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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > People and Politics > Maureen Dowd calls Jackie Kennedy a ‘Geisha Girl’ in NY Times column ----Agrees with her that Irish have a persecution complex

People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

Maureen Dowd calls Jackie Kennedy a ‘Geisha Girl’ in NY Times column ----Agrees with her that Irish have a persecution complex

Posted on Thursday, September 15, 2011 at 05:25 AM

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The New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd has called Jackie Kennedy (Pictured above in Waterford, Ireland in 1967) a ‘Geisha girl’ and agrees with her that the Irish have a persecution complex.

Irish American Dowd says that Jackie was a deeply compliant wife who “was a Geisha” who prided herself on it.

She quotes Jackie in the sensational new book based on interviews she gave six months after John F.Kennedy was assassinated as saying” It was really a rather terribly Victorian or Asiatic relationship we had.”

Interviewer Arthur Schlesinger asked was that like being a compliant Japanese wife Jackie Kennedy responded, “Yeah which I think is the best”.

Don’t expect Dowd to be breaking out a Dinty Moore can of Irish stew anytime soon either.

After Jackie O had stated that she was glad to replace Irish stew in the White House kitchen with sophisticated French cuisine Dowd agrees.

She also agrees with Kennedy saying that the Irish have a persecution complex.

“Dowd wrote ‘ I have to agree with her asperity about the suitability of French cuisine for the White House rather than Irish stew and the tendency of the Irish to have persecution complexes.”

Dowd agrees that Kennedy comes across as a snob as she has been accused of but states;

“Her snobbery was mostly aimed at the egomaniacs, the incompetent and the power crazed.’

She also says Kennedy clearly ignored her husband’s womanizing.

Dowd wrote, “she could be unsparing and caustic except about her sometimes imperfect husband whom she bathes in an impossibly perfect glow.”
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Read more:

Jackie Kennedy disliked the Irish and cooking Irish stew

Jackie Kennedy was a complete snob about the Irish and others

Jackie Kennedy’s grandchildren shocked by her antiquated view of women
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bunkerisland | Sep 15, 2011, 11:50 AM EDT

"Persecution Complex"? Something the Brits surely would not have in light of the Imperialistic behavior. Since the "yoke of the oppressor" has been cast off the complex diminishes. It takes a while after 600 years of exploitation.

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falconflash | Sep 15, 2011, 11:17 AM EDT

Could not disagree more... Ask any coach, teacher or boss.... the Irish don't whine or complain, they just do their job.

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falconflash | Sep 15, 2011, 10:57 AM EDT

Of course the Irish have a persecution complex. Stories of Paddy with a "chip on his shoulder" are legendary worldwide. We blame our history for this but I believe there is more to it than that. We have long excelled at playing the old hand of victimhood and greivance, expecting - even demanding - that the world opens its doors to us, while at home, we make no attempt to conceal our bitter and often violent racism toward immigrants in Ireland. From victimhood and grievance there naturally arises a powerful sense of entitlement, that the world owes us. Yes, we do indeed have a persecution complex and it has not served us well.

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bonitapowers | Sep 15, 2011, 10:54 AM EDT

Who knows, maybe the irish food was not as good as it is now! As for me, it doesn't get any better than the Westport Bar - best food anywhere!!!!

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IowaMike | Sep 15, 2011, 10:49 AM EDT

I'm no fan of the Kennedy's but Maureen Dowd calling Jackie a 'Gisha Girl'. I think Charles Simmons said it best, ""Ridicule is the first and last argument of fools." This captures Dowd perfectly.

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Tooreenagrena | Sep 15, 2011, 10:49 AM EDT

Persecution complex?. Who wouldn't have after a thousand years of persecution and misrule.

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Cavanlass | Sep 15, 2011, 10:46 AM EDT

Pounder says it all!

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PhlutiePhan | Sep 15, 2011, 10:39 AM EDT

There is no doubt that Maureen Dowd "runs with the wolves". Jackie was a good mother. The third child was born dead and she "kept on tickin'" Maureen represents the liberal wing of the abortionist crowd. You talk about a dichotomy!

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donal1951 | Sep 15, 2011, 10:25 AM EDT

I am first generation Irish American and worked for many years in Boston. I did not find that men such as William M. Bulger had a persecution complex. Bulger, and many other Irish American scholars, could hold their own with any other ethnic group and knew it. But they did not gloat.

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pounder | Sep 15, 2011, 10:19 AM EDT

Hey Mo, take a long walk........

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falconflash | Sep 15, 2011, 10:03 AM EDT

Maureen is the classic Irish Media Liberal (IML) in that she knows in her heart that abortion is, in fact, baby killing, but would never compromise her liberal standing in the media world. Too much money and prestige at stake there for her to tamper with. At least Judas tried to return the 30 pieces of silver. Maureen banked it.

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whiteycat | Sep 15, 2011, 09:49 AM EDT

I would not be surprised about LBJ.I agree also with auyoman on this sheet.

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chesapeake | Sep 15, 2011, 09:40 AM EDT

I have little use either of the ladies, thank you.

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Rebelforce | Sep 15, 2011, 09:01 AM EDT

Maureen didn't get her lucrative gig at the NY Times for nothing. She's saavy enough to know who butters her soda bread and she knows what they like to read.....a lot of politically correct, feminist goop and gibberish. If you're looking for a real snob, Maureen is your gal.

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McNamara31 | Sep 15, 2011, 08:34 AM EDT

So Maureen Dowd states that Jackie was a snob....interesting. And Miss Dowd agrees with Jackie that the Irish have a "persecution complex"...again interesting, when coming from one who came from a very comfortable supportive background as compared to what the early Irish encountered upon these shores.

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