Clare Daly: "We were showcased as a ‘nation of pimps’ during Obama visit"

Doctor Strange

From The Journal

TD CLARE DALY has launched a blistering attack on the Government and the Irish media for what she called the ‘glowing’ coverage of the Obama family’s visit to Ireland this week, in a speech described by the Taoiseach as ‘disgraceful’.
Speaking in the Dáil this morning, the United Left Alliance deputy accused Enda Kenny of being overly deferential in his treatment of the US President, and said the press had shied away from any proper questioning of comments made by First Lady Michelle Obama.
She said there had been “special news bulletins” covering what Michelle and her daughters had for lunch during their visit to Dalkey, but “very little questioning of the fact that she had lunch with Mr Tax Exile (Bono)”....

...Replying, Enda Kenny said the comments were ‘disgraceful’, and had established a new low in the ULA ranks

Full story http://www.thejournal.ie/clare-daly-obamas-dail-957439-Jun2013/?utm_source=twitter_self

Personally, I think Ms. Daly was very out of order with this, and comes off as hypocritical for calling Bono "Mr. Tax Exile" while defending the tax dodger Wallace to the hilt.

Dravokivich

You mean to say he doesn't pay any taxes? On anything?

All those guards around him and not one noticed no motor tax on the jag?

I am pie

She's more or less irrelevant, gets her in the news.

Nothing she says or does have much of an effect on national policy and as such she needs to finds things to bleat about to keep her in the press.

the keen edge

Pimps prostituting themselves?
I don't think she really understands how street life works tbh.

Guill

Yea, I'm pimp, if ya gave me a Sweet for every bitch that I ****ed You'd have to bring four eightteen wheelers Fill em' from back to front Cause I'm Pimp C bitch, ain't no mistakin'

mikom

Preaching peace in the north and drone attacks.
Yes, Taoiseach, it is ‘disgraceful’.

Sergeant

More idiotic ranting from the usual shower of ne'er-do-wells' and crusties up in that corner of the chamber. Her opinions are about as worthy of consideration as her failed political ideologies.

NIMAN

I am no fan of Ms Daly, but she has a bit of a point.

I could not understand the logic of the fawning crowds, standing roaring at the end of the street as Mrs Obama and offspring came out of a cafe/pub or whatever. Whats the point in that? Grown adults standing 50 yards away roaring at some woman from the US. Sorry, totally lost on me.

Add to this all the upheaval and road closures, not to mention cost of Gardai to let her have free reign on her travels.

Here's an idea Barack, next time you have to come over, leave the wife and wains at home, eh?

Boombastic

Did they wheel her out?

Bannasidhe

Oh look - it's another bash Clare Daly thread.

Personally, I think she has a point. Gubbermint can't afford to pay for SNA's for special needs children so they can avail of their constitutional right to an education but can afford to shell out for security etc to give one woman and her daughters a wee holiday.

Leftist

she has a point. Michelle with her 'good to be home' line

has the mugs by the pubes, fawning over her going to visit our places as if she's Jesus.

Tesco Frog Muffin

A nation of pimps? More like a nation of gimps. Why do we care about what those fools had for breakfast or even how much tax some sunglass-wearing idiot is paying, when our country is being robbed from the inside. Disgrace.

seamus

Business as usual then Clare.

Pity, she was starting to actually get on the right track and focussing on meaningful things.

I could not understand the logic of the fawning crowds, standing roaring at the end of the street as Mrs Obama and offspring came out of a cafe/pub or whatever. Whats the point in that? Grown adults standing 50 yards away roaring at some woman from the US. Sorry, totally lost on me.

The government don't decide what the public do and what the media report on. Daly was basically whinging at the government because the public were doing something she disagreed with. So Michelle Obama made a statement about Irishness and the media were reporting a lunch with Bono in a positive light. Eh, what do you want the government to do about it Clare?

NIMAN

I loved the Obama's going on about how a great example NI is to the rest of the world.

Did youse hear about the fleg protests?

And youse wanna come back next month for the usual marching season riots.

Yeah, its all sweetness and light up here in NI.

Madam

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Oh look - it's another bash Clare Daly thread.

Personally, I think she has a point. Gubbermint can't afford to pay for SNA's for special needs children so they can avail of their constitutional right to an education but can afford to shell out for security etc to give one woman and her daughters a wee holiday.

She's not exactly just one woman and her daughters is she? She's the wife (and I suppose confidante)of 'The Most Poweful Man in the World'! Think for heavens sake of all the yanks her visit will bring to your bankrupt shores;)

Fratton Fred

Dravokivich wrote: »

You mean to say he doesn't pay any taxes? On anything?

All those guards around him and not one noticed no motor tax on the jag?

The tax on his Maserati was most definitely up to date.

ColeTrain

NIMAN wrote: »

I am no fan of Ms Daly, but she has a bit of a point.

I could not understand the logic of the fawning crowds, standing roaring at the end of the street as Mrs Obama and offspring came out of a cafe/pub or whatever. Whats the point in that? Grown adults standing 50 yards away roaring at some woman from the US. Sorry, totally lost on me.

You could say that when any celebrity is about though. That was their decision

Bannasidhe

Madam wrote: »

She's not exactly just one woman and her daughters is she? She's the wife (and I suppose confidante)of 'The Most Poweful Man in the World'! Think for heavens sake of all the yanks her visit will bring to your bankrupt shores

'your' bankrupt shores?

If they were 'my' bankrupt shores I wouldn't be spending the few bob we have on the wife and kids of the 'most powerful man in the world' but would be prioritising actual citizens of this country. You know - the people paying taxes here rather than a few Yanks who may or may not visit for a week or so...

Plus, according to US media the girls were bored - what a great ad for Ireland!

cletus van damme

She is correct we did pimp ourselves out like eejits for the obamas.

Now if we want to do that to raise our profile in US and hopefully get loadsa tourists , money etc......then fine.
But let's not deny what it was.

Fratton Fred

What a miserable bunch of feckers we get on AH sometimes.

TwoShedsJackson

Totally agree, the obsequious forelock-tugging over a woman and her two daughters (both of whom looked utterly bored and/or cross-eyed in every picture I saw) is puke-worthy.

Boombastic

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Totally agree, the obsequious forelock-tugging over a woman and her two daughters (both of whom looked utterly bored and/or cross-eyed in every picture I saw) is puke-worthy.

The two girls had two big sour faces on them and it was obvious they did not want to be there.

Sergeant

Boombastic wrote: »

The two girls had two big sour faces on them and it was obvious they did not want to be there.

Children and teenagers in bored shocker. More after the weather.

FloatingVoter

Sergeant wrote: »

Children and teenagers in bored shocker. More after the weather.

..and the old music dude Bonehead didn't even know Justin Bieber.

April O Neill

NIMAN wrote: »

I am no fan of Ms Daly, but she has a bit of a point.

I could not understand the logic of the fawning crowds, standing roaring at the end of the street as Mrs Obama and offspring came out of a cafe/pub or whatever. Whats the point in that? Grown adults standing 50 yards away roaring at some woman from the US. Sorry, totally lost on me.

Me too. Totally bemusing.

Jawgap

She had a good point but - as usual - she made it poorly.

Another great opportunity squandered to showcase the country - we spent €5 million to keep two bored teenagers and their Ma safe.

the only thing that would have made it worse would have been if Clare Daly had been in charge of the arrangements.......

golfball37

I think the coverage Mrs Obama received on the news and the feel good factor it generated fully justifies John McGuinness' stance on spousal overseas travel.

Fratton Fred

Jawgap wrote: »

She had a good point but - as usual - she made it poorly.

Another great opportunity squandered to showcase the country - we spent €5 million to keep two bored teenagers and their Ma safe.

the only thing that would have made it worse would have been if Clare Daly had been in charge of the arrangements.......

at least she paid for the meal though.

April O Neill

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Plus, according to US media the girls were bored - what a great ad for Ireland!

They looked it, and it's hardly surprising! They're teenagers, and not that teenagers can't be interested in history, but these girls must get dragged all over the place when they'd probably rather be with their friends!

fishy fishy

sure what more can you expect from the "govt" of the day.

We've become a nation of a*se licks - bowing down to everyone on the notion that "sure everybody loves us".

Cringeworthy.

If anybody finds Ireland's backbone would they kindly return it - hasn't been seen for decades

mike65

The merest sniff of an American president of the Democratic persuasion has Ireland weak at the knees.

fishy fishy

a laughing stock to the rest of europe.

Killer Wench

So does that mean that the EU is asking: "Bitch, where's my money?"

Peregrine

The cost of Michelle Obama's visit was like $5 million and the tab was picked up by the US, not our government.

I know we did have some extra security for her but it was nothing compared her own small army of security.

It cost us little or nothing

But I think the RTÉ and the newspapers did overdo it with the coverage of her visit, it wasn't really anything significant. If the people want to go see her, that's their choice.

Galwayguy35

Yeah we should just have ignored them:rolleyes:

If it wasn't for all the US companies here then there would be a lot more unemployment, no harm at all to make them feel welcome.

Sergeant

fishy fishy wrote: »

a laughing stock to the rest of europe.

Yes, my colleagues in Germany spent the entire morning showering mirth on us for Ireland's actions in welcoming the partner of the President of the US, and the hospitality we offered them.

The next edition of Der Spiegel has a 32 page article about the meek and subservient nature of the Plain People of Ireland.

fishy fishy

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Yeah we should just have ignored them:rolleyes:

If it wasn't for all the US companies here then there would be a lot more unemployment, no harm at all to make them feel welcome.

i love when this nugget is rolled out... about the us companies being here. Its like as if they are doing us a favor - they are here for their own benefit - you can bet that when it doesn't suit them they will travel east. Its not a reason to bow down.

fishy fishy

Sergeant wrote: »

Yes, my colleagues in Germany spent the entire morning showering mirth on us for Ireland's actions in welcoming the partner of the President of the US, and the hospitality we offered them.

The next edition of Der Spiegel has a 32 page article about the meek and subservient nature of the Plain People of Ireland.

i wouldn't call them meek, to be fair
numpties more like?

and not just about Obama - about everything they are fed. We just sit down and take it. Laziness perhaps.

sunflower27

It was all really embarrassing. Didn't see any news bulletins (couldn't allow myself) but saw a good few photos. Cccccccccccccccccringe.

wuzziwig

I don't get the whole "Look at how many American tourists this visit will rake in" thing. Seriously do Americans visit Ireland because the president of their country visited it? Do we all traipse off to countries because Michael D visits them? Imagine going on your holidays and Michael D stretching out on a sun lounger beside you in a pair of budgie smugglers? Shudder!

Karl Stein

wuzziwig wrote: »

I don't get the whole "Look at how many American tourists this visit will rake in" thing.

It's a spurious prediction to placate the tax-paying public and estimations of return on 'investment' are almost always grossly exaggerated and impossible to prove or disprove.


The world has a plentiful supply of fawning morons.

Galwayguy35

fishy fishy wrote: »

i love when this nugget is rolled out... about the us companies being here. Its like as if they are doing us a favor - they are here for their own benefit - you can bet that when it doesn't suit them they will travel east. Its not a reason to bow down.

Well of course they are here for their own benefit, they're not charities but there would be fook all employment west of the shannon without them so let's hold on to them while we have them.

And if that means keeping the Obamas sweet for the few days they are here then it's a small price to pay.

The members of that Technical Group just like to be seen to be complaining about something, they won't create any jobs.

Killer Wench

wuzziwig wrote: »

I don't get the whole "Look at how many American tourists this visit will rake in" thing. Seriously do Americans visit Ireland because the president of their country visited it? Do we all traipse off to countries because Michael D visits them? Imagine going on your holidays and Michael D stretching out on a sun lounger beside you in a pair of budgie smugglers? Shudder!

I can't speak for the entire 300 million plus population, but I can say that I have never heard or read of someone who has taken a vacation somewhere because the POTUS or FLOTUS vacationed there. Truthfully, I've heard about Obama's visit to Germany. I didn't know that his wife was in Ireland.

who the fug

seamus wrote: »

Business as usual then Clare.



The government don't decide what the public do and what the media report on. Daly was basically whinging at the government because the public were doing something she disagreed with. So Michelle Obama made a statement about Irishness and the media were reporting a lunch with Bono in a positive light. Eh, what do you want the government to do about it Clare?

Pass a law making the bad people go away , magic like

Riddle101

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Oh look - it's another bash Clare Daly thread.

Personally, I think she has a point. Gubbermint can't afford to pay for SNA's for special needs children so they can avail of their constitutional right to an education but can afford to shell out for security etc to give one woman and her daughters a wee holiday.

Well it is the President of the United States and his family after all. Security is expected in any country he visits. A shame about the SNA's, but that's a different topic altogether.

kennryyr

We offered hospitality to the President of the US and his family. He came and only said nice things about Ireland and the peace process in the North.

Talking about prostitution and pimping is going way overboard. Whatever the United States foreign plicy is when it comes to foreign policy, drones etc. who is she to condemn the government?

America has a huge cultural link with Ireland and no harm can come of getting some publicity for our small island in the world media.

Also in regards to the peace process in the north of course he should praise the efforts of both Catholics and Protestants from both sides of the borders. In reality in comparison to the Troubles the peace process has been a huge success. Where else in the world have you heard of extreme sectarianism with fighting and deaths for many years being resolved like it has in the north?

Lebanon? Kosovo? Iraq?

Gone Drinking

We have a lot to thank the Americans for..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQJrovKgrTw

AngeGal

Bannasidhe wrote: »

Oh look - it's another bash Clare Daly thread.

Personally, I think she has a point. Gubbermint can't afford to pay for SNA's for special needs children so they can avail of their constitutional right to an education but can afford to shell out for security etc to give one woman and her daughters a wee holiday.

I would imagine the coverage and free publicity gained on US TV and in US papers more than covers the security cost to be fair.

SEPT 23 1989

The Obama administration is no friend of the people of Ireland

sickening the carry on over the last few days

i have no time for Daly but she is 100% correct

fatknacker

But how else do we prove to the rest of the world that we are definitely NOT RACIST.

seamus

Nimrod 7 wrote: »

I know we did have some extra security for her but it was nothing compared her own small army of security.

It cost us little or nothing

People will whinge no matter what it cost.

And if something actually did happen, they'd whinge that we didn't spend enough on security and made ourselves look like idiots.

Irish politics is a lot of whinging and childish accusations and very little action, from anyone.