This letter appeared in the Irish Times last Thursday. It was written by my good friend (and hitherto unknown acerbic political commentator) Mr. D. I would be interested to hear/read the reactions of my American friends (should there still be any left reading this blog).
Also, should they know of any opportunities in talk radio, please contact Mr. D, or rather, Rabid Dog D as he will be henceforth known.
Madam, - In your Editorial ("Obama's different visit", May 24th) you suggest that the recent visit by the President of the United States of America was somehow different to others.
Not so, as once again one of the main events on the Obama itinerary was a visit to a pub: just like presidential visits by Clinton and Reagan before him. Indeed in keeping with our national fascination with alcohol, last week's visit by the British monarch also included a visit to a brewery.
Contrast this with today's visit in Britain by President Obama, where he visited a school - instead of a pub.
State visits are major opportunities to present Ireland as a modern knowledge-based economy and forward-thinking society. However, if we want to be taken seriously, we are going to have think bigger and show more imagination than bringing visiting world leaders "down the pub". - Yours, etc,
BRIAN DALY,
Clonross,
Drumree,
Co Meath.
Not so, as once again one of the main events on the Obama itinerary was a visit to a pub: just like presidential visits by Clinton and Reagan before him. Indeed in keeping with our national fascination with alcohol, last week's visit by the British monarch also included a visit to a brewery.
Contrast this with today's visit in Britain by President Obama, where he visited a school - instead of a pub.
State visits are major opportunities to present Ireland as a modern knowledge-based economy and forward-thinking society. However, if we want to be taken seriously, we are going to have think bigger and show more imagination than bringing visiting world leaders "down the pub". - Yours, etc,
BRIAN DALY,
Clonross,
Drumree,
Co Meath.
Yes I am now on the hitlist of a major brewing corporation and a number of publican associations.
ReplyDeleteIronically, the manufacturer of the brew poured for the Queen and drunk by Obama announced up to 70 redundancies in their Irish operations.
My American uncle tells me that the anti-Obama media seized on the photo opportunity as 85 people died in tornados back in the homeland. Nothing Obama could have done this but his detractors went for the "president drinks in a pub while citizens perish" line.
Oddly, Obama didn't visit a pub for a traditional pint of ale, a glass of burgundy or a swift vodka on the remainder of his tour. He had serious business to do in the UK, France and Poland.