Fear and loathing of a David Norris presidency

Posted on Sunday, September 25, 2011 at 10:03 AM

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It's fashionable in right wing circles to moan about liberals promoting their political agendas (and candidates) in the media.

After all the media has a distinct liberal bias we're told - usually by the agents of Rupert Murdoch's unprecedented international media empire.

Take the conservative British broadsheet The Sunday Times for example. Yesterday evening John Burns, the Associate Editor of The Sunday Times, tweeted that he had six more letters from Irish presidential candidate David Norris pleading for clemency on behalf of his former partner Ezra Yitzhak to Israeli authorities (presumably).

'I predict it will have a big impact on (the) Norris campaign,' he wrote.

Here we go again. Trust The Sunday Times to have Ireland's best interests at heart. It's already being called the dirtiest presidential campaign in the Republic's history for good reason, so it's a bit nauseating to hear conservatives moan that Norris is being given special treatment in the press.

The fact is Norris is still being tarnished by association - in an unusually blunt and open manner - in an orchestrated mud spreading campaign by conservatives in the media and on social networks.

From the beginning he has been subjected to a level of scrutiny that no other candidate in the race has endured. So if you can discount the disgusting appeals to your worst nature, right now might be a moment to take a deep breath and remember who David Norris actually is (and is not): he's a distinguished academic, a state senator, a classic anglo Irish Protestant, an accomplished civil rights activist and an internationally renown Joycean.

Writing a letter of clemency on behalf of a former partner (whose mental health concerned him) is not the same thing as committing the statutory rape of a juvenile. I’m not arguing that Norris' made a prudent decision two decades ago but to equate what he has done to abuse of a minor is wrong.

Why haven't the press held Fine Gael's Gay Mitchell to a similar account after he plead for clemency for a man who committed a double murder? Where was the outrage and the orchestrated internet campaign to trumpet that?

And let's be honest, this Irish presidential season offers many more disquieting Pandora's boxes just waiting to be thrown open. Why haven't they been?

All of this may be forgotten by Friday. Because if - and it's a big if - Norris actually secures enough support to run, it's still by no means certain that the shadowy political forces gunning for him (they have already included pro-Israeli factions and the Irish right wing) will just step aside.

It doesn't take much imagination to picture phones ringing off the hook and irate party hacks barking orders to Oireachtas members.

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9 comments

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BARNEYKX | Oct 04, 2011, 06:19 PM EDT

the candidates have already cost the irish tax payer 10 million euro because they all would not use the same postal service for thier election mail this was discussed on rte,s liveline with Joe Duffy this week is someone getting a backhander out of this decision not to use the same postal service

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Suivness10 | Sep 26, 2011, 10:38 AM EDT

More power to Norris; I hope he makes it.

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eiriamach | Sep 25, 2011, 11:12 PM EDT

Strangely, and maybe just because Norris is such an interesting candidate, his campaign for the presidency reminds me of William F. Buckley's run for Mayor of New York City way back when.... A biographer of Mayor John Lindsey said about Buckley that he “lost the election but won the campaign.” Will that be true of Norris too?

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sirpeter | Sep 25, 2011, 08:57 PM EDT

Using his power and writing a letter of clemency on behalf of guy who is been done for having a man-boy relationship is wrong.First David was criticized for for his views on man-boy relationships and I felt that was fine because the interview appeared hypothetical.But a minor is a minor and that's child abuse and we can't have a guy who NOW obviously sees some justification in child abuse.The mental excuse is just an excuse to justify his actions.David what's going to come out of the woodwork if you get elected? You're not getting my vote because I'm not will to take the risk.Yes Norris!! I know!! But Martin hides his sh*t better then you.

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Skydiver2011 | Sep 25, 2011, 08:48 PM EDT

My Mother is Irish and father American, I grew up in America and am a regestered Republican. I live part time in Ireland now with my Irish partner. She also suports David Norris ... OH and yes I did vote for President Bush both times... I read what Norris ecconomic politics are and they are the same as President Bush's were with ecconomic stimulous which was successful until the democrats in America took over the house and the senate in 2006 and screwed everything up and blamed Bush for their destruction of American ecconommics. President Bush had no more power after 2006 as the House and the Senate were controled by the democrats and President Bush had no Veto power... SO AGAIN AFTER READING DAVID NORRIS POLITICAL AGENDA... HE WOULD BE THE BETTER MAN IN THE IRISH HOUSE... OH AND AS FOR BEING GAY??? THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN AMERICA HAS A GAY BRANCH AS WELL CALLED THE LOG CABIN REPUBLICANS... THE MEDIA ONLY PROMOTES THE LIBRAL GAY COMMUNITY AND PAYS NO ATTENTION TO THE PRO CAPITALIST AGENDA... If you dont support Capitalism and complain about not having a job... maybe there is somthing wrong with your thinking and you should change your mind...As you can see Socialism doesnt work and neither do you!!!

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rugbyplayer | Sep 25, 2011, 04:51 PM EDT

David Norris for President of Ireland! Yes. I also admire Martin McGuinness. Either candidate would make a splendid choice. Besides aren't Presidents of Ireland more figureheads than actual policy makers? I thought that was the job of a Prime Minister. Or am I wrong?

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Towngate | Sep 25, 2011, 01:25 PM EDT

Thanks for a very fine and fair article,Cahir. If the political machine and unfair selection procedures deny him, Norris will always be remembered as the Popular Choice denied.~~~ I hope Bailey2000 is right. With Sinn Fein cowardly propping up Martin McGunless as an 'Independant', ~ hopefully the Electorate won't be fooled by that, and David and the others should get a fair shake!

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Bailey2000 | Sep 25, 2011, 01:04 PM EDT

Martin McGuinness has made Norris a dead cert for President. Whatever faults Norris has, and honetsly they are pretty minor, he hasn't ever murdered. If the Irish electorate knew one thing about Norris, it was that he is gay. If you couldn't vote for a gay President then you were never going to support him....until now. Now its stop McGuinness time!

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mcdolan | Sep 25, 2011, 10:15 AM EDT

Well put, Cathir! I was involved as a staff assistant in the US Senate for a number of years and, believe me, these kinds of letters are written all the time, and I can only make an somewhat experienced best guess that it is done in politics worldwide. Was it imprudent? Not at the time Norris did it, and I am certain it was done in sympathy for his former friend. People conveniently overlook that he was not asking for the charges to be dropped, he was asking for clemency of sentence. And at the end of the day, this was not rape in the violent sense of the word, the man was convicted of having sex with an under-age, willing participant. Do we all do things that in retrospect have come back to haunt us? Undoubtedly. But David Norris's record will overcome a lapse in judgement (in hindsight) which is all that this is about. He is being drawn over the goals in a slimy battle to unseat his popularity with the people.

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