Gay Mitchell- Individual Interview Late Late Show... your opinions?

Adrianno28

Gay Mitchell- Individual Interview Late Late , Some say that he was not the candidate that Fine Gael wanted, that he is bland and just appeals to a Dublin electorate , others say that his experience as an M.E.P and a considerable Vote getter show he is popular with "the people"..how do you think he did?

lmaopml

It's not over yet, the debate tonight ....but he did 'ok'....he's liked in Dublin, but he's been away in Europe, and it seems like a really top nob job far away off the chart place he's been for a while, which may serve him well or may not - he's a reasonable prospect I suppose, but not exactly exciting and inspirational - the interest in male suicide remarks are new and very worth while, but not something that he stands out for prior to the interview tonight..Still, he's a good guy I think.

dlofnep

Tubs let him get away without discussing the issue of gay marriage. Poor showing by Tubs.

maddragon

Who?

Inquitus

He was really crap, though not Dana and Mary crap.

Harps

Really didnt stand out at all, came up with his usual 'worked his way into university' and 'elected in 14 elections' comments and just doesn't come across as someone I'd think about voting for

hotmail.com

He was almost irrelevant tonight. He blew his chances to rip into
McGuinness by saying 22 counties, he just looked like an idiot then.

karaokeman

Didn't look serious if you asked me.

Bloody Nipples

He's got more personality than I gave him credit for but I still wouldn't vote for him.

meditraitor

22 counties, what planet does this gay live on ?

KnifeWRENCH

dlofnep wrote: »

Tubs let him get away without discussing the issue of gay marriage. Poor showing by Tubs.

That really pissed me off too. He didn't ask him about gay marriage, gay adoption or breaking the confessional seal. I think Tubridy didn't want his personal preferred candidate to be shown up as the small-minded outdated conservative that he really is. :rolleyes: And it's a shame because I generally like Tubridy but he was awful tonight.

On topic, Mitchell did what I expected him to (although the "22 counties" gaff was amateur from a polished professional like him!) I doubt he'll have won any new fans or lost any of his existing ones. He was just making up the numbers, basically.

Liam Byrne

hotmail.com wrote: »

He was almost irrelevant tonight. He blew his chances to rip into
McGuinness by saying 22 counties, he just looked like an idiot then.

It would have been the first time in years that a politician actually reflected my thoughts and vocalised them, and he blew it completely!

maygitchell

Well I thought he did better than Dana or Davis anyway

dlofnep

maygitchell wrote: »

Well I thought he did better than Dana or Davis anyway

Hardly much of an accomplishment now Gay, is it?

maygitchell

dlofnep wrote: »

Hardly much of an accomplishment now Gay, is it?

Well he only made an idiot out of himself once whereas dana and davis were consistently letting themselves down

dlofnep

maygitchell wrote: »

Well he only made an idiot out of himself once whereas dana and davis were consistently letting themselves down

Well if Ryan Tubbridy had of asked him some real questions - he would have dropped the ball once than once.

maygitchell

dlofnep wrote: »

Well if Ryan Tubbridy had of asked him some real questions - he would have dropped the ball once than once.

Well you are entitled to your opinion but im confident he could hold his own under pressure and not crumble like them pair for sure

KELTICKNIGHTT

didnt impress mew but its early days yet

Manach

KnifeWRENCH wrote: »

That really pissed me off too. He didn't ask him about gay marriage

why then not ask about square circles, as it is an equal absurdity.

KnifeWRENCH

Manach wrote: »

why then not ask about square circles, as it is an equal absurdity.

I wouldn't ask Gay Mitchell about square circles because he is not a mathematician and is therefore unlikely to know about Tarski's circle-squaring problem. If he did I'd be impressed but it's not really relevant to the position of president.

Gay marriage, on the other hand, is a real concern to a lot of people in this country. A Red C poll done in March 2011 showed that 73% of Irish people support same-sex marriage: http://www.thejournal.ie/nearly-three-quarters-of-irish-people-in-favour-of-gay-marriage-2011-03/
I imagine many of that 73% would be reluctant to lend support to a man as blatantly against equality and the rights of LGBT people as Mr. Mitchell is. However, some of those 73% may not know Mr. Mitchell's conservative Christian views on homosexuality. I was rather hoping these views would be highlighted tonight. But not to worry; plenty of time left in the campaign yet.

Wolfe Tone

I got a great laugh when he said 22 counties, made himself look like an utter fool.

lmaopml

KnifeWRENCH wrote: »

I wouldn't ask Gay Mitchell about square circles because he is not a mathematician and is therefore unlikely to know about Tarski's circle-squaring problem. If he did I'd be impressed but it's not really relevant to the position of president.

Gay marriage, on the other hand, is a real concern to a lot of people in this country. A Red C poll done in March 2011 showed that 73% of Irish people support same-sex marriage: http://www.thejournal.ie/nearly-three-quarters-of-irish-people-in-favour-of-gay-marriage-2011-03/
I imagine many of that 73% would be reluctant to lend support to a man as blatantly against equality and the rights of LGBT people as Mr. Mitchell is. However, some of those 73% may not know Mr. Mitchell's conservative Christian views on homosexuality. I was rather hoping these views would be highlighted tonight. But not to worry; plenty of time left in the campaign yet.

Well that's the whole bizarre end of the campaign really..

The President has zero power over any kind of gay rights, or even to reduce the age of consent - that's just media frenzy, and something that has become a bit of a red herring really! The President has a portfolio to perform, a trusted position where none of those issues are meant to be a 'mandate' of the office! People will vote based on whether those things are part of a mandate or whether they see a person fullfilliing the role as required no? Nothing more or less? or should the President be a white night of opinion on the world stage? Quoting yeats etc. etc. etc.

KnifeWRENCH

lmaopml wrote: »

Well that's the whole bizarre end of the campaign really..

The President has zero power over any kind of gay rights, or even to reduce the age of consent - that's just media frenzy, and something that has become a bit of a red herring really! The President has a portfolio to perform, a trusted position where none of those issues are meant to be a 'mandate' of the office! People will vote based on whether those things are part of a mandate or whether they see a person fullfilliing the role as required no? Nothing more or less? or should the President be a white night of opinion on the world stage? Quoting yeats etc. etc. etc.

Being perfectly honest, the 'mandate' of the office could be performed by almost anyone. I'm sure any of the seven candidates would be perfectly competent at the job at hand. You and I probably would too!

But I would rather not lend my support to someone with personal views that I find abhorrent for any elected position, and so I would rather not have an ultra-conservative right-wing Christian as our head of state.

P.S. I hate Yeats too! :pac:

charlemont

Gay Mitchell was as boring as Tubridy.

Sunnyisland

He comes across to me as to smug and arogrant, never liked him .

Following the initial withdrawal of David Norris from the 2011 presidential campaign after it was revealed that Norris had sought clemency for his former partner from a statutory rape conviction, it was subsequently pointed out that Mitchell had also sought clemency for a convict, in his case for Army of God member and double-murderer Paul Jennings Hill, a fact that had been public knowledge for eight years.

Another convict Mitchell sought clemency for was Louis Truesdale, who was convicted in 1980 of the rape and murder of 18-year-old Rebecca Ann Eudy. The victim's mother, Evelyn Eudy said that she "was appalled to hear Mr Mitchell was running as a presidential candidate in Ireland". According to newspaper reports when he was questioned about these letters on the 27th August 2011, he "became quite incensed" and revealed that he has written "a number" of clemency pleas.

Views on homosexuality

On the 12th August 2011 in a radio interview with Pat Kenny when asked for his views on same-sex marriage, Mr Mitchell said he did not want to do anything that “weakens marriage” but had supported civil partnership. In 2004 Mitchell defended Italian MEP Rocco Buttiglione's remarks when he referred to homosexuality as a sin.

Mitchell has been questioned as to whether or not he is a member of the European Catholic group Dignitatis Humanae Institute, which he denied on the same radio interview with Pat Kenny, however according to Benjamin Harnwell, the institute's founding chairman Mitchell helped formulate the charter that became the institute's declaration. In the same interview Mitchell was also asked whether or not he is a member of the Iona Institute (who reject the notion of same-sex marriages), which he also denied, however in September 2007, he did host a conference (The Fragmenting Family) on behalf of the Iona Institute.

vitani

Let himself down when he started attacking McGuinness. The rest of the candidates were happy to focus on themselves and their own campaigns - there'll be plenty of time for mud-slinging later.

On the issue of clemency, I have no problem with him at all. He's not asking for anyone to be released, he just opposes the death penalty. That's something to be proud of, IMO.

thebman

lmaopml wrote: »

Well that's the whole bizarre end of the campaign really..

The President has zero power over any kind of gay rights, or even to reduce the age of consent - that's just media frenzy, and something that has become a bit of a red herring really! The President has a portfolio to perform, a trusted position where none of those issues are meant to be a 'mandate' of the office! People will vote based on whether those things are part of a mandate or whether they see a person fullfilliing the role as required no? Nothing more or less? or should the President be a white night of opinion on the world stage? Quoting yeats etc. etc. etc.

Its not really that bizarre, a president has to travel to places that might not share his/her views on issues and has to be able to perform as the people expect him to and not let his/her own views on issues get in the way.

This is particularly hard to do if he/she has extreme views/beliefs on issues. The presidency is essentially least controversial candidate with best ability to give a speech wins.

HellsAngel

realies wrote: »

He comes across to me as to smug and arogrant, never liked him .

Sure he's a FGer, the party of Sir Garret Fitzgerald, John 'Unionist' Bruton etc what else would you expect ?

He thought he was landing a knock out punch at MMcG implying MMcG didn't recognise the state and then he calls it the "22 counties" Keep up the good work Gay !!!

HellsAngel

vitani wrote: »

Let himself down when he started attacking McGuinness. The rest of the candidates were happy to focus on themselves and their own campaigns - there'll be plenty of time for mud-slinging later.

Good point, the others were happy to stay quiet as he tried to make a battering ram out of himself - and failed miserably of course !

nice_guy80

there is more personality in a blank wall than in Mitchell

thebman

Don't know why he didn't answer the Cloyne report question even if he wasn't directly asked it. Norris did and I think all the other candidates did too so why not Mitchell?

Oh and never asked to answer the question on Gay marriage either which is shocking considering he defended comments by a European politician describing it as a sin.

From the unbiased state broadcaster no less :P

Why does Ryan Tubridy not want us to know Gay Mitchell's view on Gay marriage? He tried to ask Norris about his controversial issue before Norris told him he explained it several times in other media and he wasn't been given a chance to talk about what he would do if elected, he asked Mary Davis about the Special Olympics and what else she achieved, he asked Dana about gay marriage and the Cloyne report, he asked Sean Gallagher about his links to FF, he asked McGuinness about the IRA, he asked Higgins about his party affiliations...

Really seems a bit biased not to ask Gay about his controversial issues but doing so for all other candidates to me.

pjmn

Complete lightweight - just proves that 'Europe' is a junket for these failed politicians (albeit a very lucrative junket for them) ... personality of a wet dishcloth. Very disappointed with his performance.

Pawwed Rig

I remember Gay came to visit my secondary school when he was mayor of Dublin. Everyone in the class was sniggering at him as all he talked about in his speech was bringing the Olympics to Dublin. As a kid I could see that it was an unrealistic asperation yet here was this 'important man' pushing it. Never really rated him after that.

Do yez remember when Bertie called him a waffler in the Dail?

Liam Byrne

Pawwed Rig wrote: »

I
Do yez remember when Bertie called him a waffler in the Dail?

Mitchell doesn't impress, but given Ahern's reputation I would believe the complete opposite of anything that comes out of that deluded idiot's mouth.

lmaopml

thebman wrote: »

Its not really that bizarre, a president has to travel to places that might not share his/her views on issues and has to be able to perform as the people expect him to and not let his/her own views on issues get in the way.

This is particularly hard to do if he/she has extreme views/beliefs on issues. The presidency is essentially least controversial candidate with best ability to give a speech wins.

Sounds like Michael D so....Honest, at this stage I still haven't got a clue who I'd vote for..

I would totally agree with you bty, I think if any of the candidates is essentially seen as beating their own drum or that people believe that they may use the office of President in order to beat that personal drum internationally (whatever cause it's for..) , then the people may feel that the candidate could cause embarrassment and not really be representative of the people of Ireland. So yes media interrogation serves that purpose - it highlights what motivates them. I think Gay probably said too little to be honest, and some have just opened their mouths and forgot to close em..lol...

I'm down to four now - Gay is still in there with a preference for me, however my gut feeling is that Michael D for the reasons you stipulated will be the next resident in the park.

toexpress

There is an awful lot of mention of the issue of gay marriage, I didn't really see it come up at all and at the end of the day it is not a matter for the President, that person will be asked to sign the legislation into law. If the President doesn't want to then it's off to the Supreme Court.

The Presidential election is not about gay rights it's about the good of the nation and it's citizens.

Out of interest how many of you actually care that much about the issue of gay marriage over increasing Ireland's profile abroad in order to increase foreign investment to the country?

alastair

toexpress wrote: »

The Presidential election is not about gay rights it's about the good of the nation and it's citizens.

Unless they're gay and looking for the right of marriage I guess.

thebman

toexpress wrote: »

There is an awful lot of mention of the issue of gay marriage, I didn't really see it come up at all and at the end of the day it is not a matter for the President, that person will be asked to sign the legislation into law. If the President doesn't want to then it's off to the Supreme Court.

The Presidential election is not about gay rights it's about the good of the nation and it's citizens.

Out of interest how many of you actually care that much about the issue of gay marriage over increasing Ireland's profile abroad in order to increase foreign investment to the country?

The problem with candidates opposed to gay marriage or gay rights in general is when the president hasto go to a country that does allow such things as it generates controversy and if it is something they personally believe is wrong then it increases the likelihood of them making a blunder on the issue and gay rights is a very topical issue in some of our neighboring countries right now.

Saying it doesn't matter is a little naive. Sure who cares if McGuinness was in the IRA either then? Or that Norris wrote some clemency letters.

As for foreign direct investment, sure the president doesn't have the ability to order other companies to invest here, why bring it up at all?

Such logic only works on the issue you don't care about yourself and is a bit short sighted IMO. It is why I think Higgins is the only actual candidate in the race and why the least controversial candidate is the best one.

toexpress

I would disagree with much of what you say there thebman.

I think it is perfectly possible for the President to put their own beliefs aside in order to show respect for the views of other countries.

I won't say it doesn't matter but on the scale of 1-10 it's probably down around the 1 for me.

Yes of course the President can't order companies to invest here but they can create the image of the country that might encourage such activity and that is what this is about just now.

Looking at it, and thinking about the conversations I hear and have with friends/neighbours (we are all working people paying mortgages and bills etc and in a lot of cases trying to put children through school) the main issue being able to pay the mortgage and keep food on the table a job that becomes increasingly hard all the time and direct investment will help with that so I just think that is what we should be focussing on. A Presidency is 7 years and if you think about it we are looking at being at the end of that period before things start to return to normal.

thebman

toexpress wrote: »

I would disagree with much of what you say there thebman.

I think it is perfectly possible for the President to put their own beliefs aside in order to show respect for the views of other countries.

They can try, it makes it more likely they'll make an idiot of themselves and the Irish people such as the 22 counties blunder.

People can't always hide their own personal agenda, sometimes it comes out whether they want it to or not especially if they lose focus.

I won't say it doesn't matter but on the scale of 1-10 it's probably down around the 1 for me.

Yes of course the President can't order companies to invest here but they can create the image of the country that might encourage such activity and that is what this is about just now.

But since every candidate wants Ireland to be successful and attract investment, they all support this agenda I would have thought or which candidate do you think wants to discourage FDI or doesn't care about FDI and the welfare of the people of this country?

toexpress

I think it is unfair to keep citing a slip of the tongue as a reason for not electing someone a President will be a human not a robot we all make mistakes and as silly as it was no-one died

I am not saying that there is any candidate who does not want the country to succeed but I think that should be the focus of the President just now and that all other agendas and interests should be secondary to that.

We heard Mary Davis talk about mental health and Gay Mitchell talk about suicide, both worthy causes indeed, but perhaps both candidates should consider that these figures are greatly effected by people who cant support themselves or their families and that's where this needs to start.

Pangea

Gay Mitchell is just making a show of himself on newstalk at the moment!

ParkRunner

Pangea wrote: »

Gay Mitchell is just making a show of himself on newstalk at the moment!

I couldn't agree more. He is worse than a teenager in the interview. I don't think he has said more than half a minute about what his own strenghts are, he is just attacking McGuiness non-stop. McGuiness is coming out much better from this.

thebman

toexpress wrote: »

I think it is unfair to keep citing a slip of the tongue as a reason for not electing someone a President will be a human not a robot we all make mistakes and as silly as it was no-one died

Disagree entirely, the president is a largely ceremonial role and mainly involves speeches. Making mistakes like that is about the worst thing a president can do.

I am not saying that there is any candidate who does not want the country to succeed but I think that should be the focus of the President just now and that all other agendas and interests should be secondary to that.

We heard Mary Davis talk about mental health and Gay Mitchell talk about suicide, both worthy causes indeed, but perhaps both candidates should consider that these figures are greatly effected by people who cant support themselves or their families and that's where this needs to start.

But what can a president actually do to encourage FDI other than say go on you will to business owners when abroad?

toexpress

thebman wrote: »

Disagree entirely, the president is a largely ceremonial role and mainly involves speeches. Making mistakes like that is about the worst thing a president can do.

Well then let's given Dana a chance sure she can give us an oul bar of a song at these ceremonies since there is nothing else for our President to do

Or maybe Marty, sure who better to give us the old 12 gun salute.

Gosh this has been an education for me, we don't need a smart person in the office we need someone with a big personality well I shall have to reconsider how I cast my vote

jonniebgood1

EF wrote: »

I couldn't agree more. He is worse than a teenager in the interview. I don't think he has said more than half a minute about what his own strenghts are, he is just attacking McGuiness non-stop. McGuiness is coming out much better from this.

I am not sure what you are listening to. I thought he did well under obvious bias of the presenter who at one stage couldnt restrain from attacking Mitchell himself. Mitchell's ploy is quite obvious, he is the man who is'nt Martin McGuinness and his currently low ratings will shoot up when people see him tearing strips off McGuinness's contradictions. Further to this he made a show out of Dunphy on the constitutional reality of the presidents role on passing finance/ money bills. His only problem with the newstalk interview is that it is on Newstalk rather than RTE 1 news so few people will hear it.

JonathanAnon

I think Gay Mitchell is a decent well meaning guy, but I thought he was awful on Friday night... The second he came on the show he just sat there and dispassionately recited his pre-prepared statement about why he would be a great President... And why is he always so irritable and grumpy, he seriously needs to buy a bed with a "right side" on it..

thebman

toexpress wrote: »

Well then let's given Dana a chance sure she can give us an oul bar of a song at these ceremonies since there is nothing else for our President to do

Or maybe Marty, sure who better to give us the old 12 gun salute.

Gosh this has been an education for me, we don't need a smart person in the office we need someone with a big personality well I shall have to reconsider how I cast my vote

Since when is being able to deliver a speech mean you need a big personality?

I don't think Dana or Marty fit the description of a non-controversial candidate TBH which is what I've been saying we need all along but they also need good speech giving abilities and the ability to think on the spot.

ParkRunner

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

I am not sure what you are listening to. I thought he did well under obvious bias of the presenter who at one stage couldnt restrain from attacking Mitchell himself. Mitchell's ploy is quite obvious, he is the man who is'nt Martin McGuinness and his currently low ratings will shoot up when people see him tearing strips off McGuinness's contradictions. Further to this he made a show out of Dunphy on the constitutional reality of the presidents role on passing finance/ money bills. His only problem with the newstalk interview is that it is on Newstalk rather than RTE 1 news so few people will hear it.

McGuiness made a good point that he is getting more vitriolic attacks about his past from FG than he gets from hardline unionists. Paul Kehoe and Phil Hogan's comments are suitable only for tabloid chatter and they're efforts to go for the jugular is not going to promote Gay Mitchell in my opinion.

I agree with you about Dunphy brining up the bank bailout, it wasn't worth bringing up but disagree that Mitchell's ratings will shoot up after this. He is concerned about suicide and keen on the european project but we didn't learn much more about him from that debate.

jonniebgood1

EF wrote: »

McGuiness made a good point that he is getting more vitriolic attacks about his past from FG than he gets from hardline unionists. Paul Kehoe and Phil Hogan's comments are suitable only for tabloid chatter and they're efforts to go for the jugular is not going to promote Gay Mitchell in my opinion.

I agree with you about Dunphy brining up the bank bailout, it wasn't worth bringing up but disagree that Mitchell's ratings will shoot up after this. He is concerned about suicide and keen on the european project but we didn't learn much more about him from that debate.

It was better than any of the meaningless debate so far in the interviews/ debates I've heard

toexpress

thebman wrote: »

Since when is being able to deliver a speech mean you need a big personality?

I don't think Dana or Marty fit the description of a non-controversial candidate TBH which is what I've been saying we need all along but they also need good speech giving abilities and the ability to think on the spot.

Well being an orator requires certain personality traits that I would personally see as being those of someone with a big personality

So who would you like to see in this little role of ceremonial duties?