Optimism for immigration reform clear at St. Patrick’s White House bash - President Obama signals change, praises Irish for Hurricane Sandy work - VIDEO
By: Niall O'Dowd | Published Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 10:17 AM | Updated Wednesday, March 20, 2013, 10:17 AM
President Obama, House Speaker John Boehner & Taoiseach Enda Kenny (Credit: White House by Pete Souza)
The White House rocked to the sound of Irish traditional music and laughter last night as the annual St.Patrick’s bash took place.
Inside the main East Wing entrance a group of marines bedecked in kilts played Irish tunes and harmonies and had the toes tapping as the evening began.
Politicians of all stripes and states, Irish community leaders, all mingled and ate at the food stations in the beautifully appointed rooms waiting for the big moment when the Taoiseach Enda Kenny and President Obama appeared on stage in the East Room.
Outside the wet weather had given way to bright sunshine and there is no city as beautiful in early Spring especially from the White House.
How Irish is this White House in the era of the first black president? Well let him tell you himself as he proudly did last night when he appeared.
“We have way too many Irish and Irish American and wannabe Irish Americans in the house for me to name but I will say that the next four years are shaping up to be very green ones here in the White House. My new Chief of Staff is a McDonough. My National Security Advisor is a Donilon. Our new CIA Director is a Brennan. My new head speech writer is a Keenan. And Joe Biden has very kindly agreed to stay on as Irishman-in-Chief.”
With that kind of lineup there is no fear of the White House St.Patrick’s Day event winding down anytime soon.
Of all the names he mentions, Denis McDonough as his Chief of Staff is perhaps the most vital. He has been described as Obama’s alter ego who understands perfectly the president’s wishes.
During a brief conversation I had with him, McDonough made clear the commitment to immigration reform that rippled through almost every conversation on the night.
After years of despair comprehensive reform is back on the agenda in a big way. The view is that there could be as many as 70 votes in the senate for the legislation forcing the House to act on it.
More than one person pointed out it is because elections have consequences, that Republicans now know that they have to deal on this issue to have any chance of competing for minority votes across America.
The upbeat mood on the night contrasted with the last few and you could feel a sense of optimism. The Irish economy, as Prime Minister Enda Kenny made clear, is clawing its way out of a deep hole slowly but surely.
President Obama addressed the other issue that has dominated Irish American discussion lately, the extraordinary response in Ireland and among Irish America after Hurricane Sandy.
Here are his remarkable words;
“We saw that again in October, when Hurricane Sandy set off one of the worst residential fires in New York City’s history. Hundreds of homes were left charred and flooded, and many families were suddenly faced with the task of picking up the pieces and rebuilding their lives, including in Breezy Point, a neighborhood with a large Irish American population.
“In fact, more than half of Breezy Point residents can trace their families to the old country, and the folks back in the old country were not about to sit by and watch their American brothers and sisters struggle alone.
“So they pitched in. Gaelic rock stars raised money. Athletes from the Gaelic Games did construction work and brought the Sam Maguire chalice with them to lift spirits. The Irish Tenors came over to sing Christmas carols. The Irish government pledged hundreds of thousands of dollars, not just to help the residents of Breezy Point, but to help folks rebuild across the region. And the Taoiseach himself was in Breezy Point on Sunday to attend mass.
“As one official said, New York has been very good to the Irish; now the Irish are giving back to New York. And that’s the story of America and Ireland: We look out for each other, we have each other’s backs...and we recognize that no challenge is too great and no obstacle is too high if you’ve got a friend beside you and a nation behind you. That’s been our history; that will be our future.”
Indeed it will. The St.Patrick’s bash this year was short on time (Obama had to leave for Israel, Joe Biden was coming back from Rome) but long on substance and on the Irish contribution to America. Long may it continue.
I do NOT agree with ALL of Celt's comment, but he is very accurate in describing the 1965 Immigration Act as being anti-Eoropean. In early Dec. of '64 I applied for U.S. citizenship, having been discharged from the Marine Corps a few months earlier. But my HONORABLE discharge after 4 years of service did NOT expidite my application; I was photographed, finger-printed and investigated for 6 week before I was approved for naturalization. But now politicians of all persuasions are seeking full amnesty and fast citiznsbhip for about 12 million foreigners who ILLEGALLY entered the U.S. and continue to live here in violation of our laws.
johnbyrne | Mar 30, 2013, 05:12 PM EDT
I doubt very much if kenny is telling obama the racist joke about the murdered leader of the D.R. of CONGO like he did in Ireland. check the Irish Independent archives.
CeltNYC | Mar 30, 2013, 01:46 PM EDT
Towards the end of the latest Biden article on this very subject the editorial staff alluded to the anti-European immigration act of 1965. We need to put our collective efforts behind changing this law before there is any talk of amnesty as immigration should be fair for all people. Irish people go to Canada, Australia, and other places instead of the US due to this discriminatory act. Recently the Consul General to NYC Noel Kilkenny stated that it was xenophobia that led people to not support amnesty for all 11 million or so illegals and that the Irish should push for all illegals to become legal and not just the 50,000 Irish. This facile view is interesting in the sweeping generalization but also the failure to point out that the 1986 amnesty was a failure. Again, we need to redress the anti-European 1965 Immigration Act (The Emmnauel Cellar-Hart Act) before we discuss anything else. Noel Kilkenny should also know that if the "native" Americans, the Asians who came over via the Bering Strait, had been more xenophobic then their culture and civilization might still be intact today. It was hysterical when he was proud that twelve percent of Ireland today is foreign national with more coming in every day even with Ireland in a depression. Biden and his ilk are ivory tower snake oil salesman who don't have to deal with the repercussions of their feel good, failed policies.
STEVENSTAR | Mar 23, 2013, 01:56 PM EDT
@@Smyrnian | Mar 21, 2013, 04:51 PM EDT ..... WELL YOU WOULD SAY THAT WOULDNT YOU, YOUR AMERICAN ... HAHA IVE BEEN THERE MANY A TIME MYSELF AND ALL I GET IS '''' OH MY GAWD I LUV YOUR AKCENT MY GREAT AUNY JEANS SISTER WAS FROM THERE.....AND THEN IN THE NEXT LINE THEY GO .. OH MY GAWD IT ALWAYS RAINS IN IRELAND .... AND THEN I JUST RUN AWAY AS FAST AS I CAN ... Haha !!
Smyrnian | Mar 21, 2013, 04:51 PM EDT
Everyone wants to go to the States. Who made Stevenstar the representative of the Irish people??? Drop your prejudices and get a grip on yourself! When I am in the States (about 50% of the time) I am falling over Irish born people every day: legal and otherwise, in all professions. There are thousands and thousands here and growing by the hour!
STEVENSTAR | Mar 21, 2013, 08:52 AM EDT
COME HOME KENNY AND DO SOME PROPER WORK BESIDES RUNNING AROUND OVER THERE WITH YOUR BOWL OF SHAMROCK TRYING TO PAVE THE WAY TO OFF LOAD MORE IRISH PEOPLE TO GOTO AMERICA WHEN WE DONT WANT TO GO THERE... WHAT A DUFUS THIS IDIOT KENNY REALLY IS !!!
STEVENSTAR | Mar 21, 2013, 08:50 AM EDT
Smyrnian | Mar 21, 2013, 06:15 AM EDT
>>>>>>>>> WHERE DID YOU GET THAT INFO DO YOU HAVE A LINK AND WHAT YEAR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ? VERY FEW IRISH ARE GONE TO AMERICA EVERYONE I KNOW WHO LEFT THE PAST 5 YEARS IS GONE TO UK CANADA OR AUSTRALIA... GO ON GIVE ME THE LINK AND LETS HAVE A LOOK MATE :-)
Smyrnian | Mar 21, 2013, 06:15 AM EDT
Stevenstar - see the other IC article. According to the World Bank migration map the top ten places the Irish are destined are as follows:
UK: 422,569
USA: 137,537
Australia: 63,593
Read em and weep. The US is still big time.
Curitiba | Mar 20, 2013, 04:44 PM EDT
So, Mr President, how do you feel about us dumping our unemployed on you? You what? You thought that immigration reform meant that you could send your unemployed to us instead? If we could afford to pay out €200 a week in dole money we could afford to take on some of the USA's unemployment burden? Erm, had I known it was a two-way immigration reform, I might not have bothered...
bunkerhill | Mar 20, 2013, 03:15 PM EDT
Wonderful story. Thanks Irish Central.
Rebelforce | Mar 20, 2013, 01:51 PM EDT
Wow. All that Irish-American power in the White House must be giving Trina Vargo some major indigestion.
antoman | Mar 20, 2013, 01:37 PM EDT
A person who writes articles for this site came to Ireland and wooed and married a woman that reads the news to me. I figure that's worth 10,000 Irish being made legal in America right there. You don't see me going to America and marrying a woman that reads the news over there. ;)
Nicomax | Mar 20, 2013, 01:30 PM EDT
I'm more impressed by the lineup of Irishmen BHO has put on the field then the team of fuzzy-headed neocons Bush had on his lineup card. We were all reminded of that woeful team yesterday on the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
STEVENSTAR | Mar 20, 2013, 12:36 PM EDT
SAME OLD SAME OLD THING.. GET BACK OVER HERE TO IRELAND KENNY AND DO SOME PROPER WORK FOR CRYING OUT LOUD... AS IF ENOUGH IRISH PEOPLE HAVENT WENT TO THE UK , AUSTRALIA AND CANADA THE LAST 6 YEARS .. KENNY IS NOW TRYING TO PAVE THE WAY FOR MORE TO GOTO AMERICA !!!! WHAT A JOKE WE MUST LOOK AROUND WORLD.. IRELAND IS A TINY COUNTRY WITH 4.5MILLION PEOPLE THE SIZE OF NORTH LONDON ..AND THEY CANT EVEN MANAGE THAT..
katieherk | Mar 20, 2013, 12:14 PM EDT
You don't think for a minute that this lamebrain of a leader (nobama) is telling the truth, do you? He is probably the worst liar that ever stepped foot in the WH. He says exactly what you want to hear and then does the opposite. When will you writers wake up?
FastEddy | Mar 20, 2013, 11:30 AM EDT
Obama pumpers: Better pick another race horse for this immigration sweepstakes ... the demofascists have all gone meskin, your only hope is now (sorry about that) a Republican! Rand Paul is your best bet ... and you don't have to eat crow to get this.
TomSwinford | Mar 20, 2013, 11:18 AM EDT
This is a heartening story, all the more so as both Ireland and America struggle toward economic recovery. Even one who understands the politics of the event can imagine that it's still possible to make things happen. I am hard-pressed to find any U.S. Administration having so many Irish-Americans in lofty positions so close to the president. Way to go Mr. President! Gaelicpiper, you are probably way too long in the tooth at this point - but on the off chance that you're not, have you considered growing a brain, lad?
Searlit | Mar 20, 2013, 10:35 AM EDT
Those were lovely speeches by both President Obama and Taoiseach Kenny. The Taoiseach brought much more than the Shamrocks with him - he brought a much needed break from the usual Washington gridlock. He even got Boenher smiling.
torbreezy | Mar 20, 2013, 09:37 AM EDT
I hope all of this is not "palaver", a word I learned from my mother . . . . Erin Go Bragh ! ! !
pilib04 | Mar 20, 2013, 09:35 AM EDT
Glad for the optimism for the passage of real immigration reform that includes a passage to citizenship for all of the undocumented currently residing in the U.S. I see that Republicans are falling over each other to abandon their xenophobic positions of last year. Rand Paul is the latest to renounce hatred of those who are doing a large share of America's manual labor.
Gaelicpiper | Mar 20, 2013, 09:32 AM EDT
No Amnesty- it will not happen. If you criminal alien supporters have not figured it out- yet- Barak H-Insane O'Bumma tells everyone what they want to hear. He is in a constant campaign mode, he is no chief executive- just a community organizer. He is now passed Jimmy Carter as the worst president in history. You useful fool may not want to admit it- but deep dowm, you know it.
21 Comments
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Seanmor | Apr 17, 2013, 09:53 AM EDT
I do NOT agree with ALL of Celt's comment, but he is very accurate in describing the 1965 Immigration Act as being anti-Eoropean. In early Dec. of '64 I applied for U.S. citizenship, having been discharged from the Marine Corps a few months earlier. But my HONORABLE discharge after 4 years of service did NOT expidite my application; I was photographed, finger-printed and investigated for 6 week before I was approved for naturalization. But now politicians of all persuasions are seeking full amnesty and fast citiznsbhip for about 12 million foreigners who ILLEGALLY entered the U.S. and continue to live here in violation of our laws.
johnbyrne | Mar 30, 2013, 05:12 PM EDT
I doubt very much if kenny is telling obama the racist joke about the murdered leader of the D.R. of CONGO like he did in Ireland. check the Irish Independent archives.
CeltNYC | Mar 30, 2013, 01:46 PM EDT
Towards the end of the latest Biden article on this very subject the editorial staff alluded to the anti-European immigration act of 1965. We need to put our collective efforts behind changing this law before there is any talk of amnesty as immigration should be fair for all people. Irish people go to Canada, Australia, and other places instead of the US due to this discriminatory act. Recently the Consul General to NYC Noel Kilkenny stated that it was xenophobia that led people to not support amnesty for all 11 million or so illegals and that the Irish should push for all illegals to become legal and not just the 50,000 Irish. This facile view is interesting in the sweeping generalization but also the failure to point out that the 1986 amnesty was a failure. Again, we need to redress the anti-European 1965 Immigration Act (The Emmnauel Cellar-Hart Act) before we discuss anything else. Noel Kilkenny should also know that if the "native" Americans, the Asians who came over via the Bering Strait, had been more xenophobic then their culture and civilization might still be intact today. It was hysterical when he was proud that twelve percent of Ireland today is foreign national with more coming in every day even with Ireland in a depression. Biden and his ilk are ivory tower snake oil salesman who don't have to deal with the repercussions of their feel good, failed policies.
STEVENSTAR | Mar 23, 2013, 01:56 PM EDT
@@Smyrnian | Mar 21, 2013, 04:51 PM EDT ..... WELL YOU WOULD SAY THAT WOULDNT YOU, YOUR AMERICAN ... HAHA IVE BEEN THERE MANY A TIME MYSELF AND ALL I GET IS '''' OH MY GAWD I LUV YOUR AKCENT MY GREAT AUNY JEANS SISTER WAS FROM THERE.....AND THEN IN THE NEXT LINE THEY GO .. OH MY GAWD IT ALWAYS RAINS IN IRELAND .... AND THEN I JUST RUN AWAY AS FAST AS I CAN ... Haha !!
Smyrnian | Mar 21, 2013, 04:51 PM EDT
Everyone wants to go to the States. Who made Stevenstar the representative of the Irish people??? Drop your prejudices and get a grip on yourself! When I am in the States (about 50% of the time) I am falling over Irish born people every day: legal and otherwise, in all professions. There are thousands and thousands here and growing by the hour!
STEVENSTAR | Mar 21, 2013, 08:52 AM EDT
COME HOME KENNY AND DO SOME PROPER WORK BESIDES RUNNING AROUND OVER THERE WITH YOUR BOWL OF SHAMROCK TRYING TO PAVE THE WAY TO OFF LOAD MORE IRISH PEOPLE TO GOTO AMERICA WHEN WE DONT WANT TO GO THERE... WHAT A DUFUS THIS IDIOT KENNY REALLY IS !!!
STEVENSTAR | Mar 21, 2013, 08:50 AM EDT
Smyrnian | Mar 21, 2013, 06:15 AM EDT >>>>>>>>> WHERE DID YOU GET THAT INFO DO YOU HAVE A LINK AND WHAT YEAR ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT ? VERY FEW IRISH ARE GONE TO AMERICA EVERYONE I KNOW WHO LEFT THE PAST 5 YEARS IS GONE TO UK CANADA OR AUSTRALIA... GO ON GIVE ME THE LINK AND LETS HAVE A LOOK MATE :-)
Smyrnian | Mar 21, 2013, 06:15 AM EDT
Stevenstar - see the other IC article. According to the World Bank migration map the top ten places the Irish are destined are as follows: UK: 422,569 USA: 137,537 Australia: 63,593 Read em and weep. The US is still big time.
Curitiba | Mar 20, 2013, 04:44 PM EDT
So, Mr President, how do you feel about us dumping our unemployed on you? You what? You thought that immigration reform meant that you could send your unemployed to us instead? If we could afford to pay out €200 a week in dole money we could afford to take on some of the USA's unemployment burden? Erm, had I known it was a two-way immigration reform, I might not have bothered...
bunkerhill | Mar 20, 2013, 03:15 PM EDT
Wonderful story. Thanks Irish Central.
Rebelforce | Mar 20, 2013, 01:51 PM EDT
Wow. All that Irish-American power in the White House must be giving Trina Vargo some major indigestion.
antoman | Mar 20, 2013, 01:37 PM EDT
A person who writes articles for this site came to Ireland and wooed and married a woman that reads the news to me. I figure that's worth 10,000 Irish being made legal in America right there. You don't see me going to America and marrying a woman that reads the news over there. ;)
Nicomax | Mar 20, 2013, 01:30 PM EDT
I'm more impressed by the lineup of Irishmen BHO has put on the field then the team of fuzzy-headed neocons Bush had on his lineup card. We were all reminded of that woeful team yesterday on the 10th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq.
STEVENSTAR | Mar 20, 2013, 12:36 PM EDT
SAME OLD SAME OLD THING.. GET BACK OVER HERE TO IRELAND KENNY AND DO SOME PROPER WORK FOR CRYING OUT LOUD... AS IF ENOUGH IRISH PEOPLE HAVENT WENT TO THE UK , AUSTRALIA AND CANADA THE LAST 6 YEARS .. KENNY IS NOW TRYING TO PAVE THE WAY FOR MORE TO GOTO AMERICA !!!! WHAT A JOKE WE MUST LOOK AROUND WORLD.. IRELAND IS A TINY COUNTRY WITH 4.5MILLION PEOPLE THE SIZE OF NORTH LONDON ..AND THEY CANT EVEN MANAGE THAT..
katieherk | Mar 20, 2013, 12:14 PM EDT
You don't think for a minute that this lamebrain of a leader (nobama) is telling the truth, do you? He is probably the worst liar that ever stepped foot in the WH. He says exactly what you want to hear and then does the opposite. When will you writers wake up?
FastEddy | Mar 20, 2013, 11:30 AM EDT
Obama pumpers: Better pick another race horse for this immigration sweepstakes ... the demofascists have all gone meskin, your only hope is now (sorry about that) a Republican! Rand Paul is your best bet ... and you don't have to eat crow to get this.
TomSwinford | Mar 20, 2013, 11:18 AM EDT
This is a heartening story, all the more so as both Ireland and America struggle toward economic recovery. Even one who understands the politics of the event can imagine that it's still possible to make things happen. I am hard-pressed to find any U.S. Administration having so many Irish-Americans in lofty positions so close to the president. Way to go Mr. President! Gaelicpiper, you are probably way too long in the tooth at this point - but on the off chance that you're not, have you considered growing a brain, lad?
Searlit | Mar 20, 2013, 10:35 AM EDT
Those were lovely speeches by both President Obama and Taoiseach Kenny. The Taoiseach brought much more than the Shamrocks with him - he brought a much needed break from the usual Washington gridlock. He even got Boenher smiling.
torbreezy | Mar 20, 2013, 09:37 AM EDT
I hope all of this is not "palaver", a word I learned from my mother . . . . Erin Go Bragh ! ! !
pilib04 | Mar 20, 2013, 09:35 AM EDT
Glad for the optimism for the passage of real immigration reform that includes a passage to citizenship for all of the undocumented currently residing in the U.S. I see that Republicans are falling over each other to abandon their xenophobic positions of last year. Rand Paul is the latest to renounce hatred of those who are doing a large share of America's manual labor.
Gaelicpiper | Mar 20, 2013, 09:32 AM EDT
No Amnesty- it will not happen. If you criminal alien supporters have not figured it out- yet- Barak H-Insane O'Bumma tells everyone what they want to hear. He is in a constant campaign mode, he is no chief executive- just a community organizer. He is now passed Jimmy Carter as the worst president in history. You useful fool may not want to admit it- but deep dowm, you know it.