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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > 96 percent in Ireland say they would vote for Obama in US election - Puzzled Americans ask why do Irish in Ireland dislike the GOP so much?

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

96 percent in Ireland say they would vote for Obama in US election - Puzzled Americans ask why do Irish in Ireland dislike the GOP so much?

Posted on Saturday, October 20, 2012 at 08:15 AM

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Mitt Romney and Barack Obama

A Gallup International poll has revealed that Irish, in Ireland, would vote 96-4 percent for Barack Obama over Mitt Romney.

That’s not a landslide it is an avalanche.

But it begs the question why Irish and Europeans in general see so little to like in the GOP candidates these days.

After all many Irish are Catholic conservatives fiercely opposed to abortion and feel issues like immigration into Ireland is destroying the country.

The business class in ireland would surely have far more in common with lower taxes and less government that the Republican Party espouses.

Yet despite that obvious affinity there is no support whatever for the Republican Party in Ireland.

I am always struck by this when talking to Irish politicians who in this country would be considered moderate conservatives but who have no time whatever for the GOP.

They blame George Bush and Ronald Reagan and American support for Israel.

Reagan first. During his war in Nicaragua against the Sandinistas Reagan alienated the Irish, especially the religious orders who had large numbers of nuns and priests working in poor neighborhoods there.

Read more US Election 2012 news stories here

There was a universal sense in Ireland of America the bully which cost the American image dear.

Now to Bush. The Iraq war and its aftermath was also a disaster for the perception of America abroad.

But perhaps nothing is more damaging than the perception by the GOP that the UN is a useless institution

While the UN maybe reviled in the U.S. in many circles, in Ireland it is seen as a very necessary international institution. It is the one way that a small country like Ireland can have an influence on great issues of the day. Irish troops who serve in UN peacekeeping missions are highly praised there and regarded with great pride. United Nations happenings are very closely reported.

There is huge animosity to the sense of America First, anti UN sense that the GOP foreign policy seems to foster.

Then there is the issue of Israel.

The overwhelming number of Irish identify with the Palestinians and draw many comparisons between their plight and the Irish under British rule.

America’s role as Israel’s defender come what may, especially in GOP circles, plays very badly in ireland.

On the other hand Obama is seen as an internationalist who seeks co-operation across borders and who sees the UN as a valuable institution.

I don’t see much changing in the future as long as the GOP continues to drift right.

That 96-4 figure may even shrink further for Republicans if the current anti GOP sense continues.

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AlunPalmer | Oct 21, 2012, 06:18 PM EDT

No surprise to me either. My mother voted Conservative in England but tells me she would never vote Republican. Same goes for me, although I voted Liberal half the time, but never Labour. Academic really, as I have never taken US citizenship and my mum lives in Spain! It show you how much further to the right American politics is when compared to Europe, though.

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Helen Ferone | Oct 21, 2012, 06:11 PM EDT

That's because they don't live in America. There's a lot we don't know about Obama and never will.

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pilib04 | Oct 21, 2012, 05:39 PM EDT

Absolutely no surprise, here, whatsoever. The Irish, are partial to their own. They took to Obama when he came to Ireland like fish to water. There was no warming up period, just genuine love and respect. Is feidir linn.

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hooligan6a | Oct 21, 2012, 05:32 PM EDT

I believe it. The majority of Irish are European Socialist. They want the government to take them. They have not learned how to stand on their own two feet and not depend on a government handout. I still have hope for you and will keep you in my prayers.

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Renelda M. | Oct 21, 2012, 05:25 PM EDT

As I see it, many dyed in the wool partisans just cannot or will not think outside the political box. They habitually or traditionally vote the party,not the person running for office.

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andydonegal | Oct 21, 2012, 04:43 PM EDT

I think many people in Ireland are, quite simply, disgusted at the antics of the GOP - a party bought and paid for by big business such as Koch Industries and the multi-millionaire Koch Brothers, who never stand for any public office but use their wealth to buy appropriate plebs to do their bidding. God knows we have our own crooks in politics here in Ireland [on both sides of the Border] but many reel in amazement at just how crooked the GOP is ... Romney's company Bain has heavily invested in the company that owns the voting machines in Ohio and other crucial States. Ryan forcing his way into a closed Soup Kitchen and had himself photographed washing clean pots - pretending he actually cared about those who need soup kitchens. Romney severely criticising Obama for saving the American auto industry, but quietly making a profit of at least $15M out of it. The list of GOP 'sins' just goes on and on - from the public denunciations of abortion while secretly forcing a mistress to have an abortion to calling those who, through no fault of their own, had their jobs exported to China and need assistance, moochers and [privately] labelling them as worthless of concern, to planning to deny, or at least make much more expensive, healthcare for millions - criticising Obamacare which not so long ago was Romneycare and, according to Romney himself, was worthy of being rolled out across the nation. There is simply neither integrity nor truth in the GOP manifesto. Perhaps the most odious aspect of the GOP is its veiled racism - they dislike Obama for no other reason than that he is black - but of course they lack the balls [and the honesty] to come out and say it!! America simply can't afford a Romney Presidency - neither can the rest of the world! The Irish are NOT turkeys who would vote for Thanksgiving ..... it's a tragedy that so many Americans seem content to be those turkeys!!!

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SpiffySean | Oct 21, 2012, 04:34 PM EDT

I'm just wondering who "Ragan" is?

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Change4hope | Oct 21, 2012, 04:21 PM EDT

I have no doubt that the percentage of Irish citizenry that would vote for Obama is high. So many of the comments that I see today speak about the UN and how wonderful it is, how the Irish relate to the Palestinians and how you are against US support for Israel. One fool even commented on how the UN should move to Belgium or some European country. I suggest Ireland. then you can absorb the costs of the deadbeat delegations. The US provides more support for the UN and its member nations than any other nation and is vilified in spite of it. Do I care that more people in Ireland would vote for Obama or that some of them think the US image has suffered? Not in the slightest! I could give a rat's a_ _ what a country that ostracized their own for fighting against Hitler's Germany in WWII thinks!

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Pregxi | Oct 21, 2012, 04:21 PM EDT

My great-grandmother came from Ireland and was a fierce Democrat; I find it interesting to see how family history can shape political views for generations. I wouldn't have guessed they supported Obama by that wide of a margin. That's pretty brutal. I do have to point this out (my philosophy professor asked us to correct any article that gets it wrong), it doesn't "beg the question" it "raises the question".

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Chlodagh | Oct 21, 2012, 03:51 PM EDT

@ MotherIrish. That is such a crock. If you speak to many Irish they are not even that familiar with our domestic policies (re: dole). This is based on two things. U.S. foreign policy and historical politics. I've actually been in houses in Ireland that still have dusty pictures of JFK up on the wall. Similarly there are many that still ask why Clinton can't be president again. Both Clinton and Kennedy have been influential for obvious reasons. Democratic presidents have long been heroes to the Irish, Obama included.

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patrickesq | Oct 21, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT

How can the Irish be so perceptive in their unity and the Americans so dim in their diversity!

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hollabackgurl | Oct 21, 2012, 03:23 PM EDT

I've voted for Obama early and I'm Irish so I guess the Irish people have a justified reputation for wisdom.

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Smyrnian | Oct 21, 2012, 03:06 PM EDT

Box- I have been here a big while longer than you and have lived in many states but hey, I respect your opinion. Maybe you are right, the younger, less experienced, less mature and less seasoned Irish may love Obama. I will concede your point.

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McNamara31 | Oct 21, 2012, 02:44 PM EDT

MotherIrish ..The truly great inspiration that America showed to the world was you could come here, stand on your two feet and succeed like you father and most other Irish; however if you were unfortunate in your quest for the American dream, and you became a widow or and orphan or contracted TB you had a nation with an ethic to take care of unfortunate. The difference is the Democrat platform has a place for the unfortunate and the GOP, like yourself feel as you said so condescendingly " they like being on the dole" And when it comes to the division and as you put it: "a country split like I have never seen" you can thank the distortion, outright smear, and vilification of this president and the people who support him. And lastly when you say "Give me a business man over a profession liberal politician" Truth be told instead of FOX prop, Romney as governor placed 47th in the nation for JOB CREATION. Give me a leader of the all people, not a corporate raider who'll be anyone you "want him to be" just to get your vote.

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Dompedro | Oct 21, 2012, 01:52 PM EDT

really surprised and dismayed by the partisanship and vitriol, but then you could ask. where have I been hiding the last few months? But Murph46 pretty well nailed it; his figures on employment, debt, debit, etc are U. S. Gov't numbers. Kibbey is concerned that American workers are being told that a Romney win would mean that they would lose their jobs; someone should tell him that 15% of us already have. CelticQueen says that when "they' are in power, we have wars. I checked a little: WWI, WWII, Korean War, Vietnam war. She may be very young or just the product of the modern US education system. Gorden the Hider says that the US destroyed that Irish economy; not any more than they destroyed the Greek or Portuguese economies. And he conveniently overlooks the Party to which Frank, Dodd, Schumer, Pelosi and other advocates of sub prime loans to poor people belong. Rpberts = Irish? more likely Welsh, Scots? and then the Irish and americans get advixce from those who don't live either place. Hey Sean, hpw ya doin'?

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