The O’Bamas of Moneygall and other US election blarney
It’s the story which never fails to pop up every four years: the attempt by some hamlet in Ireland to piggyback on the US presidential election. The yarn about Barack Obama’s connections with Moneygall in Co Offaly first surfaced last May. However, it is the story which will keep on giving, especially if the senator from Illinois continues to kick Hillary Clinton’s butt in the coming weeks to win the grand prize of a rough, tough, dirty battle with the GOP’s war dogs.
It means, though, we’re in for more cringeworthy TV like the RTE TV news story on Saturday evening about the celebrations in the Co Offaly town following Obama’s win in Iowa last week (thanks to Shane for pointing me towards the YouTube footage which is below). On this occasion, it was poor Ray Colgan who was sent to round up the happy drinkers and get them to gurn and wave flags for the cameras. He looked commendably unimpressed with his task, but he had better get used to it. Chances are he will be back in Moneygall again and again before next November.
But those good people in Moneygall are not the only Irish folks keeping a self-interested eye on the US elections. Have a read of last week’s opinion piece from publisher and editor Niall O’Dowd.
Besides his work on the Irish Voice newspaper and the Irish America magazine, O’Dowd’s a long-standing Clinton fan (he’s on the finance committee for her election campaign) so his piece was about why she should get the love and the votes from the Irish-American constituency.
There were many reasons put forward. O’Dowd counted the number of Irish onboard Clinton’s groovy bus. He pointed to how Clinton took time out from her canvassing schedule to engage in some jaw-jaw with the Chuckle Brothers when they visited Washington DC. He even recalled Clinton and hubbie Bill’s emotional reactions after their first to Northern Ireland in 1995.
As far as O’Dowd was concerned, this is a no-brainer.
If she becomes president, Ireland can expect the most committed American leader in history on their issues. If she wins, Ireland and Irish America will be big winners too.
But surely Irish-American voters have more pressing issues to think about than how their vote will play back in the old country? Isn’t the US presidental election supposed to be about, lets see, health care, foreign policy and taxes, to name three issues which spring to mind, rather than a green takeover of the White House?
It seems that many Irish Americans have already went “harumph” to such notions. O’Dowd points out that over 16 per cent of Iowa’s citizens claim Irish roots. They must all be from Moneygall, in that case.
I can’t wait to see what other candidates will declare their Irish roots in the coming week - or, more likely, see their Irish roots coming back to haunt them. And it can only be a matter of time before someone here tries to join the dots between a dude standing for election in Kenya or Pakistan and some Irish village in need of a visit from a RTE camera crew.
Barack is obviously the brother of Philo, Chris Hughton, Paul McGrath and the bloke in denim who used to busk on Grafton Street.
Comment by Twenty Major | January 7, 2008 at 9:19 amTo heck with dubious arguments about the greening of American politics, this time next year we could be stuck with an Offalyman in charge of both the White House and the Dail… Another one for Rick O’Shea’s “signs of an impending apocalypse” perhaps?
(Pretty sure also that there was once an Offaly minor hurler called O’Bama…)
Comment by Jim Dubh | January 7, 2008 at 10:59 am“Hopefully Moneygall can be the next Ballyporeen”
No point in setting your expectations too high.
Comment by Overfriendly Concierge | January 7, 2008 at 12:37 pmI don’t know which was more offensive, the token black guys or the token d’unbelievables. Either way Ballyporeen just got pwned.
Comment by Paul | January 7, 2008 at 12:47 pmI’m sure there are a few Huckabees in Headford
Comment by Suzie | January 7, 2008 at 3:47 pmGod, that’s one of the most cringey news reports I’ve seen in a long time. The reporter looks like he’d rather be anywhere else on earth than in Moneygall. Still, I think If Obama wins the Democratic race, he will get hammered by the Republican machine. Can you just imagine the negative campaigning which will ensue to stop him?
Comment by Roger Roger | January 7, 2008 at 3:50 pmThe Republican Machine will hopefully disintegrate by then. With Romney’s money not helping him at all in Iowa, Huckabee storming it with the religious vote - which he wont get in New Hampshire tomorrow, And McCain in a not-so-bad position, I hope that party eats itself alive.
Comment by Pedro | January 7, 2008 at 6:26 pmTwenty - you forgot Kevin Sharkey
Jim D - it’s the BIFFO takeover
Concierge - I’m sure Barack is only thrilled with the notion of sinking a pint with his Irish cousins
Paul - I can’t wait for Ballyporeen to step to Moneygall on this one. It’s like Biggie v Tupac all over again.
Suzie - I think they’re keeping v v quiet
Roger - I think we can expect to see Hillary using the “Obama will be eaten alive by the Republicans” line over and over again in the next few days. In a subtle way, of course
Pedro - I dont think the Republican machine in all its gung-ho menace has been turned on yet in this campaign. They’re waiting to see what the Republican members will say in terms of choice of candidate and they’ll then translate that into trash-talking whoever is wearing the Democrat’s colours. Long, long way to go until November yet, dude
Comment by Jim Carroll | January 7, 2008 at 6:48 pmTotally agree with you there Jimbo. It’s just wishful thinking on my part. However, I am a little too excited about New Hampshire tomorrow.
I read a quote somewhere from a publication based there that said:
“Iowa picks Corn.
New Hampshire picks presidents.”
It summed things up quite nicely.
Comment by Pedro | January 7, 2008 at 6:53 pmThat is a cringeworthy report indeed…they do seem to haul out some tripe every election! They have the American flag hanging up the wrong way as well…but hey with a couple of pints I am sure Obama wouldn’t notice!
Comment by Tim | January 8, 2008 at 12:09 amThe Republican lads all seem a bit eccentric this time around, all of them seem to have potentially fatal (for their campagin at least) quirks. Huckabee is an accident waiting to happen, Romney as a mormon is unelectable with the influence the god-botherers have at the moment and McCain and Giuliani aren’t conservative enough to appeal to the Republican base. It’s still VERY early days, but the longer this campaign goes on the more electable Obama seems to get.
The Republicans will play up on the Muslim heritage etc. if he’s the candidate, but apart from that there doesn’t seem to be many things to attack him on
Comment by Paul | January 8, 2008 at 12:59 amPedro, if Fox’s debate coverage last night is anything to go by, the GOP are hoping for an unclear mess of frontrunners until Super Tuesday when Rudy “9/11 (c)” Guilliani sweeps in and cleans up half the states….
Comment by Ciaran | January 8, 2008 at 3:29 amTim - I wonder is there any YouTube footage of Ronald Reagans visit to Ballyporeen….
Paul - I would wager that there’s a gang of Republican wonks currently compiling a dirty tricks file on Obama. They already have their Hillary one gathering dust in the corner.
Ciaran - I agree with you there. The Republican campaign this time is very remiscent of the Democrats last time out (remember Howard Dean? Is Huckabee the GOP’s Dean)
Comment by Jim Carroll | January 8, 2008 at 9:01 amTwenty - you forgot Kevin Sharkey
No, I deliberately left him out.
Comment by Twenty Major | January 8, 2008 at 9:38 amAccording to early reports coming out of New Hampshire Ciaran, Obama is leading for the Democratics and McCain is taking care of business for the Republicans.
Comment by Pedro | January 8, 2008 at 3:04 pmShortly after 1.00am tonight GMT, we will find out who is walking away the happiest though.
No YouTubes of Reagan in Ballyporeen although a few of his other acting roles…probably better than his acting while President. Interesting to see that Hillary won New Hampshire…just wish I could vote in the primaries myself but will have to wait until the general election.
Comment by Tim | January 9, 2008 at 8:01 pm