Intelligencer

Intelligencer

June 26, 2008

Muck of the Irish?

“The Muck of the Irish” was the title of the column by New York Times/ International Herald Tribune op-ed columnist Roger Cohen last week on the Lisbon treaty vote in that country.

Cohen, who is English born, was not impressed with the audacity of the Irish to vote against the expansion of the powers of the super state.

He referred to Ireland as a “ beer soaked backwater” which had transformed itself into the Celtic tiger because of the European Union.

“Europeans have spent a lot of time in recent years asking Americans how they could be dumb enough to make the same mistake twice in electing George W. Bush. But when it comes to sheer electoral crassness, it’s hard to beat what the Irish have just done.” Cohen wrote.

“…Yet here we have the Irish, in a fit of Euro-bashing pique worthy of the worst of little-Englandism, rejecting the renegotiated Lisbon treaty.”

Oh dear. The very cheek of them. Seems Roger doesn’t believe in the power of the people to vote on exactly what they wish to see happen when it comes to their own lives.

Cohen’s column is available on line in the New York Times in America. I thought this kind of anti-Irish rant had gone out with the 90’s. Strange to see it in the usually so politically correct New York Times in particular.

Hillary Backers may Not Bite

Barack Obama will be meeting Hillary Clinton before a group of Hillary supporters in Washington on Thursday evening and several leading Irish supporters of Hillary will be there.

Remember over three million dollars was raised by Hillary Irish supporters, a major improvement over previous campaigns and proof once and for all that there is a very real Irish constituency out there for the right candidate. The question now is if Obama is that guy.

An informal poll by this columnist of the half dozen or so major Irish contributors to Hillary reveals there is deep ambivalence about supporting Obama among the big Irish hitters.

No one is saying that they won’t but the clear feeling is that the bruising battle with Obama has left a lot of people sore and also there is the question of whether Obama cares a whit about an Irish policy at this stage.

Some may be edging to McCain. “I can’t warm to him” said one big contributor referring to Obama. “I don’t see that he has paid his dues in the party or in terms of experience. I think he will have a tough time with many Irish Americans.”

Hillary supporters, especially the most committed, of course, will take some time to warm to Barack after the heated primary season. His move to put Hillary cast-off Patty Solis Doyle in charge of the Vice Presidential candidate’s office will also grate with many Clintonistas. It will be very interesting to see how this all plays out on Thursday.

Bill on the North

Speaking of the Clintons, Bill recently granted a one-hour interview to the Stephen Nolan program on his role in the Irish peace process.

It is certainly a time of his presidency that he remembers with great warmth. He made it clear to Nolan again that it was very much a personal decision to get involved in the issue.

“I’ve always been a person when I see something there that needs doing I believe I ought to try to do it and it was self-evident to me that this was a place where the United States might be trusted enough by both sides and might have enough Irish connections to both communities to make a positive difference.

I think that even when one side or the other disagreed with some position I took, they know that I wished them well, that I was pulling for them. And I really thought it was the right thing for them. It was the only thing that made,” he said.

By the way don’t rule out a trip to Ireland shortly by Bill and Hillary recuperating from the long campaign. Word is that Bill would like nothing better than a golfing holiday on the Emerald Isle with his many buddies over there. Hillary no doubt could relax and find time to recuperate from what was an amazing and grueling campaign.

Party Leaders for U.S.

Party leaders from Ireland will be all over the U.S in the next few weeks. First up this week is Enda Kenny, the Fine Gael leader who will attend a party fundraiser in Manhattan on Thursday night.

Kenny will also meet with Irish community leaders and visit the Aisling Center in Yonkers to meet with local officials there.

He will also have a meeting with the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform leadership to discuss the ongoing campaign with them.

Then in mid July, Taoiseach Brian Cowen will make his first U.S. appearance as Taoiseach, coming back to the city that he once worked in as a student.

Cowen will be guest of honor at the Wall Street 50 event hosted by our fellow publication Irish America Magazine. He will also have an extended schedule of events involving Wall Street and community meetings.

The timing is good for Cowen given the interest worldwide over Ireland’s vote against the Lisbon treaty. Already several leading media outlets have indicated interest in meeting with him.

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