Sinn Féin president Mary Lou McDonald (left) and President Michael D Higgins

Anthony Sheridan writes:

Sinn Féin’s decision to field a candidate to challenge the current President has wrecked the cosy arrangement between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour to keep their man in the office. But consider what would have happened if the following scenario had evolved.

Imagine if Sinn Féin had decided to support the conservative centre and then, dramatically, a leading member of the party broke ranks and attempted to force the leadership to change its decision by putting himself forward as an independent candidate.

Here’s exactly what would have happened:

There would have been an immediate wall to wall, seven days a week attack on the party by the establishment media led by the government broadcaster,

RTÉ. Sinn Féin members from Mary Lou McDonald down to local councillors would be relentlessly paraded, harassed and questioned across the establishment media for reactions and explanations.

So here’s my question.

Why is the establishment media completely silent on the dramatic decision by Éamon Ó Cuív to challenge his party’s presidential election strategy by putting himself forward as an independent candidate which, by extension, constitutes a direct and very serious challenge to Michael Martin’s leadership?

Here’s the answer.

The establishment media does not serve the interests of Ireland or its people. Their loyalty lies entirely with the ruling political class made up of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.

The undemocratic attempt by these three parties to keep their man in the Park received strong and widespread support from the establishment media.

Across radio, television and print the people were arrogantly told that they would not be getting an election, that it would be too expensive, that it would distract from Brexit and sure wasn’t ‘Michael’ doing a great job anyway.

But Sinn Féin’s strategy put a stop to all that patronising, insulting guff.

Now, the establishment media has just one aim – to protect the interests of the corrupt centre of Irish politics by preventing a powerful outside force such as Sinn Féin from occupying what the ruling political class have always considered to be their personal fiefdom in the Phoenix Park.

To that end, the Irish people are about to witness the biggest, most ruthless anti-Sinn Féin propaganda campaign ever mounted by the establishment media.

The campaign will, as always, be led by the cheerleader of the establishment media – the government broadcaster, RTÉ.

Why the establishment media is silent on O Cuiv’s rebellion (Anthony Sheridan, Public Enquiry)

Previously: Anthony Sheridan: Citizens Are Not ‘Customers’ Of The State

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46 thoughts on “Running Scared

  1. Redzer

    “Why is the establishment media completely silent on the dramatic decision by Éamon Ó Cuív to challenge his party’s presidential election strategy by putting himself forward as an independent candidate which, by extension, constitutes a direct and very serious challenge to Michael Martin’s leadership?”

    Because he has no support within FF apart from a rump. Fianna Fail TDs and most of the councillors do not want Dev Og. He’s not young and he’s had his time in politics. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s basic politics.

    “The establishment media does not serve the interests of Ireland or its people. Their loyalty lies entirely with the ruling political class made up of Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and Labour.”

    The media establishment serves only itself and what makes it money. It could not give a shit about political parties except the one that is in power at any one time, usually FF or FG. If you think it cares about Labour, or Sinn Fein other parties, then you haven’t been paying attention to who owns the media who runs and owns the media.

    “Now, the establishment media has just one aim – to protect the interests of the corrupt centre of Irish politics by preventing a powerful outside force such as Sinn Féin from occupying what the ruling political class have always considered to be their personal fiefdom in the Phoenix Park.”

    Is this something you can back up with proof or have you evidence? To me, it sounds like an assertion with nothing whatever to support it.

    1. Ciaran

      Plenty of Proof and Evidence – just listen to RTE radio any time of the day. Its wall to wall ads for the State but then again it’s a State media outlet so that’s what they do.

      As for Sinn Fein being a “Powerful Outside Force” .. well that would give anyone a giggle!

    1. A Person

      Labour – the political ruling class?? O’Cuiv portrayed as an outsider? Seriously the man who is FF to the backbone. Why post this nonsense?

  2. Joe Small

    This has the appearance of a Sinn Féin puff piece. Can’t wait to see who their candidate is.

    1. Daisy Chainsaw

      When they couldn’t get Martin elected last time, they’ll struggle with anyone else.

      1. Rob_G

        Yes and no – while McG had way more profile and popularity (certainly among SF supporters), the crucial difference is that there is no ‘whiff of cordite’ off of Ní Riada, so she may not be so transfer-toxic

  3. b

    “Why is the establishment media completely silent on the dramatic decision by Éamon Ó Cuív to challenge his party’s presidential election strategy by putting himself forward as an independent candidate”

    a 30 second google found articles about this proposed move (and unconfirmed by the man himself) by RTE, Irish Independent and Irish Times, who are the “established media” exactly?

  4. MaryLou's ArmaLite

    Here is a simpler answer. Éamon Ó Cuív has delusions of grandeur.and thought he should have been leader of FF and Ireland. He realises that ship has sailed, but sees the Presidency as a good second prize and a change to stick two fingers to Micheal Martin.

    It is not just the establishment media that want to prevent SF getting into power, must of the people of Ireland are of a similar viewpoint.

  5. areyouzeferrealz

    Author – States what WOULD absolutely definitely happen if Situation X happened involving Party Y.

    Author – DEMANDS to know WHY this hasn’t happened when Situation X has happened involving Party Z.

    Target audience – YES WE HAVE BEEN VICTIMISED BY THIS THING THAT DIDN’T HAPPEN BUT HE SAID IT WOULD HAVE HAD THINGS BEEN DIFFERENT AND INVOLVING OUR GUYS!!!!!!

    Ahhh fupp off. That’s Fox News rhetoric.
    You create the fictional problem you wish to complain about during the lead in to the complaint itself.

    That’s just bad writing apart from anything else.

  6. john f

    The author is right if Sinn Fein had pulled a similar stroke as Fianna fall they would be hounded. There is an obvious double standard in what gets reported, and pursued by the media.
    Besides Sinn Fein are doing I good enough job of discrediting themselves by themselves.
    In an attempt to rebrand themselves as a down with the kids, hip, progressive party they have abandoned many of their core principles and stand for very little.
    Before they were the most EU critical party there was, but no more. They wave the European union flag harder that any of the traditional establishment parties. They also engage in pseudo-nationalism, they claim to want a united Ireland……. but under Brussels rule not London rule. They have little to say about how worst demographic changes are destroying sovereignty and cohesion. They will jump on what ever bandwagon will appeal to the younger votes.
    Vincent Browne was right they are not a threat to the established order, they want to become part of it.
    https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/vincent-browne-do-not-worry-about-gerry-adams-and-sinn-f%C3%A9in-1.2545703

  7. steve white

    Speaking at Leinster House yesterday, Mr Troy said: “A decision has been taken. We are a parliamentary party. We are a democratic party.

    “The decision was taken by the front bench. It was referred to the parliamentary party and there was a decision taken that we would not contest the presidential election.

    “I’m told that Eamon Ó Cuív was at both meetings and at no stage did he voice the opinion that he would like to be a contestant. https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/ff-calls-for-office-of-president-to-be-subject-to-foi-1.3596353

  8. Daisy Chainsaw

    Awful whiff of Whatiffery there!

    Angry, paranoid shinner rantings. Dev Óg was as likely a winner as one of the dragons!

  9. Andrew

    Anthony, I think you are overthinking this waaaay too much.
    Nobody cares really
    Also, as Ms.Chainsaw has pointed out, if they couldn’t get Martin McGuinness elected and I think he came in a distant third or maybe even fourth; what chance anyone else they nominate?

    1. Andrew

      Although you do make a fair point regarding the Fianna Faíl thing, I don’t consume RTE at all or most other Irish media, so I don’t know how they’ve been treating that

  10. Rufty

    This is, quite frankly, the greatest load of bull***t I’ve ever read on BS (who’s initials are looking more and more fitting by the day).

    Why would people question SF if there was dissent from within their ranks? Simple, because SF have insisted, for decades, of a military level of obedience from all members to the leadership. Any split from that is newsworthy.

    Differences of opinion and splits are common place and even encouraged (the differing opinions part), in all other parties. SF however have seen 25% of it’s elected members either resign their seat or quit the party since the 2014 elections. A MASSIVE number which they refuse to engage with.

    Yet SF, (through all channels including this party hack) ignore it and say “Nothing to see here”. And when people do question them on it, it this kind of rubbish that gets trotted out; “the media is against us and in league with our opponents”. This Trumpian crap cannot be let stand. SF are now getting into the ‘fake news’ game but, through articles like this, they’re getting into it before the media even has a chance to ask the hard questions ahead of election time.

    You can tell the author is a partisan Muppet from the first line of the second paragraph: “Conservative centre”. There is no such thing. Centre, by definition, is neither liberal nor conservative. Not left nor right. That’s it’s definition. Trying to conflate it with an extreme end of the spectrum shows his own inerrant extremist bias towards the hard left.

    Trying to portray MDH as some form of conservative is revisionism of Sinn Féin scale (the highest scale imaginable). The man has arguably done more for the promotion of left wing ideas than anyone else in modern Ireland. No, reader, don’t be taken in by SF attempts to cloud this election before it starts. Don’t let them pull a Trump on you. Don’t let them tell you the grass is blue and the sky is green and expect you to lap it up.

    It shows how far from their left roots SF have gone that they’re now using Alt right tactics of setting themselves up as the heroes against “the elite”. That it’s them, and only them, standing up against corruption and some sort of grand conspiracy against the people.

    The truth is, SF and their military wing were for decades the single greatest cabal working against this state on this island. They were the ones using kangaroo courts and the likes to protect their own interests and their own members ahead of the common good and stood in the way of justice being served on some of the most depraved criminals imaginable.

    Don’t buy their guff, sponsored by sycophants line this author, who tries to make them out as some kind of latter day heroes.

    SF vs “the establishment”??? SF is every bit a member of the establishment getting their funding from property developers, media moguls, hell, even Trump himself has donated to them!

    Don’t let them play you for fools.

    BS: shame on ye for printing such partisan nonsense.

    1. Starina

      well said. they’re not rebels or anti-establishment any more than FG or FF are opposing sides of a war.

    2. Andrew

      I’d rather see BS publish this partisan nonsense and then read the subsequent rebuttals than not.
      I agree with everything lese you have written though

    3. :-Joe

      @Rufty

      Where do you stand yourself on who should be elected president if MDH was replaced and what would you vote for if it was a general election….

      In the interest of fair disclosure and transparancy….
      Personally I only vote for what I see as honest, decent, hard-working local independent candidates….

      I can understand if you don’t want to mention your your personal preference but your identity is not known from your pseudoname.

      :-J

    4. :-Joe

      Oh and leave MDH in there for a while longer, if there was a clear bias from him in favour of any political ideology that is corrosive or that doesn’t represent a better progressive social democracy then I would want him out.

      I can’t see a better candidate at the moment, unless I’ve missed someone?

      Hmmmmm……. Establishment bias eh, interesting?

      :-J

      1. Ron

        He attended a Sinn Fein dinner at one of their infamous fundraisers in NYC .. he bought a table.. to attend it.. people are saying by this he donated to the IRA.

  11. Owen C

    Weirdest BS post ever. It seems desperately wanting to support a sense of outrage at something no one is outraged about. Won’t someone think of the outrage etc.

  12. Wellness

    *People are afraid of us. People are terrified of us . People are running scared of us. . The establishment are trying to silence us. The elite are trying to destroy us.

    *intro to Pizzagate 11 the Movie ( although feel free to call it the “One Hit Wonder ” if you want)

    Voice artist needed

    Those with a deep melodious voice can apply here…..

  13. Gavin

    Whether it’s a bull poop piece or not, there is a clear issue the independence of main stream Irish media and its reporting on issues. Then again journalism the world over has gone to pot.

  14. Kevin Higgins

    You published this ? There is a whiff of batpoop here.
    I will be somewhat surprised if Sinn Fein do field a candidate.
    They are pursuing a ‘process’ to decide on a candidate.
    That process may end with them not deciding to nominate anyone.

  15. bisted

    …I know there is a long way to go but I’ve just tried the Paddy Power website to put my money where my mouth is…I think the shinners will top the poll on the first count but that the labour guy Higggins will win outright…the more runners who enter the field the more the Higgins vote will be diluted…hang in there Gemma…

  16. RuilleBuille

    There is no doubt there will be an all-out propaganda attack on SF during the Presidential election. The DCU academic study of the last election showed the massive amount of negative articles/programmes SF attracted.

  17. Frilly Keane

    Ah c’mon now lads
    This is great stuff

    Like
    The only main parties worth any salt are the blueshurts, the eFFers and the Shinners
    The 1st 2 have run shy of nominating a candidate
    So far anyway
    And the other crowd just are teasing the púc out’ve us
    Labour are effectively defunct with only one last lad standing with any profile or connection to their former status of a Main stream Government Party

    This presidential has turned inta a Circus FFS
    The only lad talking about it for years was that eejit Craughwell
    n’ the minute Miggledy did a U-turn on his original electoral promise he did a runner

    And now that gob almighty McMahon has delivered Gemma O’Doherty for the media to devour
    While the big 3 weave away their next moves

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