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Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Mayor Bloomberg not alone in telling bad Irish jokes -- such wisecracks a staple for many politicians

Posted on Saturday, February 12, 2011 at 08:35 PM

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg's Irish jokes gaffe earned him 'Knucklehead of the Week' award from The New York Daily News yesterday, but the reality is that he will not be the first or last politician to tell a bad Irish joke.

Indeed, Bloomberg has often used another Irish joke in his routine, which he has used often in Ireland as well as America.

This one involves an Irish guy who is dared to drink ten pints of Guinness in a row. He disappears for a while and when he comes back he says he has been across the road in a different Irish bar, trying out to see if he could do it.

Okay, not very funny.

Senator John McCain is another politician who has a single transferable Irish joke that he tells on many occasions to Irish audiences.

It involves the O'Reilly twins, drinking in the same bar, pretending they don't know they are twins and discovering they are from the same town, same street etc.

It is part of the repertoire of many American politicians.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York uses a different tack, always referring endlessly to the Irish relatives who married into his family.

Former Senator Al D'Amato pretty much did the same thing when he was in active politics.

It can be cringe-inducing stuff

Ronald Reagan always had a version of an Irish joke ready for any and all occasions, as did House Speaker 'Tip' O'Neill.

Most people considered them pretty harmless as do I.

It is all part of the social cohesion where so many Americans from different ethnic backgrounds meet and greet each other.

Most use it to break the ice, to connect with an audience by getting a laugh.

But how do you know when a joke crosses that line from cute to contentious?

Answer is you don't. Its a bit like pornography, you know it when you hear it.

Where Bloomberg made his mistake was referring to a real institution, the American Irish Historical Society (AIHS) and implying that a bunch of drunks ran the place.

It was a bit like saying the Metropolitan Museum is run by alcoholics.

As The New York Times made clear in a Saturday article, nothing could be further from the truth about the AIHS.

The AIHS is housed in the greatest Irish building in America, a Fifth Avenue townhouse and features cultural, artistic and scholarly pursuits which makes its members the very last people to pin such a description on.

So Bloomberg might have been better sticking to his fictional joke.

So when you add up the Bloomberg gaffe, a press eager to highlight problems in his controversial third term and an Irish controversy made for tabloid headlines such a 'Irish Stew' it is clear why the story caught on.

As for the mayor one can imagine he'll check more closely on what to say before his next Irish audience.

As will many other pols.

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ciarrai | Feb 13, 2011, 01:09 PM EST

One of the most valuable attributes the Irish have is the ability to laugh at themselves and to laugh in general. Unless a joke is very offensive to the Irish (offending my Irish sensibilities), I will have a laugh and move on. Did you hear about two Irish homosexuals: Michael Fitzpatrick and Patrick Fitzmichael.

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averagejoewa | Feb 13, 2011, 12:27 PM EST

So gino466, I guess you would have no problems with Irish politicians telling jokes about greedy Jews or Italian gangsters or black crackheads?

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jimmybb | Feb 13, 2011, 12:24 PM EST

totally agree with borefield if we irish made a joke about a jew black or hispanic especially a jewinsh person the media would be all over it as ronan tynan and tommy tiernan can attest to as both have been chastised for their remarks on jews tommy tiernan lost a possible hbo special to make the big time ronan tynan had to move out of nyc bloomy gettin away very light

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gino466 | Feb 13, 2011, 12:20 PM EST

you have to admit that the irish did it to themselves there is a massive amount of drunkenness at the parade mostly young people- i have visited ireland several times and was shocked with all the drunken behavior- shameful

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jdi2269 | Feb 13, 2011, 11:15 AM EST

TOLERANCE IS BEST. CAN YOU IMAGINE IF BLOOMBERG HAD SAID AN ETHNIC JOKE ABOUT BLACKS OR HISPANICS? HE MIGHT HAVE TO RESIGN! HECK, WE HAVE THE "FIGHTING IRISH" AND NO ONE GETS UPSET! IN FACT MANY ARE ENVIOUS OF NOTRE DAME.

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Searlit | Feb 13, 2011, 11:14 AM EST

That's a good one seagreen. The thing about humor is that it's universal. You could exchange the nationality in that joke and make it about anyone. Thanks for the laugh. That wasn't true about Bloomberg's unfunny insult.

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eiregirl | Feb 13, 2011, 11:03 AM EST

@seagreen...I love it !!

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eiregirl | Feb 13, 2011, 11:02 AM EST

Was it a joke or was he just stating fact? I'm sure on Paddy's day...not Patty's day, get it, there are many people hanging out the window drunk. Is Bloomberg an egit? But enough with the reference to the Irish being drunk. They aren't jokes, they are references, slight digs by people who think they are superior and are ignorant. I've never met one person in this country who has been to Ireland and will slag it off. It's always the one's who say "oh I'd love to go...blah blah" and then make reference to alcohol. Get a life, go on a vacation and get some perspective, PLEASE.

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donal1951 | Feb 13, 2011, 10:05 AM EST

I'm Irish and tell my share of Irish jokes, and enjoy listening to most, but to me, Bloomberg crossed the line from funny to demeaning. Yes, if it has been about many other ethnic groups there would have been Hell to pay.

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seagreen | Feb 13, 2011, 09:57 AM EST

Paddy came home at 5 o'clock after a days work to find his wife Margaret gone. An hour later and with Paddy anxious for supper, Margaret arrived home. Where have you been roared Paddy. If you must know, I ve been to the doctor for a physical said Margaret! Oh you have have ya! And what did he have to say? If you must know, he said I was quite fit, and had the breasts of a nineteen year old ! Oh he did did he! And what did he say aboout you big fat Irish arse? He did not mention your name atall dear!

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borefield | Feb 13, 2011, 09:44 AM EST

Niall, Bloomberg got a BIG PASS on his stupid joke minuet. Why do we accept it from any politian, news media or anyone looking to degrade one ethnic group. If all ethnic people were denigrated by bad jokes without reprisal,ok, you and I both know it just doesn't happen. The Sharptons, MSNBC, Katie Couric, Oprah would all come screaming from the woodwork for apologies and firings. I know Christine Quinn is a good friend with Bloomberg yet, she was the only one from his inner circle that chastised him properly. She stood up for what was right. As I said before, did Rhonan Tynan get a pass?. He did, right out of the City.

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antoman | Feb 13, 2011, 08:52 AM EST

Jackie Healy Rae was out walking his pet badger and came across three American tourists at the foot of Carrauntoohil.One of them asked Jackie if it was the highest mountain in Ireland."Sure faith and begorra it is indeed"says Jackie,and turns to walk away.One of the yanks turns to the other and says quietly "it does'nt look that big to me".Overhearing this Jackie and his badger stop.He turns to the three Americans and proclaims with pride "you see the thing about Carrauntoohil is that it lies in a bit of a hollow".

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