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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Some Irish need not apply at Obama White House St.Patrick's Bash -- Grumblings as re-election committee grabs prime tickets

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Some Irish need not apply at Obama White House St.Patrick's Bash -- Grumblings as re-election committee grabs prime tickets

Posted on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 08:17 AM

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It is the most coveted ticket in Irish America, the invaluable access to the Obama White House for the annual St.Patrick’s Day event honoring the Irish Prime Minister.

This year there are many disappointed faces.

Many who have been invited in previous years, including some significant leaders in key re-election states, have been left empty-handed.

It has caused no end of consternation and surprise, especially in an election year when a key constituency like Irish Americans is usually strongly courted.

Indeed, key leaders in many leading organizations have had their stipend cut from two to one, leaving many spouses baffled after they had been on the guest list for several years.

As any couple will tell you hell hath no fury like a spouse scorned and White House personnel have been hearing it hot and heavy over the past week from disappointed significant others.

The culprit appears to be the President’s re-election committee who have bagged many of the Irish invites and shuffled them to big party backers who are only too glad to take part in a White House event, Irish or not.

The upshot has been a similar occurrence to the very first year of the Obama White House in 2009 when old Chicago buddies and other key constituency leaders made it over stalwart Irish names.

That caused such a firestorm that the following year it was Cead Mile Failte to one and all and it has been that way ever since-- until this year.

There were murmurings this week when the British Prime Minister David Cameron had a state dinner in the usual St. Patrick’s slot at the White House. The fact that their joint op-ed in The New York Times did not even mention their joint success at helping solve the issue of Northern Ireland was also noticed.

Ireland and Irish America it seems is relegated to the annual St.Patrick’s shindig, except now, with many being refused invites, even that may not be the case.

It seems a trifle foolish given that Pennsylvania, Ohio and other key states all have large Irish Catholic constituencies which are key swing votes.

The Obama folk should really pay more attention.

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cinderfella1 | Mar 18, 2012, 01:42 AM EDT

Now is the time for Osama Obama to be defeated. He's very arrogant, conceited and gone totally Hollywood! We need a President of the U.S.A., not a president of Hollywood, CA!

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Meanolgrouch | Mar 17, 2012, 08:26 PM EDT

Dear Recent Posters Against Obama: Chew the rug all you want, t'wont change a thing. See what a united front is doing to Rush Limbaugh? We'll have him selling pencils on the street before you know it. BTW, several large studies here have proven better-educated folks lean to the left. Probably always have. Certainly always will. Why do you think so many religious though terribly poor people don't even want to send their kids to college? As for the GOP, they really stirred up a hornet's nest with their recent attacks on women and our rights. If the Texas Ferhengi forces his way onto their ticket as VP, I'll cackle all the way to the voting booth. Our elections are closely watched by members of both major parties in unison, so they're reasonably accurate. To the person whose attack on Michelle Obama I never got around to answering, she's a great lady in the truest sense of the word. Given a chance to meet her or her husband, I'd have a hard time choosing which because like so many others, I dearly love the whole family. Rest assured I'll do everything in my small power to re-elect (drum roll here, please) President Barack Hussein Obama!

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MegK311 | Mar 17, 2012, 05:45 PM EDT

remember this wee song we used to chant as kids in Ireland. Will ya come to my wee party will ya come Bring your own cup and saucer and a bun. If you go to Obama's wee party at the White House you would need to bring your credit card or your check book or both.

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whiteycat | Mar 17, 2012, 03:50 PM EDT

meanolgrouch. If you think listening to obama is hearing truth, you dont pay close attention.

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whiteycat | Mar 17, 2012, 03:47 PM EDT

I hope this does not bother the Irish to much, after all their bloc isnt big enough to secure the election but visiting Ireland was a fun thing.Hes not big on loyalty.

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immigrant1979 | Mar 17, 2012, 03:46 PM EDT

Hermittalker is right on. He knows the truth that those uneducated people on the left won't admit. They do not live in reality. Time for this dumb President to leave the White House so that our country will stop going down the tube just as he wants and anyone who denies this is simply blind. Roll on November we will do our best to rid him and his likes from the Administration who haven't a clue what they are doing. Evil is rampant in the White House right now. The only way we will win is if the Dems on the left stop their voter fraud. Happy St.Patrick's Day everyone especially those that were left out of the White House celebration.

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Meanolgrouch | Mar 17, 2012, 02:48 PM EDT

PS: hermit, dear, brush up on US law before lecturing others on the subject. It wouldn't matter if PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA had been born on the moon or Mars so long as one of his parents was American.

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Meanolgrouch | Mar 17, 2012, 02:45 PM EDT

hermitTalker, do you live alone on top of a mountain somewhere with your head in the clouds, man? You keep regurgitating GOP-fed lies like that and you'll make yourself entirely irrelevant. In the US, birthers - those claiming President Barack Obama to you, buster! - was not even born in America have become a laughingstock among educated, truthful people; namely those of us on the left. Rightwing blather will only mark you as a dinosaur. BTW, don't expect an invitation to 44's second inaugural event, either. Sometimes Irish is as Irish does. Take it from a lifelong yellow dog Democrat. Someday I'll explain what that is. Until then, visit and read barackobama.com for the truth if you want some.

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walleyeman | Mar 17, 2012, 01:51 PM EDT

Do you really belive all ofthe BS he handed you when it made a pit stop in Ireland to claim he was Irish. There is only one constituency he is faithful too and it's not black, shanty, lace curtin or just plain Irish.

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MegK311 | Mar 17, 2012, 01:43 PM EDT

Obama brags about being Irish when it is convenient for him to be Irish. I wont vote for him whether he invites me to the White House or not. I don't like his political leanings. Hopefully he wont be in the White House this time next year.

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John G. Hogan | Mar 17, 2012, 01:38 PM EDT

Niall, how does it feel to be under the bus.............you finally made it, along with all the others that he has thrown under there.

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micky74007 | Mar 17, 2012, 12:23 PM EDT

When will we all wake up and realize we have a racist bastard in the White House?

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irishcopper | Mar 17, 2012, 12:18 PM EDT

I couldn't be bothered wasting my time with this socialist phoney! Jack Kennedy and Tip O'Neil must be sitting in a pub in Heaven shaking their heads!

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hermitTalker | Mar 17, 2012, 11:13 AM EDT

The man's famously touted Community organiser boast has shown its true abilities and colours. Taking on the Catholic bishops, pretending to be defending women's right to prevent birth and destroy their unborn babies with abortifacients, and their bodies with sterilisation was a really unwise call. His support from women has dropped 12 points since- so much for pitting them against their bishops. The support of 2500 evangelicals, some rabbis and imams in favour of the defence of conscience moves, the loss of key Democrats eight months before the election, with other topics like job creation is troubling to him. The strong support for Mr Santorum who is seen as principled and consistent, combined with the support for Mr Romney and Mr Gingrich, even if they are a bit to the right on some subjects is showing that POTUS' Left swing is " A bridge too far." The judgment that he was too young and inexperienced and not tested is proving true. He should have waited and let Mrs Clinton take the standard.

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pilib04 | Mar 17, 2012, 11:04 AM EDT

Niall, this begs the question, are you the disgruntled "left-behind." Did your invite get lost in the mail like mine. I'm sure this was an oversight and not a conspiracy by the re-election committee. However, you could dial up Rick Santorum, I'm sure he would appreciate your support for his misogynist campaign.

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