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.
33 comments
pounder | Apr 15, 2011, 10:47 AM EDT
You wear a Mets hat and have the nerve to call yourself a Yank?
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TomFitz | Apr 15, 2011, 10:36 AM EDT
If they like Obama so much, they should keep him there, pay for his trip, and take the burden off the Irish-American taxpayer!
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Trealach | Apr 15, 2011, 10:30 AM EDT
The real joke as usual coming from Americans, is their 'belief' that somehow their vote counts, when electing a President. If no citizen voted, America would still have an elected President because the Electoral College DECIDES WHO becomes President - NOT the Citizen - and to think that an American wants to lecture the Irish about Irish/America? ROFL! As for the cost of this trip, the only cost involved since he's already heading to England - is the small extra cost of fuel needed for taking off in Airforce One. This trip is NOT costing the the US taxpayer one cent - but it is costing the Irish taxpayer $12million in added security ..... so get your facts straight and stop whining!!
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DuffsMot | Apr 15, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT
I view this trip to Ireland as yet another vacation, disguised as a Presidential Good Will Tour--and/or an International Campaign Pit-Stop on our dime.
"Our Tax Dollars at Work" once again..!
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EileenOfarrell | Apr 15, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT
For sure Ireland is a beautiful country and I've enjoyed my time spent in the land of my father's birth, paid for by ME. How much will Mr. Obama's trip cost ME and the rest of the US taxpayers? Must be nice to have a job where you can travel to Ireland for a pint at the taxpayers expense.
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colkelley | Apr 15, 2011, 09:53 AM EDT
I am Irish on both side on my family and I, too, wish that the Irish would not be so completely gullible when it comes to President Flim-Flam.
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CitizenWhy | Apr 15, 2011, 09:34 AM EDT
Many Irish-Americans who strongly identify with Ireland hate Obama. And this visit will only stoke that hatred. In a weird way Obama is a victim of the Irish "begrudgery" syndrome: Why should this black man get ahead when I am being let behind? It's not exactly, not really racism, just begrudgery at such a high level of success by someone else. If Obama were a lawyer and they met him, they'd probably like him and approve of his success.
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shamrock99 | Apr 15, 2011, 09:31 AM EDT
I totally agree with the author of this article. Obama has worn out his welcome in the U.S. He will go down in history as one of the weakest presidents that this country ever experienced. I hope the Irish of Ireland stop salivating over what most people in America feel has been a failed presidency.
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jamieLM | Apr 14, 2011, 10:51 PM EDT
GeorgeDillon is right about not everyone with Irish ancestry identifying with Ireland. Knowledge and interest varies from person to person. It depends on how people were raised and how much Irish ancestry they have. Most Americans are a mix of heritages. I could list 5 heritages on the census. You're right, Yank. Obama's trip to Ireland is not going to change anyone's opinion of him here in America, whether one has Irish ancestry or not.
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Rebelforce | Apr 14, 2011, 10:27 PM EDT
He's probably correct that the US newsmedia will likely ignore the President's visit to Ireland and concentrate on the British angle. But whose fault is that? Millions of Irish-Americans, but they don't seem to care if the newsmedia disrespects or ignores them. In that sense the Irish are polar opposites of the Jewish community. If President Obama ever visits Israel, rest assured it will be Headline News on every news station and newspaper in America.
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donegalcali | Apr 14, 2011, 07:24 PM EDT
Another positive post from Georgy boy. What heritage are you George? If you are irish then you have a serious identity clash. Im sure your reply will be positive and not at all insulting , as a gentleman like yourself is a shining light on this site.
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seanomelbourne | Apr 14, 2011, 07:15 PM EDT
Here we go again,George Dillon on another Anti-Irish rant.
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Celtica43 | Apr 14, 2011, 05:10 PM EDT
Totally agree. I am still getting over being rudely treated and booed when I wore NAVY sweatshirt/regalia during our trip to the Notre Dame vs USNA game in 1996. It seems the Irish waiters in Salt Hill actually thought only people of Irish heritage are students of Notre Dame! That was about my 10th trip to Ireland and I continue to go and continue to be amazed by the Irish total ignorance of true IA. I attended grad school in Ireland in the 80s and plan to go to the next ND vs NAVY game in Dublin, 1012. I accept that things won't change. Been involved in many "Alice in Wonderland" conversation re American political elections while in Ireland. It's all quite humorous. GO NAVY!!! (I, a Celtic Studies major, live in Annapolis!!0
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GeorgeDillon | Apr 14, 2011, 03:41 PM EDT
Yank: You're on the money. The Irish are utter illiterates when it comes to Irish-America. They think they kn ow & understand Irish-Americans--they don't. I would confidently bet my Social Security fund (it's going to be halved anyway by the time I use it) that there is not ONE vote to be gained for Obama by going over to Ireland. Not One. One myth the Irish propagate a lot is of the so-called 40 million Irish-Americans. This represents more ignorance on the part of the Irish, since they don't realize that on our census we can list half-a-dozen or more family heritages. I for example list three--Irish, Italian & Argentinian. Hence it's utter nonsense to think that there are 40 million who solely identify with Ireland, have learned its history, mythology, geography, and even a little of its ancient language. The figure for real Irish-Americans, as opposed to people who have some vague but uninformed affinity with Ireland, would actually be maybe a couple of hundred thousand, or one per cent of the figure the Irish fantasize about.
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