Gardai Investigating Voter-Registration promo

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 01:31PM

floggg wrote: »

I can't see any complaints from the yes side if the no side want to help increase registration.

Honestly, registration is an apolitical act - it's what you do with the vote that's political.

its not apolitical if they are distributing literature for one side.

Phoebas · 20-04-2015 01:33PM

floggg wrote: »

Honestly, registration is an apolitical act - it's what you do with the vote that's political.

When a Garda is doing a photocall with someone campaigning on the Yes side or providing Yes badges to people registering to vote, then it becomes political.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDA_ewJVIAAH1mr.jpg

The Gardai themselves had accepted that the photocall was inappropriate.

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 01:33PM

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

It is primarily the responsibility of the Gardaí. It can only be witnessed by the other two in the event that you cannot get it signed by the Gardaí but you must have reason. In fact, you must submit said reason in writing.

that doesnt affect anything i have said. that photo posted of the Yes badges on the table in front of the garda is a disgrace to the force. If they were No badges i would be saying the same thing.

Little CuChulainn · 20-04-2015 01:35PM

Phoebas wrote: »

When a Garda is doing a photocall with someone campaigning on the Yes side or providing Yes badges to people registering to vote, then it becomes political.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDA_ewJVIAAH1mr.jpg

The Gardai themselves had accepted that the photocall was inappropriate.

There is no photo showing a Garda giving out badges. The photo above is taken from a particular angle to make it look like that but the other photos show that she has a bunch of forms and a station stamp in front of her.

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 01:35PM

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

There is no photo showing a Garda giving out badges. The photo above is taken from a particular angle to make it look like that but the other photos show that she has a bunch of forms and a station stamp in front of her.

they are on the table in front of her

Phoebas · 20-04-2015 01:37PM

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

There is no photo showing a Garda giving out badges. The photo above is taken from a particular angle to make it look like that but the other photos show that she has a bunch of forms and a station stamp in front of her.

I like to see the other photos. The photo I can see has the Garda with a big pile of Yes badges. If it was a pile of No badges I doubt people would excuse it so easily.

bjork · 20-04-2015 01:38PM

Here's it from another angle

http://i60.tinypic.com/iw7wis.jpg

Little CuChulainn · 20-04-2015 01:38PM

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

they are on the table in front of her

Phoebas wrote: »

I like to see the other photos. The photo I can see has the Garda with a big pile of Yes badges. If it was a pile of No badges I doubt people would excuse it so easily.

https://twitter.com/MichaelKellyIC/status/590090411273756673/photo/1

Like the man says. No photo of her handing out badges, only witnessing forms.

suicide_circus · 20-04-2015 01:39PM

Don't see what the big deal is. The integrity of the democratic process as it applies to referenda in this country was completely and irrevocably undermined with Lisbon II.

ScumLord · 20-04-2015 01:39PM

bjork wrote: »

Here's it from another angle

http://i60.tinypic.com/iw7wis.jpg

Is that guard making people kiss her ring?

My name is URL · 20-04-2015 01:39PM

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

they are on the table in front of her

That's just because of the angle the photo was taken at. The badges are actually in another room 4 miles away =p

Meh.. hardly a big deal in any case. Not sure what the point in defending it is when Gardai have said it was inappropriate though.

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 01:39PM

bjork wrote: »

Here's it from another angle

http://i60.tinypic.com/iw7wis.jpg

that looks conclusively to me that the badges are in front of the garda.

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 01:40PM

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

https://twitter.com/MichaelKellyIC/status/590090411273756673/photo/1

Like the man says. No photo of her handing out badges, only witnessing forms.

the badges are on the table in front of the guard.

bjork · 20-04-2015 01:40PM

ScumLord wrote: »

Is that guard making people kiss her ring?

Yes, when she got away with having the badges, the power went to her head

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 01:41PM

ScumLord wrote: »

Is that guard making people kiss her ring?

ewwwwww

floggg · 20-04-2015 01:44PM

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

its not apolitical if they are distributing literature for one side.

I fully accept they shouldn't be there with Yes literature.

The photocall in question didn't have any Yes material.

The students union stuff with the badges is inapproropaite- but that's not what Keith Mills was complaining about in the article posted.

Phoebas · 20-04-2015 01:46PM

Little CuChulainn wrote: »

https://twitter.com/MichaelKellyIC/status/590090411273756673/photo/1

Like the man says. No photo of her handing out badges, only witnessing forms.

That photo is even worse.
It not only shows the badges on her table, but in proximity to huge banners advocating a Yes vote. She is effectively participating in a Yes campaign event.

In an environment where the media interviews are carried out with stopwatches to ensure that there is no scent of bias, allowing the Gardai to appear to advocate one side is inappropriate.
And the Gardai have accepted this themselves in relation to the incident in the OP.

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 01:46PM

floggg wrote: »

I fully accept they shouldn't be there with Yes literature.

The photocall in question didn't have any Yes material.

The students union stuff with the badges is inapproropaite- but that's not what Keith Mills was complaining about in the article posted.

but it did have somebody campaigning for the Yes side. Why couldnt they just have a photocall without campaigners present? who organised the photocall? what is the gardai or was it the Yes campaign?

floggg · 20-04-2015 01:48PM

Phoebas wrote: »

When a Garda is doing a photocall with someone campaigning on the Yes side or providing Yes badges to people registering to vote, then it becomes political.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CDA_ewJVIAAH1mr.jpg

The Gardai themselves had accepted that the photocall was inappropriate.

There was nothing in the photo of anything political, and fact that she's involved in the campaign doesn't chaste the message.

If they added in somebody from Iona it wouldn't have changed the message, but perhaps they should have just to avoid this reaction.

Though of course Iona "aren't" campaigning are they. That might involve them having to disclose who in the US is funding them.

Phoebas · 20-04-2015 01:50PM

floggg wrote: »

There was nothing in the photo of anything political[...]

Aw c'mon - now you're just taking the piss.

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 01:50PM

floggg wrote: »

There was nothing in the photo of anything political, and fact that she's involved in the campaign doesn't chaste the message.

If they added in somebody from Iona it wouldn't have changed the message, but perhaps they should have just to avoid this reaction.

Though of course Iona "aren't" campaigning are they. That might involve them having to disclose who in the US is funding them.

i like Iona and what they stand for no more than you do. Standing next to a campaigner for the Yes side is favouring one side over another. the gardai shouldnt be doing that. end of story. I cant see why people are still defending this.

suicide_circus · 20-04-2015 01:51PM

If a garda were publicly cozying up to a No campaigner people wouldn't be impressed

listermint · 20-04-2015 01:54PM

Does all this crap really matter, Its going to pass. Ireland has moved on from alienating people due to their sexual orientation.

The main stream have accepted it. Its just fringe people who are in denial about it all.

floggg · 20-04-2015 01:55PM

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

but it did have somebody campaigning for the Yes side. Why couldnt they just have a photocall without campaigners present? who organised the photocall? what is the gardai or was it the Yes campaign?

There is no issue in my book with any side encouraging people to register or vote - or with the Gardai supporting the call.

People are capable of acting in different capacities, and the people targeted by this message are unlikely to know what Her stance is.

I would equally see no issue if the Taoiseach appeared with the Gardai encouraging registration before a general election.

I also have no issue if Keith Mills appears with the Gardai, judges or whoever advocating registration of turnout - as long as that appearance is non-partisan and simply encourages registration/voting and not for any particular side.

If the Gardai refused to co-operate with the No side, or attend registration drives organised by Coír or whoever then I would get animated.

But I think the more people that vote on a referendum the better.

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 01:57PM

floggg wrote: »

There is no issue in my book with any side encouraging people to register or vote - or with the Gardai supporting the call.

People are capable of acting in different capacities, and the people targeted by this message are unlikely to know what Her stance is.

I would equally see no issue if the Taoiseach appeared with the Gardai encouraging registration before a general election.

I also have no issue if Keith Mills appears with the Gardai, judges or whoever advocating registration of turnout - as long as that appearance is non-partisan and simply encourages registration/voting and not for any particular side.

If the Gardai refused to co-operate with the No side, or attend registration drives organised by Coír or whoever then I would get animated.

But I think the more people that vote on a referendum the better.

you're just not seeing it. what the gardai did was totally partisan.

floggg · 20-04-2015 01:57PM

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

i like Iona and what they stand for no more than you do. Standing next to a campaigner for the Yes side is favouring one side over another. the gardai shouldnt be doing that. end of story. I cant see why people are still defending this.

As I said, I'd give zero ****s if she stood beside David Quinn with the same prop form as long as he had no visible no material in the shot.

Though I'd pretty sorry for the poor woman being that close to him.

floggg · 20-04-2015 01:59PM

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

you're just not seeing it. what the gardai did was totally partisan.

I understand the point you are arguing. I just don't agree with it.

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 02:00PM

floggg wrote: »

As I said, I'd give zero ****s if she stood beside David Quinn with the same prop form as long as he had no visible no material in the shot.

Though I'd pretty sorry for the poor woman being that close to him.

the gardai should not be partaking in a photocall with members of any side. they just shouldnt do it. I also dont understand why they are encouraging people to register to vote. I dont recall them doing that for any other referendum or election.

suicide_circus · 20-04-2015 02:00PM

This stunt is apolitical in the same wayas the mural on the side of Rick's is apolitical

ohnonotgmail · 20-04-2015 02:00PM

floggg wrote: »

I understand the point you are arguing. I just don't agree with it.

whether you agree or not is irrelevant. they shouldnt have done it.

Gardai Investigating Voter-Registration promo

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