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People and Politics by Patrick Roberts

US citizenship targeted as unclean in Irish presidential race as candidate Dana slammed

Posted on Saturday, October 08, 2011 at 04:39 AM
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It is interesting to note that Ireland's effort to reclaim its Diaspora with a major conference in Dublin is occurring at the same time as a presidential candidate there is being excoriated for being an American as well as an Irish citizen.

One wonders what the many American businessmen and women will make of the attacks in the media on Dana Rosemary Scanlon since she revealed she was also an American citizen.

Admittedly, she should have stated it earlier, but the hostility in the media is amazing to witness.

The Irish Times even helpfully printed the oath declaring allegiance to America that she took when she became a citizen, even though dual American and Irish citizenship is clearly allowed.

The unspoken message is that somehow Dana, who has lived the vast majority of her life in Ireland and only lived in America when pursuing an American singing career, is somehow an alien and not to be trusted,

Coming at a time when the Diaspora has been gathered to assure them that they are all deeply treasured and honored it comes as somewhat of a surprise.

The leading presidential candidate Michael D Higgins has chimed in saying that American citizenship in some way made Dana suspect on the entire issue of running for president.

The Irish Times devoted almost a full page to the matter, making it out as some kind of major scandal.

This is despite the fact that Dana has as much chance of winning as the man in the moon.

American citizenship is somehow associated with being unclean in certain quarters in Ireland .

Despite the investment, the tourists, the goodwill, there is still it seems a nativist suspicion of Americans that Dana has run smack into.

Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of Irish people are pro American and very supportive.

But there is a chattering class that delights in feeding an anti-American frenzy and they are in full flight right now.

It is a strange message to send to Irish Americans and Irish abroad everywhere.


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25 Comments

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ceceann | Jun 05, 2012, 03:16 PM EDT
Well stated abhainn. The hypocrisy of IC using this sensationalism while lobbying for Congress to allow more Irish immigration is astounding.

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abhainn | Oct 16, 2011, 04:48 PM EDT
The headline is wrong. Irish media have not targetted "US citizenship as unclean". They have quite properly pointed out that Rosemary Scallion swore the oath of allegiance to the United States which states in part, "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty of whom or which I have heretofore been a subject or citizen." It is proper and necessary to question what it means to renounce one's Irish citizenship, as Scallion did. Americans should not be surprised by Irish interest in this question given the fascination Americans have about Barack Obama's birth certificate. Ms. Scallion has sworn to give up her Irish citizenship, so she is no longer qualified to be president of Ireland. No-one in Ireland has said American citizenship is "unclean" so please do not mislead your readers about that.

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JohnODriscoll | Oct 10, 2011, 12:58 PM EDT
Yep.Right wing tossers lacking the courage to print anything that goes against their cretinous world view. Thought so.

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JohnODriscoll | Oct 10, 2011, 12:56 PM EDT
Couldn't agree more. If the Irish Elites really gave a toss about the Diaspora they'd have long since given them the vote. This is another money racket. Ireland is sinking just as the Asgard II sank on ''9/11'2008 (and if ever there was a sign or augury that was one). And it is Ireland's well-deserved karma to sink. Back into the mud She crawled out of having gone down into it as Tom Barry said to defeat the British. After all, She trampled everything She ever stood for; sold Her history of being the Most Oppresed People Ever for a mess of FDI pottage; betrayed the legacy of the Dead Generations to cowardice inhumanity and rapine for 30 pieces of silver when She allowed Her neutrality (that killed so many men and ships in WW2) to be abused and Her laws against torture to be trampled on by the United States from March 2003 unto the present day.

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JohnODriscoll | Oct 10, 2011, 12:55 PM EDT
But anyway. Just whistling down the wind here. No way on such a right-wing HooRah bulletin board as this will anyone have the courage to print what I just said. Good luck to ye. Going on the likely karma you've got coming America, good luck is one thing you won't be enjoying anytime soon.

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GeorgeDillon | Oct 10, 2011, 12:07 PM EDT
joycean: You are correct. All this Diaspora guff that's emanating from Ireland is just guff and blarney. When the Irish thought they were rich they had no time for us. Now they are saying that having US citizenship is a sin. Maybe they'll make us wear the Scarlet Letters when we go over there, a big US on our foreheads. Seriously though, the Irish are contemptible, aren't they? Sometimes (often) they make me sick.

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leinsterlady | Oct 09, 2011, 01:43 PM EDT
As a reminder Eamonn De Valera was born in Brooklyn!

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joycean | Oct 09, 2011, 10:12 AM EDT
Same problem Niall O'Dowd faced when he considered running.Maybe Americans being courted by the Irish government will wake up. Since she doesn't vote, maybe she should renounce her US citizenship, do some penance.

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usaireland | Oct 08, 2011, 09:03 PM EDT
I’m less concerned with Dana and her situation but rather am bemused by the shortsighted , narrow minded attitudes of some of our people. Being fortunate enough myself to hold dual US-Irish citizenship, I’m amazed, disgusted, and embarrassed to find that the sections of the Irish media are leading a witch-hunt on this topic. In past decades, thousands of us Irish from all over the island were very happy and grateful that the US allowed us in to live and work when there was ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for us at home. Successive Irish governments lobbied US politicians to support provision of emigration visas i.e. Morrision, Donnelly visas. Even now, Ireland is requesting that the US legitimize undocumented Irish in the US. Once again, Irish people are looking to emigrate because there are FEW JOBs available here. Most of the employment that is here is provided by US owned companies. We were desperate to claim President Obama as one of our own and spend millions marketing Ireland to attract American tourists. I also find it extremely annoying that there is the suggestion that those of us who mostly HAD to immigrate are disloyal by choosing to take US citizenship. This is one subject that should have been left alone – this discussion is an insult to the US and also to Irish emigrants both past and present who have no choice but to leave this country in search of a better life. Incidentally, I returned here in 2004 to live and in the Celtic Tiger times was on the receiving end of comments like ..” typical… returning now that we are doing well” ….and other such nonsense. Obviously, these people conveniently forgot the real truth. To these of you who support this narrow mindset- how dare you?

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seanomelbourne | Oct 08, 2011, 06:12 PM EDT
Dana's dual citizenship should not be a problem,why did she hide the fact.Then you have the argument that an Irish born citizen could not be potus.Poor auld George schizo Dillon he just doe's not know what side he's on

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pndirishandprou | Oct 08, 2011, 05:24 PM EDT
GeorgeDillon: "I'd never want to be President of Loony Liberal Leprechaun Land." Do you really think anyone would every vote for you, here in this country or over there?? You make pick up a few votes in Michelle Bachmann land, but you wouldn't get a single vote from any self-respecting voter.

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pndirishandprou | Oct 08, 2011, 05:09 PM EDT
US and Irish dual citizenship is also allowed in the US. However, can anyone imagine a candidate for US presidency holding dual citizenship?? Of course not, s/he would be ripped apart by their opponents. If you run for the highest office in the country you cannot leave any doubt about your loyalty to the country, which you inevitably do if you hold more than one citizenship. So what was Scanlon thinking?

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GeorgeDillon | Oct 08, 2011, 02:54 PM EDT
Several of the other candidates, especially the Blueshirt, are more loyal to the European Union or to the British Commonwealth than they are to Ireland.

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flattop55 | Oct 08, 2011, 02:13 PM EDT
I, too, hold dual US-Irish citizenship, but I agree that one who represents the People of Ireland as the nation's President should not have divided loyalties. Being a citizen of any country entails significant obligations and duties. I can envision situations where dual citizenship may present a conflict of interests, either real or perceived, that could compromise a President's position and decision making. It seems entirely reasonable to me, that one who aspires to be President of the Irish People should be completely free from any foreign responsibility or obligation. At this level, the office also has immense symbolic importance that requires one to embody Ireland and the body politic itself.

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tocon1941 | Oct 08, 2011, 01:25 PM EDT
Any fool can run for President of the United States. Just take a look at the current candidates. However, any U.S. citizen that holds dual citizenship with another country cannot obtain a "Security Clearance." Neither the Department of Defense nor the Justice Department will allow a candidate for any level of clearance to proceed until that candidate formally renounces the "foreign" citizenship. Holding dual citizenship is a nice gesture and shows respect for a persons heritage. But it does not work in the game of politics. President Obama has had to deal with false rumors that he was not born in the United States. Imagine the problems he would have faced if he had obtained dual citizenship in a moment of sentiment.

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