Time in Ireland will not win votes for President Obama
Posted on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 12:25 PM
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Today the Irish Independent declared that President Obama's "popularity is likely to soar among the Irish‑American vote in the US when he addresses the Irish people at a rally in Croke Park."
Now if you voted for candidate Obama and you remain a fan of him today, you're unlikely to have your positive views of him soured by a warm welcome at Croke Park or pictures of him being greeted by (very) distant relatives in Moneygall, County Offaly. If you are not a fan of President Obama today you are very unlikely to change your mind about him because 80,000 Irish people cheer him heartily or you hear some in Moneygall singing "There's no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama." A serious cringe and an upset stomach are far more likely.
This sort of thing really makes me laugh. There are times when people here talk about Irish‑Americans as if they're children waiting for the lead to be given from the ancestral motherland.
This is bad enough when we're talking about aspects of Irish culture - such as dance or music - but when it comes to American politics you think they'd trust Americans to make up their own minds. But no. A selection of happy shots of people in Ireland applauding Obama is all that's required to get Irish‑Americans to throw their weight behind his campaign for reelection.
Sheesh. Regardless, despite what people here anticipate, I doubt that there will be much coverage of the President's time in Ireland; 60 seconds on the nightly news bulletins and maybe a couple of minutes on daytime CNN is the most I'm expecting. I suspect most of the American press will go straight to Britain, where the President is heading for a state visit after his pit-stop here. {Of course, Irish Central will have EXTENSIVE coverage of his time in Ireland.}
If the weather's good - and it generally is in May - there could be some nice scenic shots of the Irish countryside, which will do the tourism business no harm. A picture of the President looking out of Marine One at Clonmacnoise {photo} in 'his' Co. Offaly would be ideal.
That's all the upside I'm hoping for.
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pilib04 | Apr 20, 2011, 08:58 AM EDT
Once again the Ugly Americans score. The President is merely doing what other Irish American Presidents do after they have been in the White House for a few years. Travel to the ancestral homeland. As for Irish journalists suggesting that this will lead to Irish American votes. Why the problem? American Irish have no problem talking about what the Irish want and what is good for Ireland. So why not the reverse? Or is it because you have to be an American before you can have an opinion on Ireland, the Irish and Irish Americans?
As for Pittsburghkid, if you are referring to millionaires to billionaires, you are right, they are the privileged class. Heck, I would say anyone making $200,000 is the privileged class!!!
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Towngate | Apr 19, 2011, 10:18 AM EDT
Hi Yank. Well said. : It's just a showboat show without sense or meaning. If his plane was to divert and drop him off in Tripoli - well, NOW you're talking!
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Ratslayer | Apr 18, 2011, 01:09 PM EDT
Some Irish-Americans prove once again what racists they truly are! Obama isn't coming to Ireland to win over the I-A vote in 2012. He knows you bat-crazy, ignorant Fox News lovers will never ever vote for him. Never. His haters hate him not for his policies but for his skin color. Plain and simple. He's doing this trip for the sake of the suffering REAL Irish. I've been in County Mayo for the last month and I can't tell you how many Irish men and women have commented positively to me about his trip. A distraction yes, but they see his short visit as a feel-good for the nation as it struggles with it economic problems. BTW, Obama will be re-elected because the slate of GOP hopefuls can't hold a candle to him, despite his flaws and failures. Americans want to move forward, not back to some cave-man past!
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GeorgeDillon | Apr 16, 2011, 11:17 AM EDT
Pittsburgh is heavily Democrat, but it doesn't have a big Irish heritage.
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hancock | Apr 16, 2011, 12:00 AM EDT
Pittsburgh isn't corrupt?
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Pittsburghkid | Apr 15, 2011, 07:10 PM EDT
Irish-Americans are classified as "White" as far as the hiring quotas are concerned. This means that outside of the corrupt Cities of Boston, Chicago, New Yory etc, most Irish-American are Republican. When Obama talks of the previledge class, he talking of White Americans, and Irish Americans.
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Madeliene | Apr 15, 2011, 03:58 PM EDT
All of the Irish in America are not democrats they did not even vote for Kennedy!
Nor shall I.
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judiron | Apr 15, 2011, 03:33 PM EDT
Oh great. We're broke, he's so concerned that he and wife and maybe kids will spend a fortune on air force 1, secret service, etc. to go traveling. Please send back the plane and keep Obama's there. You can have him.
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dipperloop | Apr 15, 2011, 02:36 PM EDT
I think you are wrong Ciairri, I am an American-Irish and we know we don't want Obama beacause he is not a good president. What do you know about America only what you hear on BBC or MSNBC.
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seagreen | Apr 15, 2011, 02:04 PM EDT
If Obama paid any attention to your thoughts and feelings, he would have ceased to exist a long time ago
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TheYank | Apr 15, 2011, 01:36 PM EDT
pounder,
You cut me to the core, but yes people here do refer to Americans as "Yanks" and I've been known to answer to it. I kind of like it, to be honest.
But it is jarring when I think about that team from the Bronx - the Highlanders.
You cut me to the core, but yes people here do refer to Americans as "Yanks" and I've been known to answer to it. I kind of like it, to be honest.
But it is jarring when I think about that team from the Bronx - the Highlanders.
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jdi2269 | Apr 15, 2011, 12:31 PM EDT
obama would probably leave office if we discontinued the ESPN connection in the White House!
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jdi2269 | Apr 15, 2011, 12:29 PM EDT
ANYONE THAT CHEERS OBAMA NOW THAT HE HAS HAD 2 1/2 YEARS TO SHOW HIS "CHANGE" IS CLEARLY UNINFORMED!
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ciarrai | Apr 15, 2011, 12:09 PM EDT
I think you are wrong, Righty the Yank. Much will be made of Obama's visit. I know you were hoping for Palin, but the POTUS will have to do. Get over it, Righty, the President is half black with some Irish mixed in. He's black Irish. I know that's the reason you and your ilk don't like him. The black part. Righty the Yank, you haven't got anyone who can come near beating Obama. So, stop your crepe hanging and let the Irish enjoy the POTUS.
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I have no problem with President Obama coming to Ireland. I think it's great, actually. I hope his visit encourages loads of Americans to seek out their roots here. I hope Obama names his next dog Moneygall (see my latest on Nixon).
My issue is with the Irish media's constant misreading of the importance of this sort of thing in US electoral politics. I doubt the President's time in Ireland will make one bit of difference to his reelection prospects.
Claiming his popularity will "soar" among Irish-Americans if he gets a rousing reception in Dublin is painting Irish-Americans as incapable of knowing their own minds and what's best for them. Such a perspective is ridiculous, patronizing and ignorant.
And, yes, there are times when Irish people's views on America drive me nuts, but I'm not denying them the right to have such views.
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