Pat Kenny's use of "Sinn Fein Tweet" during Frontline Presidential Debate?

Gergiev

To my eyes, this was the most astonishing development tonight.

How on earth did Kenny and RTE allow themselves to be 'played' by Sinn Fein or some other party?

After a commercial break, Kenny informs us with breathless excitement that SF have tweeted that they will produce the business man who donated the €5000 to Fianna Fail - via Sean Gallgher - at a press conference tomorrow and PK wants Gallagher's reaction.

(In fact, he addressed Gallagher in the way a trial judge might address a defendant who has just had an important piece of evidence produced at the last minute in a trial and would he like to retract or alter his evidence).

Later, on Vincent Browne, SF inform him that it didn't come from them or their "official" Twitter account and they have no plans to produce Morgan (the said businessman) at all.

Extraordinary stuff as it had/has the potential to be a real game-changer.

But how could any professional state broadcasting organisation allow this to happen during such an important debate on the eve of the election?

In other words, introduce "hearsay" comment at a crucial stage in the proceedings.

Ballymagash, anybody???

PomBear

Bit of a blunder on RTÉ's part but it got the truth out of Gallagher so i'm happy

Galwayguy35

Gergiev wrote: »

To my eyes, this was the most astonishing development tonight.

How on earth did Kenny and RTE allow themselves to be 'played' by Sinn Fein or some other party?

After a commercial break, Kenny informs us with breathless excitement that SF have tweeted that they will produce the business man who donated the €5000 to Fianna Fail - via Sean Gallgher - at a press conference tomorrow and PK wants Gallagher's reaction.

(In fact, he addressed Gallagher in the way a trial judge might address a defendant who has just had an important piece of evidence produced at the last minute in a trial and would he like to retract or alter his evidence).

Later, on Vincent Browne, SF inform him that it didn't come from them or their "official" Twitter account and they have no plans to produce Morgan (the said businessman) at all.

Extraordinary stuff as it had/has the potential to be a real game-changer.

But how could any professional state broadcasting organisation allow this to happen during such an important debate on the eve of the election?

In other words, introduce "hearsay" comment at a crucial stage in the proceedings.

Ballymagash, anybody???

It showed Gallagher up for what he is, he crashed and burned last night.

CptMackey

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Gergiev wrote: »

To my eyes, this was the most astonishing development tonight.

How on earth did Kenny and RTE allow themselves to be 'played' by Sinn Fein or some other party?

After a commercial break, Kenny informs us with breathless excitement that SF have tweeted that they will produce the business man who donated the €5000 to Fianna Fail - via Sean Gallgher - at a press conference tomorrow and PK wants Gallagher's reaction.

(In fact, he addressed Gallagher in the way a trial judge might address a defendant who has just had an important piece of evidence produced at the last minute in a trial and would he like to retract or alter his evidence).

Later, on Vincent Browne, SF inform him that it didn't come from them or their "official" Twitter account and they have no plans to produce Morgan (the said businessman) at all.

Extraordinary stuff as it had/has the potential to be a real game-changer.

But how could any professional state broadcasting organisation allow this to happen during such an important debate on the eve of the election?

In other words, introduce "hearsay" comment at a crucial stage in the proceedings.

Ballymagash, anybody???

It showed Gallagher up for what he is, he crashed and burned last night.

And What is he? At least he isn't a shinner.
I was leaning to Michael D but now I'll prob vote for galleher. Rte showed their true colours last night

Dirk Gently

I thought it was a pretty spectacular ambush. Kenny just called Gallaghers bluff, if he done nothing wrong he could have simply denied it. Delighted it happened the way it did tbh, live on tv and Gallagher forced to think on the spot with mc Guinness whispering in his ear "your in trouble now". Great stuff. Why give Gallagher the opportunity to let his PR team answer it vaguely the next day?

Joey the lips

CptMackey wrote: »

And What is he? At least he isn't a shinner.
I was leaning to Michael D but now I'll prob vote for galleher. Rte showed their true colours last night

This is something i dont get. I can hardly see how you were planning to vote a labour man like michael D and because sean gallagher was shown to be a liar you will now vote for him.. Perhaps you dont agree with a canidate getting a good trashing. Then if not why would you be critical of of martin mcG.

Its a comment that few have made in this election and what it really says to me that you were intending to vote gallagher all along as imo michael D had not wronged you to deserve such a change.

It would be the equiva of me saying i was going to vote michael D but now i am voting martin mc G because he made crap of sean gallagher. That would be nonsense of me.

colly10

CptMackey wrote: »

And What is he? At least he isn't a shinner.
I was leaning to Michael D but now I'll prob vote for galleher. Rte showed their true colours last night

Yes, a guy who says he has no recollection of whether he received a brown envelope is exactly what this country needs right now. No wonder this country is ****ed.
Bertie should have went for the job, with a bit of pr spin he might be in with a good shout

CptMackey

Joey the lips wrote: »

CptMackey wrote: »

And What is he? At least he isn't a shinner.
I was leaning to Michael D but now I'll prob vote for galleher. Rte showed their true colours last night

This is something i dont get. I can hardly see how you were planning to vote a labour man like michael D and because sean gallagher was shown to be a liar you will now vote for him.. Perhaps you dont agree with a canidate getting a good trashing. Then if not why would you be critical of of martin mcG.

Its a comment that few have made in this election and what it really says to me that you were intending to vote gallagher all along as imo michael D had not wronged you to deserve such a change.

It would be the equiva of me saying i was going to vote michael D but now i am voting martin mc G because he made crap of sean gallagher. That would be nonsense of me.

If sinn fein tell me that a wall is black then I will assume it's White. They attacked gallaher so I assume that what he actually did was nothing major, what all political parties do. Every part has fund raised like this. It isn't news. Michael D has done nothing of late so u decided to change my preference. It's not like we are voting for a position of power. Rte and sinn fein just ambushed him and that is the main reason for my change of mind.

Never trust sinn fein

Slydice

Gallaher lies and tries to tell us what he thinks we want to hear

Bertie lied and tried to tell us what he thought we wanted to hear

Both from Fianna Fail

He's not getting my vote.

jonniebgood1

Gergiev wrote: »

To my eyes, this was the most astonishing development tonight.

How on earth did Kenny and RTE allow themselves to be 'played' by Sinn Fein or some other party?

After a commercial break, Kenny informs us with breathless excitement that SF have tweeted that they will produce the business man who donated the €5000 to Fianna Fail - via Sean Gallgher - at a press conference tomorrow and PK wants Gallagher's reaction.

(In fact, he addressed Gallagher in the way a trial judge might address a defendant who has just had an important piece of evidence produced at the last minute in a trial and would he like to retract or alter his evidence).

Later, on Vincent Browne, SF inform him that it didn't come from them or their "official" Twitter account and they have no plans to produce Morgan (the said businessman) at all.

Extraordinary stuff as it had/has the potential to be a real game-changer.

But how could any professional state broadcasting organisation allow this to happen during such an important debate on the eve of the election?

In other words, introduce "hearsay" comment at a crucial stage in the proceedings.

Ballymagash, anybody???

The whole debate including jeering and leering supporters was not appropriate for a presidential debate. Gay Mitchells rant summarised it fairly well actually. Its possibly as a result of to many debates. Many of the questions were loaded with negativity.

Sunnyisland

Cpt Mackey wrote: »

If sinn fein tell me that a wall is black then I will assume it's White. They attacked gallaher so I assume that what he actually did was nothing major, what all political parties do. Every part has fund raised like this. It isn't news. Michael D has done nothing of late so u decided to change my preference. It's not like we are voting for a position of power. Rte and sinn fein just ambushed him and that is the main reason for my change of mind.

Never trust sinn fein

Can we assume that with all the candidates when there attacked or just Sean gallagher ?

smokingman

I can't believe he said the money was "just resting" in his account and the "envelope" remark shot the "brown envelope" culture of FF right to the front of peoples minds. Bit of a disaster for him in fairness.

Wasn't going to vote for him anyway but great car crash tv nonetheless.

votecounts

CptMackey wrote: »

If sinn fein tell me that a wall is black then I will assume it's White. They attacked gallaher so I assume that what he actually did was nothing major, what all political parties do. Every part has fund raised like this. It isn't news. Michael D has done nothing of late so u decided to change my preference. It's not like we are voting for a position of power. Rte and sinn fein just ambushed him and that is the main reason for my change of mind.

Never trust sinn fein

Go back in to your cave and vote for the FF candidate and you were fine miriam ambushed MMG a few weeks ago.
Ps: A spelling lesson wouldn't go amiss either.

rubberdiddies

Slydice wrote: »

Gallaher lies and tries to tell us what he thinks we want to hear

Bertie lied and tried to tell us what he thought we wanted to hear

Both from Fianna Fail

He's not getting my vote.

Wasn't going to vote Gallagher before this debate and haven't changed my mind, however.......

It confirms my beliefs that MMcG/Sinn Fein are treating this election process with complete contempt. Their campaign team has been out to 'get' SG for the last few days. It was no surprise that MMcG attacked him in the way that they did last night. It's also no surprise that a mysterious tweet appeared and found it's way on to Pat Kennys note cards.

It's a bit rich watching MMcG saying to SG "just answer the question", when two minutes earlier he refused to answer whether or not he thought Jean Mconville was murdered.

For me personally the fact that a known associate and supporter of cold blooded killers is performing reasonably well in the polls is astonishing.

The people who criticise others for saying how quickly people forget by wanting to vote in a FF person then go on to praise MMcG, despite knowing his criminal background. How quickly people forget eh?

fishy fishy

boo hoo, you're sore because gallagher was shown up for what he is - a liar and a FF bagman.

wonder were you so up in arms when MG and DN were getting slated.

they were able to handle themselves - gallagher fell to pieces.

Sunnyisland

johnny b goode 1 wrote: »

The whole debate including jeering and leering supporters was not appropriate for a presidential debate. Gay Mitchell rant summarised it fairly well actually. Its possibly as a result of to many debates. Many of the questions were loaded with negativity.

This whole Election campaign has been negative with digging up the dirt from david norris to MMg and IMO Gay Mitchel started the personal attacks right from the start and showed his own failings again last night which was quite amazing really as he wasn't doing to bad up till then.

Pat Kenny did little wrong.

Isn't it right to expose a guy that could have well won the election, for what he really is?

jank

What? RTE in a ham-fisted hatchet job? This isn't the first time nor will it be the last!

legendary.xix

Gergiev wrote: »

To my eyes, this was the most astonishing development tonight.

How on earth did Kenny and RTE allow themselves to be 'played' by Sinn Fein or some other party?

After a commercial break, Kenny informs us with breathless excitement that SF have tweeted that they will produce the business man who donated the €5000 to Fianna Fail - via Sean Gallgher - at a press conference tomorrow and PK wants Gallagher's reaction.

(In fact, he addressed Gallagher in the way a trial judge might address a defendant who has just had an important piece of evidence produced at the last minute in a trial and would he like to retract or alter his evidence).

Later, on Vincent Browne, SF inform him that it didn't come from them or their "official" Twitter account and they have no plans to produce Morgan (the said businessman) at all.

Extraordinary stuff as it had/has the potential to be a real game-changer.

But how could any professional state broadcasting organisation allow this to happen during such an important debate on the eve of the election?

In other words, introduce "hearsay" comment at a crucial stage in the proceedings.

Ballymagash, anybody???

I think it was fair game. SF sources regardless of who they were seemed to have proof. It led to gallagher finally giving truth so there was clearly some substance behind the alleged SF tweets. People were foolish to vote Fianna Fail in 2007. I've been worried for the last few weeks that people were going to be fooled again. As I've just mentioned in another thread, I hope last nights revelations have not come too late.
Debate winner: Gay Mitchell.

jonniebgood1

legendary.xix wrote: »

I think it was fair game. SF sources regardless of who they were seemed to have proof. It led to gallagher finally giving truth so there was clearly some substance behind the alleged SF tweets. People were foolish to vote Fianna Fail in 2007. I've been worried for the last few weeks that people were going to be fooled again. As I've just mentioned in another thread, I hope last nights revelations have not come too late.
Debate winner: Gay Mitchell.

Debate loser= Pat '600k' Kenny.

votecounts

MMG won the debate in my opinion while Gallagher and Mitchell were a disaster.

tfitzgerald

I think Gallaghers performance last night cost him the election. As for gay Mitchell's rant I think he should pack it in now

Joey the lips

CptMackey wrote: »

If sinn fein tell me that a wall is black then I will assume it's White. They attacked gallaher so I assume that what he actually did was nothing major, what all political parties do. Every part has fund raised like this. It isn't news. Michael D has done nothing of late so u decided to change my preference. It's not like we are voting for a position of power. Rte and sinn fein just ambushed him and that is the main reason for my change of mind.

Never trust sinn fein

Now your proving my point more. Instead of promoting the man you were going to vote for ie. Michael D you are now attacking Martin McG. Tbh and frank if you were on that debate last night your notion would have been attacked. It is crazy politic to vote for someone because someone you hate has offended them

In the mean time you have neglected to vote for your own canidate.

You have effectivly cut off your own nose to spite your face. You surly must be able to see the flaw in your own logic?

Yitzhak Rabin

jonniebgood1 wrote: »

Debate loser= Pat '600k' Kenny.

What's your opinion on Gallagher lying on national TV?

TheVic76

The irony of Martin Mc Guinness combing the countryside in the search of truth and honesty wasn't lost on me.

The Sinn Fein boo boys were a disgrace.

YJMBO

CptMackey wrote: »

And What is he? At least he isn't a shinner.
I was leaning to Michael D but now I'll prob vote for galleher. Rte showed their true colours last night

I believe Gallagher showed his true colours last night - he admitted his lie, not anybody else.

homerjay2005

i am not buying into the gallagher witchhunt and im still going to vote for him. he is the only candidate that i think can represent this country with a bit of class and charisma.

the other 6 just dont have it. i dont give a hoot about FF connections, they wont be in power for a long long time and his connections wont have any effect politically.

YJMBO

I thought Norris was quite good last night.

Mitchell doesnt have the personality for the office, which he wants to utilise to instill confidence, etc, in us citizens. Too grey !

Colours

I thought last night's debate was great and I can only conclude that anyone who still says that Sean Gallagher is the best person for the job is an out and out die hard Fianna Failer and is incapable of balanced and impartial thinking.

Fianna Fail deserve to stay down in the doldrums of politics FOR MANY YEARS TO COME just like we're paying for their disgusting mismanagement of our country FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

Bannasidhe

homerjay2005 wrote: »

i am not buying into the gallagher witchhunt and im still going to vote for him. he is the only candidate that i think can represent this country with a bit of class and charisma.

the other 6 just dont have it. i dont give a hoot about FF connections, they wont be in power for a long long time and his connections wont have any effect politically.

Nothing like a cheque in an envelope to bestow a bit of class eh.:rolleyes:

YJMBO

homerjay2005 wrote: »

i am not buying into the gallagher witchhunt and im still going to vote for him. he is the only candidate that i think can represent this country with a bit of class and charisma.

the other 6 just dont have it. i dont give a hoot about FF connections, they wont be in power for a long long time and his connections wont have any effect politically.

the water must have gotten to you in Dundrum last night -

He lied, he admitted he lied. Core value for the Office of President ?

fishy fishy

TheVic76 wrote: »

The irony of Martin Mc Guinness combing the countryside in the search of truth and honesty wasn't lost on me.

The Sinn Fein boo boys were a disgrace.

brilliant work on SF's part - good job all round - gallagher was shaking in his shoes. He shouldn't try to play with the big boys - he's not able for them.

fishy fishy

homerjay2005 wrote: »

i am not buying into the gallagher witchhunt and im still going to vote for him. he is the only candidate that i think can represent this country with a bit of class and charisma.

the other 6 just dont have it. i dont give a hoot about FF connections, they wont be in power for a long long time and his connections wont have any effect politically.

"class and charisma"
he looks like an extra from the deliverence film.

go ahead and vote for the FF delivery boy - your choice -

YJMBO

yep - thought it was the best of the debates , pity it wasnt the first one. Boy, we would have had masssive entertainment for the past 3 weeks.

No worries about FF - with M.Martin at the helm, going nowhere fast.

problemchimp

I don't think Sean Gallagher expected to be in this position in the polls at this stage. I think his reason for entering the race was just to raise his profile knowing he wouldn't win, so now all the spoofing and bullshiit has caught up with him and he doesn't seem to know how to handle it.
I actually thought David Norris did well last night and I hope Michael D gets to ride Dana!
It's Marty for me all the way.

Bosco boy

Gallager should have met it head on and siad yes I collected his donation for the event. His use of the word "envelope" after denying it was fatal. If he gets over the line he will fall over it, I think michael D will be the safe bet for most floating voters. Credit to all the candidates for turning on kenny and giving him a ribbing over his o Brien question. I think the motivation for this Q is o briens involvement in rival media outlets to RTE more than anything else!

Finnt

Why all the bs about the ff connections did'nt Mary mc aleese stand for ff in Dublin?
What's micheal d on about his achievements does he want to retire to the aras because he did the job he was well paid for as a TD?
Pat kenny showed his true colours

YJMBO

tfitzgerald wrote: »

I think Gallaghers performance last night cost him the election. As for gay Mitchell's rant I think he should pack it in now

Agree 100% - however, without the Mitchell rant, we wouldnt know he was alive.

brownswiss

homerjay2005 wrote: »

i am not buying into the gallagher witchhunt and im still going to vote for him. he is the only candidate that i think can represent this country with a bit of class and charisma.

the other 6 just dont have it. i dont give a hoot about FF connections, they wont be in power for a long long time and his connections wont have any effect politically.

...................

"The Gallagher Witchhunt " ? He admits in front of the nation about the brown envelope and you call it a witchhunt........

The media will have fun if he gets elected..... How many more " entrepeneurs " will come forward with little snippets of info on gallagher

Bannasidhe

Oh dear - now he has named the individual who (allegedly :rolleyes:) gave him the cheque and has resorted to using gun analogies about McGuinness.

dav3

It's amazing the amount of FFers that have crawled out from under their rock in support of Gallagher. There are still plenty of questions over this dodgy man, accepting envelopes is only one small part of the mans dark past.

homerjay2005

YJMBO wrote: »

the water must have gotten to you in Dundrum last night -

He lied, he admitted he lied. Core value for the Office of President ?

and what core values have the others?

gallagher is still the best, of a bad lot. if i saw any reason not to vote gallagher, and i still dont, i wouldnt bother voting for the other 6, none of them give me a reason to vote for them.

BaZmO*

CptMackey wrote: »

If sinn fein tell me that a wall is black then I will assume it's White. They attacked gallaher so I assume that what he actually did was nothing major, what all political parties do. Every part has fund raised like this. It isn't news. Michael D has done nothing of late so u decided to change my preference. It's not like we are voting for a position of power. Rte and sinn fein just ambushed him and that is the main reason for my change of mind.

Never trust sinn fein

The President should be beyond reproach, and I never heard anybody complain about the stick that MMcG came in for over his past, and rightly so.

Way too many questions over Gallagher now. Brown envelopes, tax evasion, lies.

Another biggy that'll probably get lost in the scramble over "the envelope" is the woman that Vincent Browne had on his show last night. Rita Fagan said she he has been working on poverty in the community for 30 years, and says she's never heard Gallagher's voice.

He justs comes across as Bertie Lite.

dixiefly

rubberdiddies wrote: »

Wasn't going to vote Gallagher before this debate and haven't changed my mind, however.......

It confirms my beliefs that MMcG/Sinn Fein are treating this election process with complete contempt. Their campaign team has been out to 'get' SG for the last few days. It was no surprise that MMcG attacked him in the way that they did last night. It's also no surprise that a mysterious tweet appeared and found it's way on to Pat Kennys note cards.

It's a bit rich watching MMcG saying to SG "just answer the question", when two minutes earlier he refused to answer whether or not he thought Jean Mconville was murdered.

For me personally the fact that a known associate and supporter of cold blooded killers is performing reasonably well in the polls is astonishing.

The people who criticise others for saying how quickly people forget by wanting to vote in a FF person then go on to praise MMcG, despite knowing his criminal background. How quickly people forget eh?

Yes, I thought that it was irionic that MMG was the person that "pulled the trigger" in the debate last night.

jacool

Finnt wrote: »

What's micheal d on about his achievements does he want to retire to the aras because he did the job he was well paid for as a TD?

Yeah, let's have a go at someone who actually did his job well.
Does it upset you that he has actually achieved things while in office?

MrThrifty

Terrible debate, some terrible questions (which RTE would have 'screened' beforehand), and a terrible, almost farsical, selection of candidates... I reckon the debates could sold to a US TV station as a comedy series. Really embarrassing to be Irish...

Snakeblood

dixiefly wrote: »

Yes, I thought that it was irionic that MMG was the person that "pulled the trigger" in the debate last night.

The man is skilled at ambushes.

drunkmonkey

dixiefly wrote: »

Yes, I thought that it was irionic that MMG was the person that "pulled the trigger" in the debate last night.

Hey he was watching our back you should be thanking him, a lot of idiots on here were about the let Sean waltz into the Aras and so were the rest of the candidates. Micheal D let himself down by his inaction. Martin should be applauded.

touts

I see the "business man" didn't turn up at the Sinn Fein Press conference this morning if he ever even intended to do so. This was a complete set up by Sinn Fein and Pat allowed himself to be played.

Snakeblood

touts wrote: »

I see the "business man" didn't turn up at the Sinn Fein Press conference this morning if he ever even intended to do so. This was a complete set up by Sinn Fein and Pat allowed himself to be played.

It doesn't matter now whether they were going to do it or not, the important thing was that Gallagher thought they were and then contradicted himself as a direct result. That's the best bluff I've ever seen, and I really dislike SF intensely.

maccored

dixiefly wrote: »

Yes, I thought that it was irionic that MMG was the person that "pulled the trigger" in the debate last night.

Do you really know what irony actually means?