The Republican Hopefuls and their Irish Roots

spagboll · 06-01-2012 10:43pm #1

I've compiled this:

Mitt Romney
• None

Newt Gingrich
• Scotch- Irish stock according to biography, but census info shows no “off-the-boat” Irish as far back as 8 generations at which point there is no further info
Source: The gentleman from Georgia: the biography of Newt Gingrich

Rick Santorum
• Mother is half-Irish and half-Italian (source wiki)
• But he claims Italian roots exclusively

Ron Paul
• His great grandmother, Margaret Dumont is Irish, landed in New York, worked as a house keeper.
• http://www.mentormob.com//learn/i/2012-gop-republican-candidate-ron-paul/ancestry-of-ron-paul

Rick Perry
• None

John Huntsman

• None

Please challenge anything I've stated, or add more if possible

SharpshooterTom · 07-01-2012 12:05am

....and this is relevant??

As far as I'm concerned, they're just American.

spagboll · 07-01-2012 12:14am

Killer Pigeon · 07-01-2012 2:33pm

Isn't it amazing how a portion of the American electorate actually care about this sort of stuff when casting their vote...

Suryavarman · 07-01-2012 4:01pm

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

Isn't it amazing how a portion of the American electorate actually care about this sort of stuff when casting their vote...

Makes them as bad as the Irish electorate then

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar · 07-01-2012 4:03pm

sometimes I hate the Irish
really, this is a constant source of wtf

steelcityblues · 07-01-2012 4:21pm

What is the OP's view on this?

Does it matter when selecting a candidate, or not?

Me - I certainly couldn't give a rats ass. If a candidate who was related Hitler popped up, but who I felt was honest and forward thinking, I would give that person a vote.

Benny_Cake · 07-01-2012 5:39pm

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

Isn't it amazing how a portion of the American electorate actually care about this sort of stuff when casting their vote...

Do they really care about it though? It seems to be the Irish media that makes the biggest deal of it, easy column inches and all that.

spagboll · 07-01-2012 7:11pm

steelcityblues wrote: »

What is the OP's view on this?

Does it matter when selecting a candidate, or not?

Me - I certainly couldn't give a rats ass. If a candidate who was related Hitler popped up, but who I felt was honest and forward thinking, I would give that person a vote.

I wouldn't read into it to much, but with that said I'd be very excited if one of them was the son/daughter of parents from cork etc

People's roots are a massive deal in the US, it provides Ireland with a huge amount of our tourism and gets us a word in the US presidents ear at least once a year. JFK is one of my personal heroes so I might be a little emotional about the point

Overal the Irish vote is nowhere near as important as the black vote which transcends many nationalities as does the latino vote. But I would argue that an Irish vote does exist, it just won't be activated in a polarised fashion in 2012

steelcityblues · 07-01-2012 7:28pm

Well, in Ron Paul's case, his 'roots' go back to his great grand mother, so minor at best. He does not strike me as the type of guy who would capitalise on it.

Again - apart from JFK - I think other Presidents who made a big deal about their Irish ancestry did so for political reasons, and not borne out of any great affinity or understanding of our country.

There should be no such thing as an Irish vote, these days. People born and bred in America are Americans, first and foremost.

RichieC · 07-01-2012 7:49pm

Paul to one side, Id rather not be related to any of those loons.

RichieC · 07-01-2012 7:51pm

steelcityblues wrote: »

There should be no such thing as an Irish vote, these days. People born and bred in America are Americans, first and foremost.

Unless theyre Israeli... :rolleyes:

Yahew · 07-01-2012 7:54pm

RichieC wrote: »

Unless theyre Israeli... :rolleyes:

I believe that Obama also got 90% of the descendants from Africa vote.

RichieC · 07-01-2012 8:11pm

Yahew wrote: »

RichieC wrote: »

Unless theyre Israeli... :rolleyes:

I believe that Obama also got 90% of the descendants from Africa vote.

Cant really fault them for that tbf.

Suryavarman · 07-01-2012 8:51pm

Yahew wrote: »

I believe that Obama also got 90% of the descendants from Africa vote.

95% actually

RichieC wrote: »

Cant really fault them for that tbf.

Because McCain/Bush/Palin were idiots or because Obama was black?

RichieC · 07-01-2012 10:16pm

Suryavarman wrote: »

Yahew wrote: »

I believe that Obama also got 90% of the descendants from Africa vote.

95% actually

RichieC wrote: »

Cant really fault them for that tbf.

Because McCain/Bush/Palin were idiots or because Obama was black?

Well both. I was really hiping to see the first AA president and im not black. So I can only imagine how they felt to see it. Especially those old enough to remember the jim crow laws.

Typically the republicans tried to make hay from that.

laoch na mona · 08-01-2012 9:02pm

how is this relevant

spagboll · 08-01-2012 9:18pm

laoch na mona wrote: »

how is this relevant

Because we live in Ireland and a person with Irish blood might become president of the USA.

dublinman1990 · 11-01-2012 11:14pm

spagboll wrote: »

I've compiled this:

Mitt Romney
• None

Newt Gingrich
• Scotch- Irish stock according to biography, but census info shows no “off-the-boat” Irish as far back as 8 generations at which point there is no further info
Source: The gentleman from Georgia: the biography of Newt Gingrich

Rick Santorum
• Mother is half-Irish and half-Italian (source wiki)
• But he claims Italian roots exclusively

Ron Paul
• His great grandmother, Margaret Dumont is Irish, landed in New York, worked as a house keeper.
• http://www.mentormob.com//learn/i/2012-gop-republican-candidate-ron-paul/ancestry-of-ron-paul

Rick Perry
• None

John Huntsman

• None

Please challenge anything I've stated, or add more if possible

What's the roots on Michelle Bachmann if it could be of any interest?

Fr Tod Umptious · 12-01-2012 1:22pm

RichieC wrote: »

Cant really fault them for that tbf.

yes you can.

It's racist.

They voted for Obaman beacuse he , like them, is black.

laoch na mona · 12-01-2012 10:52pm

spagboll wrote: »

Because we live in Ireland and a person with Irish blood might become president of the USA.

Obama has irish roots and that hasn't made the slightest difference to his policy

Spread · 13-01-2012 7:51pm

dublinman1990 wrote: »

What's the roots on Michelle Bachmann if it could be of any interest?

Irish (and a Dub) to the core. Male ancestor was kidnapped by Vikings during a raid on Moore St in 796 AD. He lived to be 333 years old and (after rising through the ranks in Viking sailing) was put ashore on Greenland soil by Eric The Red in 987 after an argument about whether St Brendan had been there earlier. He then slowly made his way to the shores of Lake Wobegone where his exploits has been chronicled by Garrison Keillor in A Prarie Home Companion. Here, all the women are strong, all the men are goodlooking and all the kids are overachievers. Google for more info

We all shouted "Go Michelle Go" ........... and she went

dublinman1990 · 13-01-2012 8:36pm

Spread wrote: »

Irish (and a Dub) to the core. Male ancestor was kidnapped by Vikings during a raid on Moore St in 796 AD. He lived to be 333 years old and (after rising through the ranks in Viking sailing) was put ashore on Greenland soil by Eric The Red in 987 after an argument about whether St Brendan had been there earlier. He then slowly made his way to the shores of Lake Wobegone where his exploits has been chronicled by Garrison Keillor in A Prarie Home Companion. Here, all the women are strong, all the men are goodlooking and all the kids are overachievers. Google for more info

We all shouted "Go Michelle Go" ........... and she went

Did you get that on Google or make up some of that stuff? I tried to look her up irish roots on Google and it is not there.

southsiderosie · 14-01-2012 4:13am

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

yes you can.

It's racist.

They voted for Obaman beacuse he , like them, is black.

How is it racist?

Blacks overwhelmingly vote Democrat (over 80%), especially in national elections. Throw in the ethnic pride element, and the 90%+ support for Obama is understandable.

To look at this another way, do you really think that Herman Cain would have such high levels of black support? Doubtful.

The only black Republican that would give blacks pause to consider voting GOP is Colin Powell - and that was before he fell on his sword for the Dubya administration.

Exile 1798 · 14-01-2012 1:58pm

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

yes you can.

It's racist.

They voted for Obaman beacuse he , like them, is black.

90% of black voters voted for Al Gore in 2000. 85% for Bill Clinton in 1996.

Polls and analysis have shown that in US House, Senate, and State elections over the past 20 years the black electorate has many times voted 90% + for Democratic candidates and the trend has been steadily upwards. Therefore you might want to dispose of that racist talking point.

It's a tribute to the political awareness of black America that they vote for what they view as their own economic interests. That despite being religious and conservative they haven't fallen for the nonsense "culture wars." It shows a basic understanding of politics that many lack.

What, on the other hand, can be said of impoverished, white, Appalachia that was the only region in the country to swing towards the Republicans in 2008?

matthew8 · 14-01-2012 2:06pm

Exile 1798 wrote: »

90% of black voters voted for Al Gore in 2000. 85% for Bill Clinton in 1996.

Polls and analysis have shown that in US House, Senate, and State elections over the past 20 years the black electorate has many times voted 90% + for Democratic candidates and the trend has been steadily upwards. Therefore you might want to dispose of that racist talking point.

It's a tribute to the political awareness of black America that they vote for what they view as their own economic interests. That despite being religious and conservative they haven't fallen for the nonsense "culture wars." It shows a basic understanding of politics that many lack.

What, on the other hand, can be said of impoverished, white, Appalachia that was the only region in the country to swing towards the Republicans in 2008?

I hate all this voting for their interests rubbish. It's insulting to republicans and to democracy, and in your case it's quite anti-white. If it's in their interests to vote democrat, then why are their unemployment numbers going up under Obama?

southsiderosie · 14-01-2012 3:39pm

matthew8 wrote: »

I hate all this voting for their interests rubbish. It's insulting to republicans and to democracy, and in your case it's quite anti-white. If it's in their interests to vote democrat, then why are their unemployment numbers going up under Obama?

How is it anti-white? The vast majority of politicians in the US are still white. And people vote their interests all of the time - the elderly, exporters, Christian conservatives, etc.

Blacks vote Democrat because Democrats under LBJ pushed civil rights legislation through the Congress that finally gave them full political citizenship in the US. Prior to WWII, most blacks who could vote (and Southern blacks during Reconstruction) voted Republican because Republicans under Lincoln ended slavery. It's pretty straightforward actully; I don't understand all the handwringing over this.

matthew8 · 14-01-2012 4:08pm

southsiderosie wrote: »

How is it anti-white? The vast majority of politicians in the US are still white. And people vote their interests all of the time - the elderly, exporters, Christian conservatives, etc.

Blacks vote Democrat because Democrats under LBJ pushed civil rights legislation through the Congress that finally gave them full political citizenship in the US. Prior to WWII, most blacks who could vote (and Southern blacks during Reconstruction) voted Republican because Republicans under Lincoln ended slavery. It's pretty straightforward actully; I don't understand all the handwringing over this.

The poster was basically called white people idiots for swinging towards the republicans, compared to the black geniuses who vote democrat.

southsiderosie · 14-01-2012 6:46pm

matthew8 wrote: »

The poster was basically called white people idiots for swinging towards the republicans, compared to the black geniuses who vote democrat.

Ok I still don't see how it was anti-white. If people vote their interests, and West Virginia has voted Democrat (pro-unions, which is important in coal mining country; pro-New Deal legislation), then why magically do they vote GOP in 2008, who are anti-union and anti-New Deal legislation? That would very much appear to be voting against their interests. And for the black population, voting Dem is voting for the lesser of two evils.

Fr Tod Umptious · 16-01-2012 11:25am

southsiderosie wrote: »

How is it racist?

Blacks overwhelmingly vote Democrat (over 80%), especially in national elections. Throw in the ethnic pride element, and the 90%+ support for Obama is understandable.

To look at this another way, do you really think that Herman Cain would have such high levels of black support? Doubtful.

The only black Republican that would give blacks pause to consider voting GOP is Colin Powell - and that was before he fell on his sword for the Dubya administration.

What exactly is ethnic pride ?

For example can a white persons support for the only white runner in an Olympic 100m final be put down to ethnic pride or racism ?

If Herman Cain was the first black candidate to contest a presidential race then I would expect a swing of black votes towards him.

I totally agree that blacks traditionally vote Dem, but you have to look at the turnout.

In 2008 turnout amongst black voters increased by almost 5%, which leads me to believe that some blacks came out a voted just because there was a black man to vote for.

It would be naive to think otherwise.

It will be interesting to see what 2012 brings, will the novelty have worn off ?.

southsiderosie wrote: »

Ok I still don't see how it was anti-white. If people vote their interests, and West Virginia has voted Democrat (pro-unions, which is important in coal mining country; pro-New Deal legislation), then why magically do they vote GOP in 2008, who are anti-union and anti-New Deal legislation? That would very much appear to be voting against their interests. And for the black population, voting Dem is voting for the lesser of two evils.

Interesting points but totally flawed beacuse it's BS

Here is the WV election breakdown for the past few presidential elections

2008
R = 56%, D = 43%

2004
R= 56%, D= 43%

2000
R= 52%, D =46 %

I am failing to see that swing to the GOP in 2008

southsiderosie · 16-01-2012 11:42am

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

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What exactly is ethnic pride ?

White ethnics until the mid 20th century were seen as distinct groups: Irish, Poles, Italians, etc. These groups were traditionally excluded from national institutions of power which were traditionally the provence of white, Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPS). Although you could really say the same for any minority group: women and Catholics, for example. Italians were proud when Fiorello La Guardia was elected mayor of New York, Catholics were proud of Al Smith and later JFK, etc., largely because when these men were elected to office, there was a living memory of those ethnic/religious groups being excluded from power.

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

If Herman Cain was the first black candidate to contest a presidential race then I would expect a swing of black votes towards him.

I totally agree that blacks traditionally vote Dem, but you have to look at the turnout.

In 2008 turnout amongst black voters increased by almost 5%, which leads me to believe that some blacks came out a voted just because there was a black man to vote for.

It would be naive to think otherwise.

It will be interesting to see what 2012 brings, will the novelty have worn off ?.

That report notes that the bump in black turnout was in Southern regions with large black populations - i.e. Blacks who would be inclined to vote Democratic, but who generally may not vote because they live in Republican-dominated areas. So, yes, I would think that there would be a significant increase in black voter turnout in the Deep South, given that a) blacks in this region only got the right to vote within living memory, and b) no black person who grew up in the Deep South in the Jim Crow era could ever imagine that they would live to see the day when a black man would be elected president of the United States. Obama wasn't 'just' a black man they could vote for, he was a black man who had a broad base of support and could plausibly win the election (i.e. he wasn't Al Sharpton, someone running just to raise their media profile).

I still don't get what the issue is with more blacks turning out to elect a black man who was at the top of the ticket for the party they would usually vote for anyway, especially given the political and social history of blacks in the U.S.

Fr Tod Umptious wrote: »

Interesting points but totally flawed beacuse it's BS

Here is the WV election breakdown for the past few presidential elections

2008
R = 56%, D = 43%

2004
R= 56%, D= 43%

2000
R= 52%, D =46 %

I am failing to see that swing to the GOP in 2008

Oh, I was assuming that the previous poster was correct about there being a swing. I didn't know the presidential figures, but until recently, WV had two Democrats for their Senators.

The Republican Hopefuls and their Irish Roots

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