobbling that passes as dance moves. That’s before the real coup de grâce begins, as Emerson begins dropping his own – desperately out-of-time – semi-rap. Changing his own lyrics to the original to:

“No Whyalla wipe-out, right there on my TV. No Whyalla wipe-out, right there on my TV,” he belts out. “No Whyalla wipe-out, right there on my TV, shocking me right out of my brain. Shocking me right out of my brain.”

Aside from the searing question of ‘is this really happening?’ and ‘Why!?’ – one has to wonder who thought this was a good idea. Was it Emerson himself? Or someone else with a disastrous lack of foresight with their finger severely lacking any sense of pulse?

Keep in mind, this is one of the men who is running our country…

A question for the ages perhaps, enjoy the especially bizarre moment in all its painful glory below: