An Irish take on US elections
Blue-collar Irish workers sat in a sparsely populated Irish bar in New York City, sharing mid-afternoon pints of Guinness. By Mirela Iverac & Gayathri Vaidyanathan - 31/10/08
“We are in for a rough ride for the next, at least, six years,” said Michael Layden, 45, a carpenter in New York. He’s not pleased with either candidate but plans to back McCain.
The economy is weighing heavily on the minds on Irish Americans as they decide whom to vote for in the Presidential elections to be held on Tuesday. All are certain that it is time for a change.
But specific Irish or Irish-American issues, such as immigration and the question of Northern Ireland, are not uppermost on their minds. Rather, they are basing their decisions on issues such as the economy, health and education that affect all Americans.
There is no clear consensus on the popular candidate. “There is a broad range of opinion,” said Peter McDermott, the assistant editor of Irish Echo, the oldest and largest Irish-American newspaper in the country.
“The Irish community is a microcosm of the American society,” said McDermott. He expects that, like much of America, older people will vote for McCain and younger people for Obama. Irish American artists are strong supporters of Obama, according to McDermott.
The Irish Echo endorsed Obama on Wednesday, saying that “we believe - and not coincidentally, our opinion is shared by the majority of the people of Ireland - that the fresh ideas, vision and undoubted potential of Obama make him the better choice for America, for Ireland, and for Irish America.”
But at the Irish bar, Layden did not agree with the Irish Echo’s views. He does not like either John McCain or Barack Obama, but come Tuesday, he’ll err on the side of experience.
“Obama is a narrowback, he’s enthusiastic, but it takes experience to lead this country,” he said. “Because of the recession, honest Americans can’t get mortgage. Milk is more money than gas!”
Dan Hickey, 46, a construction foreman at the bar agreed with Layden. “Obama keeps saying he stands for change but he doesn’t say now he’s going to pay for it. The economy is the big thing.”
Hickey said that McCain’s experience would help solve the economic crisis. But given the choice, he’d have voted for Hillary Clinton. There is support for Obama in the Irish American community as well.
Colleen McCarthy, 26, immigrated to New York from Tyrone five years ago and still bears the hallmarks of a strong Irish accent. She plans to vote for Obama.
“[Obama] would do a lot better. His goals are set much higher. He’s willing to help the lower and the middle class people,” she said.
Kevin Jamison, 49, a legal administrator plans is also an Obama supporter. “If you got Irish American men, 40 to 50, they’d say Obama’s the better guy,” concluded Jamison.
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