Right-wing politicians in Ireland have been offered sage advice on how to handle an opponent: “Smear the bejaysus out of her.”
The advice came from Ivan Yates, a former lawmaker who now fancies himself as a shock jock.
Yates has recommended that Fine Gael, the party he used to represent, should make baseless allegations against Catherine Connolly, the frontrunner in a presidential election campaign. Fine Gael, according to Yates, should not hold back from asking if Connolly is a “Russian asset” and from alleging that she will damage Ireland’s standing internationally if she wins the 24 October vote.
Although Yates is not participating formally in the campaign, his “smear the bejaysus” approach reflects the tactics actually being used against Connolly. Heather Humphreys, Fine Gael’s candidate in the presidential race, last weekend claimed that Connolly had “managed to insult our allies,” adding “that doesn’t go without consequences.”
The supposedly grave insults to which Humphreys referred were criticisms that Connolly had made of Germany’s increased militarization and Britain’s policies on Palestine.
During September, Connolly was asked on a BBC Radio Ulster program about how Keir Starmer, the British prime minister, was insisting that Hamas would have no government role. “I don’t think Keir Starmer should have any say about Hamas,” Connolly replied, arguing that Palestinians “must decide, in a democratic way, who they want to lead their country.” (more...)
Ireland must not be intimidated by Britain’s stance on Palestine
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