A tweet from the US Ambassador, Edward F. Crawford, saying that, “Ireland looks forward to this important visit by Vice President Pence” has sparked an angry social media response.
“Ambassador you do not speak for Ireland, nor do I,” says Dr. Shivaun Quinlivan, a law lecturer at NUI Galway. “But as an Irish person I do not welcome your Vice President who is a misogynist and presides over a system of family separation that just appears to value cruelty.”
Adds Lisa Nic An Bhreithimh: “We are appalled by the inhumane treatment of migrants by Pence and colleagues in US, as he visits the place his own ancestors emigrated from. We are equally disgusted by his treatment and opinions of women in society, and LGBTQ+ people.”
Senator Aodhán Ó Ríordáin responds: “No we absolutely don’t welcome the VP here Ambassador. His administration is now internationally renowned for sowing division and spewing hateful xenophobic rhetoric. Pence is a disgrace to his Irish immigrant past.”
Reflects Shauna McDermott: “Unless Pence is planning to travel back and visit Ireland in 1985, I don’t think he is going to enjoy spending time in the free thinking, religion rejecting, liberal nation which we finally have become.”
Echoing those sentiments, Adam Long says: “The vast majority of us, as evidenced in recent ground-breaking referendums, entirely reject the archaic views of a man who has made attacking the rights of LGBT and women a core political objective.”
Benji Lawlor says: “I suspect your barometer of public attitudes is broken Ambassador! As a key member of the Trump Administration – the President being publicly criticised by our own Tánaiste for ‘fuelling hatred based on race’ – the VP will be as welcome as AOC at YAF.”
Retorts Paul Waldron: “How dare you claim to speak for the Irish people. The Trump-Pence presidency is probably the most unpopular, and reviled throughout Ireland. A handful of people – mainly relying on Trump’s hotel for employment – came out to support Trump. Compare that to JFK, Obama, Clinton...”
"No we don't Ambassador," says Ann Marie Part. "Ireland might be known as the land of the Cead Míle Fáilte (hundred thousand welcomes) but not on this occasion. You can keep Mike Pence and his homophobic divisive politics on your side of the Atlantic. Thanks."
Senator Lynn Ruane is to the point with her “Lies” comment.
And those, we hasten to add, are just the polite ones.
Yesterday, Vice-President Pence said, that he’s looking forward to “travelling to Ireland; a country that is very near to my family’s heart” and “celebrating my Irish roots” on September 6 and 7.