New Socialist Worker Online

by tristan Mon Apr 18, 2005 12:24

"The bourgeois press for a period attempted to portray Joe Higgins as an independent TD. This occurred over a numer of years and it for good reason enraged Joe Higgins so he protested and consistently pointed out to these publications that he was a TD for the Socialist Party not an independent."

Oh how awful! And did you even consider how the real working-class press (i.e. the red tops) have portrayed Joe Higgins?

by Christian Rakovsky - Bolshevik Sun Apr 17, 2005 03:04

This is quite simple. The bourgeois press for a period attempted to portray Joe Higgins as an independent TD. This occurred over a numer of years and it for good reason enraged Joe Higgins so he protested and consistently pointed out to these publications that he was a TD for the Socialist Party not an independent. Now we have the situation whereby the Socialist "Workers" Party have consistently referred to Joe Higgins as a socialist TD. Of course the Socialist "Workers" Party are factually correct because Joe Higgins is a socialist TD. But we all know that the Socialist "Workers" Party are emiting the word PARTY after socialist for a reason because they are attempting a slight of hand they are attempting to claim Joe Higgins as someone who is affliated to the same political ideas as themselves. This is worse than the bourgeois media calling Joe an independent. This is an attempted fraud. This is an attempt to con working class people. It is OPPORTUNIST and obscene. Joe Higgins is the elected TD for Dublin West for the Socialist Party - FACT. And he exposed GAMA and all of its dealings and there is much more to come without ANY involvement from the Socialist "Workers" Party. You should be ashamed of your attempted CON SWP! And Kieran Allen Socialist Worker editor shame on you!

by Socialist Sun Apr 17, 2005 00:09

The SWP did all they could to opportunisticly sow the idea that Joe is in the same party as them. The SWP are fully entitled to give support to Joe in Euro election, but it should be done is a principled way. Where there is support for a candidate in another party that party should be named: not just "socialist TD". I find SWP talk of left unity amazing as in Dundrum last year (where the SP are well established and came close to winning seat) the SWP were determined to run against them while still maintaining that they wanted "left unity"!

by E - SWP Sat Apr 16, 2005 05:13

Hi

I have to come back on that last comment about the local elections leaflets issued by SWP candidates in Dublin. None of them as far I can remember mentioned Joe Higgins and his jailing or tried to link him to the SWP or something.

For reference visit:

http://www.swp.ie/html/leftunity.htm#4

The Dublin candidates leaflets are still available as an archive so check there if anyone wishes

by Socialist Fri Apr 15, 2005 20:05

It seems like the SWP continue to echo the right-wing establishment press and call JOe Higgins a "socialist TD". They almost want to confuse people into thinking that Joe is a member of theirs. The same dodgy unprincipled stuff went on during bin tax jailings ("Free the Socialists!, Join the Socialists!"). The SWP also called for a vote for him in Euro election on same leaflets as their local election candidates trying to link Joe with Kevin Wingfield, Terry Connolly et al. Do they have no shame!

They also seem to think that the Pope is some kind of hero for working class people. He was not. John Paul was strongly conservative, anti-contraception, anti-divorce, anti-woman, anti-socialist. He played a disgusting role in Eastern Europe and in the downfall of Stalinism. John Paul II is no hero to the Palestinian people! Religion is backward and a revolutionary party should not sow illusions in religion (including Islam). Just because the capitalist French state put down flags at half mast doesn't mean anything for working people! SWP: learn class politics and drop your petty-bourgeois opportunism!

by Lenin Fri Apr 15, 2005 18:15

You can see them chanting at all demos for any cause.  They always carry politically correct posters.  They are noisier than any one else.  They are very good at chanting, with the experienced “lead singer” and the response choir who knows their well rehearsed text.  Actually, this is the only thing they do professionally and with genuine pleasure.  Noisy manifestations are their specialty.  Their style and methods of recruiting have something of the Jehovah Witnesses.  Indeed, invariably their participation in any demonstration ends up with calling on people to join their organization.
...
I met Grace Lally and her comrades at the protests against the war in Yugoslavia.  She is classical representative of that revolutionary type who scream loudly in the anticipation of the Shiny Future. 

by Cynicaphobe Fri Apr 15, 2005 18:04

Yep, its true, the SWP always try to associate themselves with any successful campaign organised by others, especially if a well known public figure like Joe Higgins is involved.

Sadly, the Socialist Party is a reverse image of their Trotskyist cousins: their paper reads as if no group or campaign outside their orbit exists. Except of course that dreadful renegade Cllr. Joan Collins, who seems to merit a petty attack in every issue of the paper. Who are our greatest enemies...the Popular Front for the Liberation....!

by Cynic Fri Apr 15, 2005 16:02

How dare you imply that the SWP would shamelessly try to associate themselves with Joe Higgins. Ok, so making his party membership clear might occasionally slip their minds, like when they mentioned him or Clare Daly a few hundred thousand times during their imprisonment, but that's hardly reason to make unfounded accusations.

There are perfectly reasonable explanations other than cynicism, like for instance... eehhh... shoddy journalism?

by jj Fri Apr 15, 2005 15:49

I notice from reading the article on GAMA that Joe Higgins is a "socialist" TD.

How convenient!