Even our politicians had a go
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has come under fire for saying United States presidential hopeful Donald Trump has "barking mad" views.
Mr Shorten also reiterated his concerns about Mr Trump's opinions and said they did not match mainstream Australian opinion.
"If you think that someone who says that Mexicans are killers and rapists, if you think that I can't have an opinion about someone who says about John McCain, 'Yes he's a war hero but Mr Trump prefers war heroes who aren't captured', you know, really," he said.
"We have a different world view.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said he would not be joining in the criticism of Mr Trump.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-27/bill-shorten-defends-comment-on-donald-trump/7452528
He said to do so would be contrary to Australia's national interest and would offend Americans.
"You can imagine how Australians would feel if an American president were to describe one of our prime ministerial aspirants as barking mad," Mr Turnbull said.
"You can imagine the resentment and ill will that would create."
But he stopped short of saying the remarks would damage or threaten Australia's relationship with the United States.
"It's an election and Americans understand elections very well, they have even longer elections than we have," Mr Turnbull said.
"Ill-judged remarks here and there are not going to put it at risk.
"But it's important for leaders to lead."
The Opposition said while Mr Turnbull might not want to criticise Mr Trump, other members of his party have been less circumspect.
In March, Coalition frontbencher Christopher Pyne said Mr Trump's growing popularity was "terrifying".
"I think the Donald Trump phenomenon is a real problem for the United States," he said at the time.
"It's making their democracy look kind of weird."
This is fairly typical
nothings REAL there. Where's those hard numbers that you were going all yakety yak about?
