Kerry’s New Statement

SENATOR John Kerry’s new statement on Ireland is possibly the most comprehensive and thorough of any ever released by a candidate running for president of the U.S. 

Kerry’s previous statement which was carried on the Irish American Democrats’ website and also by the Irish American Unity Conference was a poor attempt apparently done by a low level staffer, but give the campaign credit for catching on to what was needed.

Why are these statements important? Just ask former President Bill Clinton, who parlayed his position during the 1992 campaign into a massive role in the success of the Irish peace process. Without that first outreach it is likely that nothing else would have happened, and the issue of Ireland would have been consigned to the also-ran list as so many times before. 

We now know that will not happen with Kerry. We also know that President Bush has appointed another excellent envoy in Mitchell Reiss to the Irish job, following on the hard work of Richard Haass who is no longer with the State Department.

Thus it appears that the two men who now look very likely to compete against each other for the title of most powerful man on earth in November will have strong positions on Ireland at a critical time for the peace process.

Kerry is critical of Bush in one respect in his statement, that of not appointing an ambassador to Ireland for almost a full year after Richard Egan, the incumbent, left. The criticism is justified, but it is far less important than the fact that Bush moved quickly to appoint a replacement for Haass when he left to become head of the Council on Foreign Relations in New York.

The most important part of the Kerry statement refers to the Democratic Unionist Party led by Rev. Ian Paisley. It reads, “The DUP cannot be permitted to disenfranchise half of the population of Northern Ireland by refusing to form a government with Sinn Fein. It must be remembered that 70% of Northern Ireland’s citizens voted for pro-Agreement parties. All other aspects of the Agreement should continue to be fully implemented and not put on hold while discussions continue.”

Precisely. Kerry has got it in one succinct paragraph. As long as Paisley and company believe they have the right to alter or shun the Good Friday Agreement, then there can be no real progress in Northern Ireland.

Of course, Paisley and company will go as far as they can to obstruct the process, because that is what they are about at heart. However, if any American president states clearly that the U.S. will not be party to such a hold up that will be a very important step.

Kerry also states that he is aware of the deportee cases and will “pay close attention to how those cases develop over the coming year.” That again is a very important provision for Irish Americans. 

We currently have three cases where this Justice Department has trampled on the rights of Irishmen who were living in America and who thought their deportation proceedings were effectively suspended as was promised by the Clinton administration to several of their colleagues because of the peace process.

Instead they have fallen foul of a Justice Department that thinks nothing of ripping law-abiding men from their homes and families. It is important that Kerry has made clear that such cases will be scrutinized by his administration if he is elected. 

As a Massachusetts pol who was considered Irish most of his political life, Kerry has no doubt learned about most Irish issues. That certainly puts him in a better position than all the other candidates for the nomination who come to the issue fresh. His statement is a powerful expression of support for the Irish American community and is to be welcomed.