Campaigning on the (pre-agreed) 'issues'

Monday May 14, 2007 23:33

by paul o toole

Shannon, the great Corrib gas giveaway and civil rights. 'CRAP' according to one Northside politician

I was stopped in Artane Castle shopping Centre at 4.0 clock to-day with a handshake from Ivor Callely TD. He said he was looking for a vote. I immideately asked him how he stood on the issues that I care about.

The short conversation began quite cordially but decended into avoidance, arrogance then insult. Here's what happened when he asked me what were my concerns in this election.

P. I asked him how he stood the use of Shannon Airport being used by the US to
destroy another country?
I.C . I’m against the use of the airport to the use for the purpose of Rendition.
P. Thats good, but thats not what I asked, thats a seperate issue. I asked about the
airport being left open to the Americam military
I.C. Well I’m against the war.
P. Have you said this in public or made a statement about this to anyone in public?
I.C. No, I ‘ve said my opinon in parliamentary hearings.
P. In private? Thats private...isn’t it?
I.C. Yes.
P. ...But not in public..How did you vote on the issue in chambers that day??
I.C. I wasnt in on that day...
P. You weren’t in that day??
I.C. No
P So you didn't vote??
I.C. I voted against it.
P. You voted against it?....but...you said you wern’t in that day..the day of the vote...
I.C. What....vote were you talking about??
P. The vote which allowed the continnued use of Shannon to the US military without a
UN mandate.
I.C. I voted against it.
P. Do you think were living in a facist country?
I.C. I wouldn’t say that.
P I think the west is turning facist and Ireland is a ...parasite facist country now. And
your party Fianna Fail support thr use of shannon in this war
I.C. Like I said, i’m against the war but we should leave it open to the US to use, just to
re-fuel. Were not participating
P. We are transporting 70% of the troops over to Iraq and were not participating? How
do you draw this conclusion?
I.C. We are neutral and we dont participate
P We are not neutral, have you heard of the case Ed Horgan brough to the supreme
court, The judge ruled that neutrality was aspirational.

... This meaningless logic caught me by surprise though it shouldn't have, ............and as
he was making steps away from me...I called him to answer another question. I asked
him..

P. .... , Ivor, how do you stand on Corrib Gas issue?

I.C. How do you mean?
P. I mean we gave away 410 billion euro worth of our gas to Shell... the wealthiest corporation on the planet...how do you stand on that??
I.C. Thats a local issue.
P. Natural resources.... are a local issue?
I.C. Yes... local politicians deal with it over there.
P. I think it is a national issue and I’m asking my local representative how he stands on it?
I.C. Thats a local issue for the local politicians over there.
P. Your party gave it away...Fianna Fail GAVE it away. Are you aware that the ‘Irish Box’ was extended by 200 miles. To facilitate more giveaways?
I.C. ..a blank stare followed by...well Im sure we wont agree on many things......and he
began to make his way over to the group of people out canvassing with him to avoid any more questions.

.... I asked him how he stood on the new criminal justice legislation (which is not unlike the US Patriot Act in terms of civil rights) and he kept moving twards his little group of supporters. I asked the question again, and again and the group absorbed him into their midsts. As I stood to turn for home I heard a question being asked by one of the men who were with him about what just happened and his reply to this was disturbing to say the least, I overheard Ivor reply to him about me.....

... ‘He was asking me where I stood on different issues and crap like that’....

I stopped and turned on him and raised my voice ... ‘did you say my issues were crap’ .....he replied angrily, you shouldn’t be listening to other peoples conversations, .....I said I wasn’t listening , I overheard you...do you think my issues are crap?. The group closed him off and me out.

So now you know where Ivor Stands on genocide in Iraq, 410 billion of your gas given away and Irish civilians civil rights... there 'crap'.