Leo brings his partner to meet ultra conservative VP Mike Pence

Timberrrrrrrr · 14-03-2019 08:17PM

sabat wrote: »

Do we have a list of every official engagement Varadkar has brought his boyfriend to? I have no doubt he deliberately chose to bring him to meet Pence to cause a stir and get the extra publicity, precisely because of Pence's history.

You probably wouldn't care one iota what previous official engagements he bought him to, you have just decided in your mind that he bought him to this one for publicity.

Still waters · 14-03-2019 08:28PM

Auntie Semite wrote: »

Yes its true, I see the school in Birmingham has suspended its lessons on LGBT rights in the face of Muslim protest.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/14/birmingham-primary-school-suspends-lgbt-lessons-indefinitely-parkfield-protest-parents?CMP=twt_gu

It has to be said that this situation arising was inevitable.

I can't help but notice total silence and lack of outrage from the media and LGBT journalists.

Mullalley, O'Gorman et al seem to have nothing to say about this at all.

If I was gay I would be feeling somewhat betrayed by these people.

Gays in the UK are about to find out where exactly they stand on the Intersectional Hierarchy...its not near the top.

Exactly, I think people are overestimating pences hatred for all things gay, he's an easy target and hardly going to cause a diplomatic incident by asking Leo to leave his partner outside the door, they're playing politics here not visiting the westboro Baptist church for mass.
I'd have more respect for Leo if he stuck his neck out once in a while and defended his fellow lgtbq in countries where they're murdered and hung for being who they are, the useless bastard looks to score easy points at every event he attends, he speaks so effortlessly while all the time saying nothing

DS86DS · 14-03-2019 09:06PM

Poor Mike Pence, having to entertain this unelected and self-important idiot.

kneemos · 14-03-2019 09:09PM

DS86DS wrote: »

Poor Mike Pence, having to entertain this unelected and self-important idiot.

He was elected and is obviously not an idiot. Don't know him well enough to say if he's self important or not, definitely important though.

mikemac2 · 14-03-2019 09:10PM

Invitation given in 2018 and accepted in 2019

Some amount of back slapping on this thread as if our leader made a statement to the world

Allinall · 14-03-2019 09:13PM

DS86DS wrote: »

Poor Mike Pence, having to entertain this unelected and self-important idiot.

He was elected.

Pronto63 · 14-03-2019 09:27PM

Auntie Semite wrote: »

Yes its true, I see the school in Birmingham has suspended its lessons on LGBT rights in the face of Muslim protest.
https://www.theguardian.com/education/2019/mar/14/birmingham-primary-school-suspends-lgbt-lessons-indefinitely-parkfield-protest-parents?CMP=twt_gu

It has to be said that this situation arising was inevitable.

I can't help but notice total silence and lack of outrage from the media and LGBT journalists.

Mullalley, O'Gorman et al seem to have nothing to say about this at all.

If I was gay I would be feeling somewhat betrayed by these people.

Gays in the UK are about to find out where exactly they stand on the Intersectional Hierarchy...its not near the top.

So basically this school is promoting tolerance and integration and the Muslim community are saying "Down with this sort of think, easy now!"

Pronto63 · 14-03-2019 09:32PM

kneemos wrote: »

Don't know of these trips achieve anything other than the exchange of the usual platitudes.
Better to maintain the contacts than not though I suppose.

You've got to be kidding. A country of 5 million with a guaranteed 1 on 1 with the leader of the free world (God help us) every March!

And we get to turn every landmark in the world green

Muahahaha · 14-03-2019 09:35PM

Still waters wrote: »

I'd have more respect for Leo if he stuck his neck out once in a while and defended his fellow lgtbq in countries where they're murdered and hung for being who they are, the useless bastard looks to score easy points at every event he attends, he speaks so effortlessly while all the time saying nothing

Sure Leo hid in the closet for over a decade and let the entire LGBT community do the heavy lifting on getting the same sex marriage refernendum passed. Then when the polls were showing a clear win for Yes he pops up at the last minute and declares himself as gay to the nation (when it was already an open secret). He is not a leader, he is a poltical opportunitist. He is a politician who stood back from having anything to do with campaigning for gay rights until he knew it was politically advantageous to come out.

The Tetrarch · 14-03-2019 09:42PM

Is there any room on the moral high ground or I am too late to the thread.

Sir Oxman · 14-03-2019 09:45PM

sabat wrote: »

Do we have a list of every official engagement Varadkar has brought his boyfriend to? I have no doubt he deliberately chose to bring him to meet Pence to cause a stir and get the extra publicity, precisely because of Pence's history.

For sure, last year i remember Pence inviting him and his partner for this year.

It's manners, like.

kenmc · 14-03-2019 09:49PM

And then he goes an spouts sh1te about us being "all gods children". Speak for yourself pr1ck, don't speak for me.

strandroad · 14-03-2019 09:50PM

Mrs Pence aka "mother" is a teacher in a Christian purity anti-LGBT school too.
Did they get to meet her? Will she get in trouble with the school? Is it seen as "condoning"?

The school in Springfield, Virginia, bars teachers from engaging in or condoning "homosexual or lesbian sexual activity" and "transgender identity".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46898143

Billy86 · 14-03-2019 09:51PM

WinnyThePoo wrote: »

Leo goes to America.. And the usual suspects just start wailing about Muslims.

After hours your hilarious

I'm amazed they've not noticed there's a thread about Glenn Whelan open right now that desperately needs some of their derailing efforts. I hear he played on the same team as a Muslim once, after all.

Auntie Semite · 14-03-2019 09:52PM

Muahahaha wrote: »

Sure Leo hid in the closet for over a decade and let the entire LGBT community do the heavy lifting on getting the same sex marriage refernendum passed. Then when the polls were showing a clear win for Yes he pops up at the last minute and declares himself as gay to the nation (when it was already an open secret). He is not a leader, he is a poltical opportunitist. He is a politician who stood back from having anything to do with campaigning for gay rights until he knew it was politically advantageous to come out.

I think even calling him a political opportunist is giving him far too much credit. In my opinion his every move, his every utterance is scripted.

He was groomed for the role of Taoiseach.

He famously attended summer camps for future political leaders in the US as a teenager.

He has achieved absolutely nothing in every ministerial appointment he has held yet quickly climbed the ranks.

Was it not the case that the majority of FG members did not want him as leader? (I think they preferred Coveney) yet he was chosen as leader.

Do you remember in the years before he became leader, anytime there was a political issue, problem, or scandal Varadkar was interviewed by almost every media outlet as to his opinion on the issue? It was 'Varadkar says this, Varadkar says that' in relation to almost anything that was going on in Irish politics at the time. Even some journalists began to question why it was always Varadkar that was questioned in the media.

I used to wonder myself, why is Varadkar always the one being interviewed on issues regarding practically every Govt dept except his own?

I now believe that the media were grooming us - the electorate, to accept him as future leader.

Sir Oxman · 14-03-2019 09:53PM

strandroad wrote: »

Mrs Pence aka "mother" is a teacher in a Christian purity anti-LGBT school too.
Did they get to meet her? Will she get in trouble with the school? Is it seen as "condoning"?

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46898143

She's in AbuDhabi, so no.

strandroad · 14-03-2019 09:55PM

Sir Oxman wrote: »

She's in AbuDhabi, so no.

Convenient I guess

kneemos · 14-03-2019 10:00PM

Auntie Semite wrote: »

I think even calling him a political opportunist is giving him far too much credit. In my opinion his every move, his every utterance is scripted.

He was groomed for the role of Taoiseach.

He famously attended summer camps for future political leaders in the US as a teenager.

He has achieved absolutely nothing in every ministerial appointment he has held yet quickly climbed the ranks.

Was it not the case that the majority of FG members did not want him as leader? (I think they preferred Coveney) yet he was chosen as leader.

Do you remember in the years before he became leader, anytime there was a political issue, problem, or scandal Varadkar was interviewed by almost every media outlet as to his opinion on the issue? It was 'Varadkar says this, Varadkar says that' in relation to almost anything that was going on in Irish politics at the time. Even some journalists began to question why it was always Varadkar that was questioned in the media.

I used to wonder myself, why is Varadkar always the one being interviewed on issues regarding practically every Govt dept except his own?

I now believe that the media were grooming us - the electorate, to accept him as future leader.

He was interviewed because he gave headline grabbing no nonsense answers.

14-03-2019 10:03PM

You'd want to be a pretty hard-nosed idealogue not to be impressed by this modest but unambiguous act of defiance.

I do sometimes wonder if Varadkar hadn't happened to be gay, would be have moved from his previous political identity as a social conservative himself? Reflecting on his own (pretty hard-nosed, ideological) lack of motivation to address other forms of inequality - especially economic - I'm skeptical.

Nevertheless, this is one of his better moments and deserves to be recognised as such.

Allinall · 14-03-2019 10:08PM

Auntie Semite wrote: »

...,,,

Was it not the case that the majority of FG members did not want him as leader? (I think they preferred Coveney) yet he was chosen as leader.
......,,,
.

How the fcuk do you think he was elected as leader of FG if the majority did not want him as leader?

kneemos · 14-03-2019 10:10PM

Allinall wrote: »

How the fcuk do you think he was elected as leader of FG if the majority did not want him as leader?

The crazies have really come out on this thread.

_Kaiser_ · 14-03-2019 10:12PM

kneemos wrote: »

He was interviewed because he gave headline grabbing no nonsense answers.

No substance answers you mean.

You're half right though. He was interviewed because he could always be counted on for a soundbite for the news and almost always about someone else's department funnily enough... :rolleyes:

The guy has always been long on spin and his media profile, but extremely short on delivery as his track record in Enda's government will attest to. FFS his Twitter handle, as Taoiseach, is still "campaignforleo" - I think that tells us everything about the guy and his priorities.

As mentioned above, even his own party didn't want him as Taoiseach, but yet there he is - says something about FG's respect for the voters (even when they're their own members) I suppose

Enda Kenny may have been arrogant, and prone to "exaggeration" and vanishing during the never-ending series of scandals that characterised his Government, but Leo's crowning achievement will be to be even worse than his predecessor.

He's a political opportunist using the role to boost his own personal profile and ego, and what's amusing is that some are only realising it now whereas it's been very clear for years.

Mike9832 · 14-03-2019 10:18PM

Looks like he's bringing his son

castletownman · 14-03-2019 10:18PM

_Kaiser_ wrote: »

No substance answers you mean.

You're half right though. He was interviewed because he could always be counted on for a soundbite for the news and almost always about someone else's department funnily enough... :rolleyes:

The guy has always been long on spin and his media profile, but extremely short on delivery as his track record in Enda's government will attest to. FFS his Twitter handle, as Taoiseach, is still "campaignforleo" - I think that tells us everything about the guy and his priorities.

As mentioned above, even his own party didn't want him as Taoiseach, but yet there he is - says something about FG's respect for the voters (even when they're their own members) I suppose

Enda Kenny may have been arrogant, and prone to "exaggeration" and vanishing during the never-ending series of scandals that characterised his Government, but Leo's crowning achievement will be to even worse than his predecessor.

He's a political opportunist using the role to boost his own personal profile and ego, and what's amusing is that some are only realising it now whereas it's been very clear for years.

Yeah but don't you know. He's young, modern, good-looking, health-conscience and does a good line in cool socks.

A man of the people.

14-03-2019 10:21PM

Allinall wrote: »

How the fcuk do you think he was elected as leader of FG if the majority did not want him as leader?

Remember in school when the PE teacher asked if the class would prefer to play (for example) hockey or soccer? No boy, no matter how good he was at hockey, would dare articulate that choice, knowing that all the cool kids wanted soccer.

Why make yourself needlessly unpopular?

Once a few cabinet heavyweights had endorsed Varadkar, the contest was over. Coveney is a far more modest, reflective and I daresay a more ethically-driven politician. But he's widely seen as a bore and as ineffectual, despite his obvious abilities. He has the cool head required of a Taoiseach without being remotely cool.

I will never believe that the majority of FG genuinely believed Varadkar would make for a better Taoiseach. A gifted election winner and a media strategist, certainly, but not Taoiseach.

_Kaiser_ · 14-03-2019 10:21PM

castletownman wrote: »

Yeah but don't you know. He's young, modern, good-looking, health-conscience and does a good line in cool socks.

A man of the people.

That's the truth of it. Far too much was made of his "youth", his heritage and his sexuality - it was as if an entire section of the country decided to virtue signal to the rest of the western world about how modern we had become.

Personally I'm more interested in ability, something he's proven to be sorely lacking.

Mad_maxx · 14-03-2019 10:22PM

Muahahaha wrote: »

Sure Leo hid in the closet for over a decade and let the entire LGBT community do the heavy lifting on getting the same sex marriage refernendum passed. Then when the polls were showing a clear win for Yes he pops up at the last minute and declares himself as gay to the nation (when it was already an open secret). He is not a leader, he is a poltical opportunitist. He is a politician who stood back from having anything to do with campaigning for gay rights until he knew it was politically advantageous to come out.

He certainly hid well, I hadn't a breeze he was gay prior to that Marian finucane interview, used to hear it said him and lucinda creighton were an item in college

_Kaiser_ · 14-03-2019 10:24PM

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Remember in school when the PE teacher asked if the class would prefer to play (for example) hockey or soccer? No boy, no matter how good he was at hockey, would dare articulate that choice, knowing that all the cool kids wanted soccer.

Why make yourself needlessly unpopular?

Once a few cabinet heavyweights had endorsed Varadkar, the contest was over. Coveney is a far more modest, reflective and I daresay a more ethically-driven politician. But he's widely seen as a bore and as ineffectual, despite his obvious abilities. He has the cool head required of a Taoiseach without being remotely cool.

I will never believe that the majority of FG genuinely believed Varadkar would make for a better Taoiseach. A gifted election winner and a media strategist, certainly, but not Taoiseach.

It's down to how FG structure their internal voting (policies originally proposed by Varadkar himself actually)

More on the whole story here :
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/and-then-the-gloves-came-off-how-leo-won-the-leadership-race-37252196.html

wakka12 · 14-03-2019 10:30PM

Wonder if he'd do the same with some middle eastern leader, probably wouldnt bring his partner out of 'respect' for their beliefts as that behaviour in developing countries is excused by westerns as being part of their upbringing/culture

brooke 2 · 14-03-2019 10:32PM

kneemos wrote: »

The man who calls his wife mother.

Where was his wife today? Did not see her in any of the pictures. Was wondering who the woman in the pictures with them was....took trawling through a few pics to find out she was Pence's sister. Never saw her before.

Leo brings his partner to meet ultra conservative VP Mike Pence

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