But the Liberal Democrats senator for NSW said critics should "get real" and that it was "absolute crap" to expect politicians not to say things an ordinary voter wouldn't say. "I don't remember [writing] it but I don't give a f--- if I did," he said. "Get real, Australians are rude about their elected politicians," he said. "Calling Gillard a mangy dog is mild and absolutely nothing compared to what others have said about her and what people say about Tony Abbott," Senator Leyonhjelm said. "I mean the Abbott-hating industry is massive, so its total hypocrisy to say that something I said four years ago shouldn't have been said because I'm now a senator."

The comments about Ms Gillard were beneath an article about the passage of the carbon tax. A post attributed to "DavidLeyonhjelm" said: "Every dog has its day, including mangy dogs like Gillard. History won't remember her for the carbon tax but for leading Labor to the biggest defeat ever." Supporters of Ms Gillard say part of the political backlash her government experienced was partly due to sexism and misogyny. Ms Gillard accused her opponent, the then opposition leader Tony Abbott, of being a misogynist in a speech that became a hallmark of her time as the nation's first female prime minister. Labor's health spokeswoman Catherine King attacked Senator Leyonhjelm for another of his posts in which she said he trivialised the serious issue that is breast cancer. Under a Catallaxy Files article titled "Feel a boob day", "DavidLeyonhjelm" wrote "It's not enough to perve. Detecting breast cancer requires palpation." "One of the best ways to do this is to bet a woman 20 cents you can make her tits wobble without touching them. After a minute or so of close up staring at them, you grab them with both hands and make them wobble. Of course you then give her the 20 cents. It's a small price to pay for reducing breast cancer."

Senator Leyonhjelm admitted making the second comment, saying this was a "longstanding joke" between him and his wife as it had actually happened to her in real life and urged others to see the humour. "At the time a guy actually did it to her, she giggled but I think I found it more amusing than she did," he said. "Have you ever heard of FTITCTAJ? F--- Them If They Can't Take A Joke," he said. But Ms King said it was no laughing matter. "Breast cancer is a tragic disease which takes a terrible toll on Australian women," said Ms King. "Every day in Australia, on average, 40 women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and 8 women will die of this disease.

"I cannot comprehend how anyone could make light of this in such a degrading, and juvenile fashion. Liberal senator for the ACT Zed Seselja said Senator Leyonhjelm needed to take the job more seriously. "It's important that political leaders take seriously their responsibilities, this sometimes includes owning up when you get it wrong and not dismissing legitimate questions about past comments," he said. Follow Latika Bourke on Facebook Follow us on Twitter