Sen. Mary White faces FF expulsion due to liberal Seanad vote

[Panopticon]

White faces FF party ban over refusal to vote on prostitution client motion - The Irish Times - Fri, Oct 14, 2011

“Within my own party I have seen decisions being made too hastily to criminalise purchasers of sex,” she said.

“Realistically, this has been going on since the beginning of time. We have to face reality. I am not condoning it, but since the beginning of time sex has been purchased.

“There is a case for saying that women are perhaps being protected from rape because in some countries, prostitution is legalised.”

Sensible woman.

Of course, you could perhaps achieve the protection goal by prosecuting only buyers of sex, but ultimately we have to ask why two individually legal actions in a free society - giving money and having sex - suddenly become illegal when you combine them.

Unfortunately for the Senator,

Voting against the party whip entails automatic expulsion from the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party.

I have thought since February that the first defections and expulsions in the fraying Fianna Fáil parliamentary party would happen in the Seanad. I didn't think it would happen in quite this way!

[The Saltees Eagle]

At one time the marriage contract could have been viewed as a method of purchasing sex- in fact it was the only legal way to do so.

Unlike Fianna Fail to attack the very basis of the nuclear family. Even more extraordinary is the sudden emergence of the voice of common sense in the shape of Mary White. I remain to be convinced that Mary White is making a principled stand for the reasons stated and cannot help wondering whether her argument is a trojan position but for what?

I accept I may be looking for reasons beyond those she genuinely holds though.

[FakeViking]

She kept strangely quiet when Biffo and Leeny were pissing the country down the drain, but pipes up now?

[Panopticon]

At one time the marriage contract could have been viewed as a method of purchasing sex- in fact it was the only legal way to do so.

Unlike Fianna Fail to attack the very basis of the nuclear family. Even more extraordinary is the sudden emergence of the voice of common sense in the shape of Mary White. I remain to be convinced that Mary White is making a principled stand for the reasons stated and cannot help wondering whether her argument is a trojan position but for what?

I accept I may be looking for reasons beyond those she genuinely holds though.

Perhaps she has always had a bit of cop-on, but hid it when it was in her interest to affiliate closely to Fianna Fáil. Now that Fianna Fáil is in the death spiral, senators in particular will start to act like a band of confused independents.

[loner]

She kept strangely quiet when Biffo and Leeny were pissing the country down the drain, but pipes up now?

But she would have made a great President--one of the children of Lir.

[greengoose2]

But she would have made a great President--one of the children of Lir.

is the "a" missing?

[borntorum]

Mary White has come out with some mad stuff in the past but she's dead right on this one. Fair play to her. Good to see someone willing to stand up to the Ruhama consensus

[FutureTaoiseach]

She is correct. Sweden has the highest incidence of per capita rape in the EU. Introducing the much-vaunted 'Swedish-model' would increase the risk to Irishwomen. Ruhama is a front for the religious-orders anyway. You only have to read their website to know that. Their board of trustees includes members of the Sisters of Charity/Mercy etc.

If Martin really wants to show FF has changed, the automatic-expulsion rule should be revisited. It was unquestioning obedience that brought FF where it is today.

[The Saltees Eagle]

Heh- Fianna Fail- the Children of Lira might be be more appropriate alright.

[Boggle]

White faces FF party ban over refusal to vote on prostitution client motion - The Irish Times - Fri, Oct 14, 2011



Sensible woman.

Of course, you could perhaps achieve the protection goal by prosecuting only buyers of sex, but ultimately we have to ask why two individually legal actions in a free society - giving money and having sex - suddenly become illegal when you combine them.

Unfortunately for the Senator,



I have thought since February that the first defections and expulsions in the fraying Fianna Fáil parliamentary party would happen in the Seanad. I didn't think it would happen in quite this way!

Fair play to her if she is calling for a proper debate on the issue and yet again it shows up a deeper flaw in our system.

Anyone who does not vote like sheep following a party line gets expelled from their party and since the only way to progress politically is to progress within your own party, we are left with obedient sheep with no capacity for critical thought leading these parties. Explains why they didn't question the housing bubble, doesn't it?