Latham full of bile, Oakes says

Nine's political editor, Laurie Oakes, says former Labor leader-turned-journalist
Mark Latham is full of bile and could be damaging to the network's reputation.
Mr Oakes said the network was right to apologise to Prime Minister Julia Gillard
over the "ugly incident" with Mr Latham, who is producing a segment for its 60
Minutes program.
"Nine CEO David Gyngell was right to say Mark Latham crossed the line and to
apologise," Mr Oakes said on Sunday.
"The trouble is that I am not sure Mark Latham knows where the line is.
"He's not a journalist; he's still full of bile and settling old scores. I don't
really think it does 60 Minutes or the network much of a favour really to have him
posing as a journalist."
When asked how damaging Mr Latham was for Labor during the election campaign, Mr
Oakes said he was "more concerned with how damaging he is for the Nine Network".
The confrontation occurred as Ms Gillard was doing the rounds and meeting patrons at
Brisbane's Ekka show on Saturday.
Mr Latham asked why Labor had complained to the network about his presence.
A smiling Ms Gillard responded: "I don't know anything about that, Mark. If you want
to work for Channel Nine, that's a matter for you."
Mr Latham then suggested his one-time Labor ally speak out against former prime
minister Kevin Rudd for trying to sabotage her campaign.
"Have a dig at him," he told her.
But Ms Gillard merely laughed and wished him well with his journalistic endeavours.
Hours later Mr Gyngell issued a statement saying he had personally apologised to Ms
Gillard on behalf of the network, saying Mr Latham's conduct was inappropriate.
"I'm all for freedom of speech and robust scrutiny of our public figures, but my
strong view of today's exchange is that it crossed the line," he said in a
statement.
"The prime minister of Australia, whomever that might be and whatever their
political stripe, deserves to be treated with a due level of respect.
"I think that was missing today."