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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Clinton wedding invites for Kennedys, Bagley but other Irish left out

Posted on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 11:58 PM
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Those Irish left off the Chelsea Clinton wedding invitation list are far from pleased.

The final number of guests is 400 , a small fraction of the massive rolodexes that Bill and Hillary have.

Some Irish Americans spoken to who were omitted are none too pleased.

None would identify themselves, but clearly felt aggrieved.

One rather strangely pointed out that Chelsea did her master's thesis at Stanford on the Irish peace process, a clear sign that the Irish were of considerable importance to her.

Irish Americans known to be on the list include Ambassador Elizabeth Frawley Bagley and Vicki Kennedy, widow of Ted.

Vicki is one of three Kennedys invited according to my source. The other two were not named but it is reasonable to assume that one is Caroline Kennedy.

Elizabeth Bagley and her late husband Smith were at the very top of the list of major fundraisers for both Clintons but also had forged deep friendships with the Clintons.

Bagley will skip the American Ireland Fund event on Nantucket she usually heads up to attend the wedding.

Meanwhile some Irish American confidantes of the Clintons were still holding out forlorn hopes of last second invitaitons.

The mail man's comings and goings will be studied intently this week in several quarters.

I wouldn't hold my breath however.



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38 comments

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beachline | Jul 25, 2010, 01:49 PM EDT
The guest list is for FRIENDS and close associates. Nationality has nothing to do with it. Get over yourself Neill and Patrick. Stop trying to make this a political event, it is a private ceremony for family and close friends of the bride and groom.

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Searlit | Jul 25, 2010, 01:04 PM EDT
YoungPike: Maybe we like to call ourselves Irish-whatever kind of heritage we have, because England still acts like we're their colonists. The Bank of England is one of the banks in control of printing our money through the Federal Reserve. Yes, after all that fighting for independence, a secret act was passed in 1907 establishing the Federal Reserve. Best wishes to Chelsea and her husband to be! Four hundred, is alot of people!

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McNamara31 | Jul 25, 2010, 01:02 PM EDT
You can have an opinion about the Clinton’s politics, but one thing can be said, Chelsea has never cast a bit or negativity or disgrace on her parents. She’s a credit to the both of them, and in the end “they” must have done something right.

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SyndiHolmes | Jul 25, 2010, 12:48 PM EDT
It is Ms. Clinton's marriage, and as a private citizen, it is her personal celebration; it is not a state event. All the uninvited need to get real and simply wish her well. Maybe they can score invites to Prince William's state wedding whenever that occurs.

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McNamara31 | Jul 25, 2010, 12:38 PM EDT
@YoungPike You stated, What is all this "Irish American" nonsense? You're either an American or you're not! All of us in Ireland and the United Kingdom find this Irish-American label to be ridiculous.********As one who has spent time in both countries, you have very little understanding of why people identify themselves in this way. We didn't leave because we were going on some sunny vacation to the islands. Our ancestors left because of extreme hardship and loss. Many of us use the term Irish- American in respect for what "they" gave for "us".

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Nicomax | Jul 25, 2010, 12:22 PM EDT
Those not invited have a fall-back position. The Clintons have worked out an arrangement with the Palins to offer those not on Chelsea's list to be high on Bristol and Levi's list.

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phoenixnurse | Jul 25, 2010, 12:10 PM EDT
It's Chelsea's Wedding, not her parents! She want's to keep it small and intimate with just closest friends and relatives.... there is nothing wrong with that! I am sure there are hundreds who wish they were on the guest list..but you can only invite so many and Chelsea did not wish to make a big "Ta-doo"... she just wants simple elegance and the people who were in her family inner circle. I am sure the Groom's family has a list of guests who were also part of his life...the press and public should respect their wishes. This is a special moment for Bill & Hillary...it is their only child and I'm sure they do not want a big fiasco made out of it..it is not a political event folks!

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Monsoonman | Jul 25, 2010, 11:59 AM EDT
Yawn! If this was just a run of the mill celebrity wedding I wouldn't care. But since it is a clinton affair and knowing the grifters that they really are, I know somehow someway this whole thing is being paid by taxpayer money. With a host of special interest money showered on them for service during their regime which funneled our most top secret technology to China.

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blackirish | Jul 25, 2010, 11:56 AM EDT
Really now YoungPike,but you would have to live in America to understand all of this,even our former President Reagan refered to himself as a good old Irish boy, believe me I know people in both countries,that aren't against it at all,and know exactly what we're talking about,so don't even go there,We know we are Americans,and we don't need anyone to remind us,but things have changed all over this world,and will continue to do so,as far as the Chelsea Clinton wedding,Its just not Hillary and Bill's friends,but their's,It was already going to be a "Media Circus",so I don't blame them for cutting it down to 400 people,

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MotherIrish | Jul 25, 2010, 11:39 AM EDT
OH get real -- this is not like a President's daughter getting married or a Princess of the Realm. This is the Clinton's for heavens sake. Who really cares who is invited. Heck they are treating this wedding as if it was Charles & Diana all over again. Spare us the tripe about who is Irish and not getting invites. I am Scots-Irish and I am not invited and I pay/paid their salaries in my taxes.

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mcdolan | Jul 25, 2010, 11:34 AM EDT
@dona1951: You forget that the US IS A NATION OF IMMIGRANTS and it is important to the vast majority that they remember their roots. Actually (at least in New York City where I grew up) the -American is dropped and people say 'German', 'Irish' 'Italian', etc. It's only when they are abroad that the -American gets added, in the same way that many Canadians say French-Canadian, Irish-Canadian. I have two passports as well, and still say I am Irish-American even though I live in Ireland for the past 13 years and don't see myself moving back to the USA.

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donal1951 | Jul 25, 2010, 11:13 AM EDT
In response to the chap who disparaged the term Irish-American, then what do I call myself? I have passports from the USA and from Ireland. I'd say that makes me an Irish-American. Yes, the term is overused by people whose family came over during the Great Hunger and there has been many intermarriages with other ethnic groups, God love them. But some of us deserve the title.

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MaryM232 | Jul 25, 2010, 11:09 AM EDT
I stopped hyphenating several years ago after Bertie Ahern revealed Irish contempt for Americans, so you get no support from me.

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donal1951 | Jul 25, 2010, 11:06 AM EDT
It's a relatively small celebrity wedding so some will be disappointed. Have a fine day Chelsea and many happy years.

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mrkennedy | Jul 25, 2010, 10:34 AM EDT
It is also the grooms wedding so he should have something to say about who can be invited, but then who is paying for the event? With Hillary & Bill Clinton they will make 90% of the decision!!!!

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