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2008 Press Releases
September 23, 2008
AOH Leadership Meets
with Senator John McCain
Brothers, I would like to update you on what has transpired in the political arena in the Presidential race over the past few months. As you remember about 4 months ago I sent a letter to three candidates who were running for President of the United States. Since that time it has come down to two, John McCain and Barrack Obama. We tried to set up an Irish Forum, where the candidates would answer questions, which we gave them, on seven topics, which were important to our members as Irish Americans. We joined with the LAOH as well the IAUC in authoring and editing the questions.
We were notified last week, on short notice, that John McCain accepted our request and a meeting was set up in Scranton PA on Monday morning. Ned McGinley and Joe Roche, PEC Co-Chairman, were able to be there along with National Director Danny O’Connell and his father Jack who were both instrumental in setting up the meeting. Of course I led the delegation and Kieran Staunton, from the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, accompanied us.
The group was invited to a private meeting with John McCain prior to his town hall meeting. No other group met with him and we had a chance to ask him what his intentions were concerning the seven questions we previously gave him (I presented him another copy at that meeting). He was very cordial and seemed interested in our cause especially on immigration, policing and the undocumented Irish here in this country. He did assure us that he would have a special envoy for Ireland as we informed him that although peace has been achieved in Ireland there was still much more work to be completed before there can be a true and lasting peace. He said that he was not an expert on the Irish situation but would definitely get further information from Congressman Peter King and others who would investigate our concerns.
Before the Senator spoke I had the pleasure of addressing the overflow crowd for a few minutes and explained the AOH reason for being there. I also read the seven questions to the audience and explained that the AOH in no way was, or would in the future, endorse ANY political candidate. Our purpose there was to acquire information on topics, which were of great importance to Irish America, and to make that information available to our members as well as others who might be interested.
On the downside of this forum, at the beginning of his speech Senator McCain began with a joke, which the membership of the A.O.H. or L.A.O.H. would not appreciate; it was, in our estimation, demeaning and very insensitive toward the Irish. Senator McCain may think that telling a joke about drinking and the Irish, demeaning our homeland at a public town meeting is perfectly all right but the A.O.H. and most Irish-Americans do not appreciate that type of humor. I am in the process of writing to him personally to educate him on what is, or should be, appropriate for all ethnic nationalities.
Hopefully in the next week or so we will have the same kind of Forum for Senator Barrack Obama and then we will publish the information we have gained for our membership.
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