Sen. David Norris to run for President

[White Horse]

Just watched David Norris's interview with Ursula Halligan on TV3. The man has a great mind a real sense of right and wrong. He is probably the most honorable politician we have.

Has he recanted the pro-paedophile views he expressed in a Hot Press interview?

You cannot claim soneone has a "real sense of right and wrong" when they claimed that there is a benefit effect upon underage boys of sexual activity with adult men.

[proon4]

It would be good to have an open gay in the Aras. It would send out a message to gays in Ireland and indeed across the world. I also think he would bring a lot of fun to the Presidency. This would be a recognition of his work championing human rights for minorities in which he has done a lot of good.

He is left leaning, a member of Labour, and a human rights campaigner. This would be good for the progressive left in Ireland.

And what message would that be ??

[proon4]

Oh but it is

Dail 6 Greens, 5 Sinn Fein, 7 Independents
Dail 5 university senators (including himself but not Bacik as she is under a Labour Whip), 3 Greens, 1 SF, 2 Independent

Thats 29 - He only needs 20

The Dail Independents are Harney, Grealish, Healy-Rae, Lowry, Behan, McGrath, O’Sullivan. I’d say he could get 2 or 3 out of those 7

In The University Senators panels Mullen is a definite no while Joe O Toole, Shane Ross and Feargal Quinn are very likely, and then Fiona O’Malley and Eoghan Harris would probably nominate him

So if we look at those numbers he could get a nomination with Sinn Fein and Green Party support and 5 other independents

Yea right !!! SF are going to nominate a man who called the 1916 Patriots "terroists" and thinks its ok for young boys to have sex with old "queens" like himself...Will ya go away and get a titter of wit

[captainwillard]

Has he recanted the pro-paedophile views he expressed in a Hot Press interview?

You cannot claim soneone has a "real sense of right and wrong" when they claimed that there is a benefit effect upon underage boys of sexual activity with adult men.

He may have recanted these views, if only to garner support for his nomination. I loathe him and his toilet humour. A real pinko if ever there was one.

[livingstone]

That possible future member (Doherty) is already a member.

Sorry, my bad. As has been pointed out though, O'Malley and, to a lesser extent, Harris, are also options for nominating him.

I don't know how likely it is that they will all work together to nominate a candidate (I would have thought unlikely) but Keiths assertion that they have nowhere near the numbers is clearly just wrong.

[borntorum]

Hm you mean people will not vote for Norris because he's African?

Seriously though, I'm sure lots of people would never vote for anyone with Norris' views on 1916. The fact of his homosexuality does not mean that anyone who doesn't vote for him is homphobic. The problem with identity politics of this kind is not just that the man is being defined by his sexuality but that the voters become defined by their supposed attitudes to his sexuality. Even if voters just happen to prefer the other candidates you know there will be articles in newspapers about 'the prejudices of the Irish people' if he loses.

+1. You just know that if he runs, there will be opinion pieces in some of the newspapers trying to guilt trip people into voting for Norris, to prove we're 'mature', 'open-minded' etc.

I dislike a lot of what Norris has said in the past, and I sure as hell will not stand for anyone trying to claim that my opposition to his Presidential bid is based on homophobia.