The PES has condemned FF MEP Sean O Neachtain and Independent Kathy Sinnot for signing a letter urging a no vote in the Portugese referendum on abortion. And yet De Rossa has signed a similar letter urging a yes vote! Which begs the question as to why it is not okay for the former to "interfere" but it is for Frank?
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/irelan ... 27402.html
From reading the Irish Times piece, it appears the issue was not the "interference" of the MEPs but the text of the declaration they'd signed:Originally Posted by popper
Also, you might want to take a look at this in relation to usage of the phrase "begs the question".The declaration, tabled by the Portuguese conservative MEP José Ribeiro E Castro, refers to the "devastating individual, social and demographic effects the liberalisation of abortion in some of our countries has had". It urges the Portuguese not to choose a "path of false responses to complex problems" by voting for a proposal to allow abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
In Portugal, the right to abortion is limited to rare cases of rape, a deformed foetus or danger to the health of the mother.
Socialist MEP Zita Gurmai, president of the women's committee in the Pes, has written to the 51 MEPs who have signed the declaration, asking them to justify some of the highly questionable assertions made in the declaration.
Normally, you'd have to hold me back from any chance to put the boot into De Rossa's prone body, but unless you're basing your post on something other than the article, I fail to see the hypocrisy.
The PES (Socialist? HAH!) is criticising the declaration signed by anti-choice MEPs because of questionable assestions in the declaration, not because they don't have the right to 'interfere'.
They're questioning the arguments, not their right to make them, so I don't see how it's hypocritical. Now, De Rossa is composed of 20% water, 30% flesh and 50% hypocrisy, but that's another story.
From reading the Irish Times piece, it appears the issue was not the "interference" of the MEPs but the text of the declaration they'd signed:
Also, you might want to take a look at this in relation to usage of the phrase "begs the question".The declaration, tabled by the Portuguese conservative MEP José Ribeiro E Castro, refers to the "devastating individual, social and demographic effects the liberalisation of abortion in some of our countries has had". It urges the Portuguese not to choose a "path of false responses to complex problems" by voting for a proposal to allow abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy.
In Portugal, the right to abortion is limited to rare cases of rape, a deformed foetus or danger to the health of the mother.
Socialist MEP Zita Gurmai, president of the women's committee in the Pes, has written to the 51 MEPs who have signed the declaration, asking them to justify some of the highly questionable assertions made in the declaration.
I thought all the sad pedants had retired.
De Rossa also makes questionable assertions. The fact that you probably agree with them is colouring your judgement.
Also you might like to ask a passing seven year old about the meaning of the word "hypocrisy".
"devastating individual, social and demographic effects the liberalisation of abortion in some of our countries has had": I love this overblown language. Can someone post the full list of "questionable assertions" that were made.
When is the referendum taking place anyhow? I'm wondering if the result will have any impact on the Irish situation. What are the polls in Portugal saying?
In the interests of nothing more than ************************ stirring, have the two SF MEPs signed the document? Or also questioned the assertions of Mr Castro?The PES (Socialist? HAH!) is criticising the declaration signed by anti-choice MEPs because of questionable assestions in the declaration, not because they don't have the right to 'interfere'.
People in glass houses...
Pedantry is a dying art, it's true. The likes of Lynn Truss have given it a bad name.
I have no idea what assertions De Rossa has made so I have no idea whether I agree with them or not. However, if you're basing your accusation of hypocrisy purely on this article, then I think it's fairly clear whose judgement has been coloured.De Rossa also makes questionable assertions. The fact that you probably agree with them is colouring your judgement.
Would that help me get a grasp on the sense in which you're using the word? I'm pretty comfortable with my post-primary-school understanding of the word, thanks. For example, it would clearly be hypocritical of the PES to criticise MEPs for the act of "interfering" in the referendum, as PES MEPs are also interfering on the other side. However nothing in the article you linked indicates that Sinnot and Ó Neachtáin are being criticised merely for "interfering", so it doesn't arise.Also you might like to ask a passing seven year old about the meaning of the word "hypocrisy".
I'm only going on the article you linked. If you have other information please share it.
I have no idea whether they were asked to sign it or not. We're in the middle of an election campaign so a referendum in Portugal's not top of the agenda.
Come on Cain, that's a cop out of an answer. It would take at most five minutes to read the letter being proposed and sign it. Or if that wasn't possible then draft your own press release/letter which would say much the same thing.We're in the middle of an election campaign so a referendum in Portugal's not top of the agenda.
Anyhow I wonder would the referendum result make a big difference to Ireland? Probably not I suppose, but it looks like the pro-choice side are in the lead so a win there at least wouldn't do the Irish choice movement any harm. And wouldn't do the pro-life case any good.
Fingers crossed.
Firstly, as I said before, I've no idea if we were even sent the letter. Secondly, I would be a much happier chap if the situation was as straight-forward as you say it is, but we've an internal bureaucracy that would make a Maoist blush and it's not as simple as someone reading a letter and sticking a signature at the bottom.
Its socialdemocratic not socialist hypocracy.
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