Hear The Irish President’s Wild 2010 Anti-Tea Party Rant That’s Going Viral
- Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:46pm by
Becket Adams
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Michael D. Higgins in 2011 became the ninth president of the Republic of Ireland. The year before that, when the Tea Party rode into Washington on its historic “Red Wave,” Higgins and pro-fiscal conservative Michael Graham appeared together on Irish Radio and the result of that meeting is just now going viral.
“So whether you agree with Obama, what he is doing in aspects of his foreign policy — and I might disagree about some things about Latin and South America — but one of the things I do agree: the idea of there being a social floor below which people wouldn’t fall. That’s the future,” Higgins railed.
“I think even the poorest people in the great country that is the United States should be entitled to basic healthcare, and I don’t think they’ll thank the Sarah Palin look-alikes and followers for taking it off them,” he added.
As Graham was barely able to get a word in edgewise, Higgins marched on [emphasis added]:
You’re about as late arrival in Irish politics as Sarah Palin is in American politics, and both of you have the same tactic. The tactic is to get a large crowd, whip them up, try and discover what is the greatest fear, work on that, and feed it right back and you get a frenzy, and that leads you in time, then, to when you have in fact maybe one of the most gifted presidents elected — though I happen not to agree with all his foreign policy — but you know, you regard, for example, someone who happens to have been a professor at Harvard as somehow handicapped.
You don’t find anything wrong with all this Tea Party ignorance that been brought all around the United States, which is regularly insulting people who have been democratically elected?
Wait — he has a problem with people insulting those who have been democratically elected?

"Michael D. Higgins at a march in 2006 portraying Bush as a monster with blood dripping from his hands" Photo: http://markhumphrys.com/civility.html)
“Deputy Higgins, I’m not going to insult you by bringing up your lack of knowledge of the Tea Party movement, but other than — ” Graham started.
“I lived in the United States, and you know one of the interesting things, mate?” Higgins interrupted. “The magnificent, decent, generous people of the United States with whom I had supper … the difference between them and the tiny elite who are in charge of war-mongering foreign policy of the United States is just enormous.”
“So, therefore, when you go on your picnic around the country, you’re really not representing the decent United States people who are very proud, correctly, of the person they’ve elected president, as they’re entitled to do,” he added, “So rather, be proud to be a decent American, rather than be just a wanker whipping up fear!”
Final Thought: First, we’re not sure if President Higgins has figured out by now that the Tea Party is (and always has been) about fiscal conservatism, not war-mongering. Second, if he has figured out that the Tea Party is primarily concerned with economic sanity, then let’s talk econ.
Ireland in 2010 received a €90 billion bailout from the troika of the European Union, European Central Bank, and International Monetary Fund, prompting the republic to level on all households a fiercely unpopular €100 tax that many refuse to pay.
The country’s unemployment rate currently sits at 14.9 percent, Irish debt as a percentage of gross domestic product is 120.3 percent, the country is expected to fall back into recession later this year, and national income (which doesn’t count foreign production) is expected to contract by one percent.
Who knows? Perhaps if Higgins were to reevaluate his opinion of the Tea Party and its position on unsustainable public programs and out of control government spending, Ireland would be in a more productive and economically secure position.
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Front page photo source courtesy the AP.





















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Comments (168)
betsyyoung
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:44pmThis doofus from Ireland has either been into the whiskey for too many years or he has begun to spew the crazy talk that dementia patients speak at the onset of their disease! Whatever his problem, he should stick with Ireland and stay out of America! I feel sorry for the poor Irish folks!
Report Post »Detroit paperboy
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:58pmYeah buddy, that welfare thing is the way to prosper……….wow a European socialist who’d a thunk it……by the way, did they get their bailout yet ?
Report Post »SunnyinVegas
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:21pmThe irish are not known for their intelligence, too much drinking and fightin’
Report Post »krd
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:47pmAre Americans known for their intelligence?……..Get your ******* government hands off medicare
Report Post »SquidVetOhio
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:08pm@KRD
Yes, we actually are. The very keyboard you typed that crap with was thanks to an American.
Report Post »pavnvet
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:10pmFirst of all, not all Irish are this stupid. However, I am of Irish decent and he shames me with his unofunded rhetoric. He even said Obama was a professor at Harvard. Come on man, where do you get your information? He has probably tilted a few too many pints.
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:42pmWell when this clown sobers up have him take a look around Europe at the socialist Utopia and how massively successful it has been. But what ever you do please do not invite him back to our tea party nation.
Report Post »Ceefour
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:56pmTo be fair..we must sympathize with this poor poor man who doesn’t realize his brain is going the way so many other aging brains have gone. The best thing we can do is ignore the old cob,buy him another Guiness and ask him to sing an old Irish song in Gallic.
Report Post »Walkabout
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 5:21pmThe Irish President is a moron.
If we had let the big banks go bankrupt we would not still be de-leveraging.
The Tea Party was right. Those big banks would have worthless paper & someone would have bought up their real assets for pennies on the dollar.
But instead they come up the credit freeze monster.
The Tea Party & Michelle Bachmann were right & Michael D. Higgins is a moron.
“The Secret World of Money” by Andrew Gause
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbQNNnBUrmU
Report Post »krd
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 6:02pm@SQUIDVETOHIO
My keyboard was made in China. Americans don’t make things any more – they outsource. China grows rich and powerful, while American sinks. When was the last time you saw some electronics with a made in the USA sticker on it – long time passing, as the song says. A long time passing.
Report Post »qz2026
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 6:49pmHey KRD – he didn’t indicate who made the keyboard, just who invented it AND the computer you are typing on. American freedom and liberty. You can use your brains, build a computer in your garage, and change the world. That’s called innovation via Capitalism. At least you could do that at one time in this country. Not so much anymore as the Progressives have shaped us. But, guess what? One way or another things will change back to the founding principles.
Report Post »dwilco77
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:49pmHe sounds like a wee little Leprechan
Report Post »dwilco77
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 8:53pmNot only that – he sounds like a magical wee little Leprechan that can talk out of his a**
Report Post »AMENDMENT
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 9:06pmQZ2026 “Who invented the computer?” its not a question with a simple answer. The real answer is that many inventors contributed to the history of computers and that a computer is a complex piece of machinery made up of many parts, each of which can be considered a separate invention.
First freely programmable computer was the Z1 Computer by Konrad Zuse in 1936 Berlin, Germany. Konrad Zuse has also earned the semiofficial title of “inventor of the modern computer”
Report Post »DLV
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 11:41pmI wonder why Ireland is going bankrupt right now…. hmmmmmm….. it couldn’t be…..
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 3:22amThe problem, it seems to me, is the MIS INFORMATION that this man has received about the TEA PARTY. I still think it’s hysterical that some dyed in the wool Liberals swear that we are a group started by some rich Industrialists. # 1, they don’t exist any more and # 2, I know from self-experience that one day I got off my sofa, said some very bad words, went to my studio and fashioned a sign and went to a Tea Party Rally on April 15, 2009. To my great surprise there were hundreds of other people there.. no one called anyone, no one organized anything except to say “If you are sick of what is going on…meet at XYZ place around X o’clock ” And we came from all over, from every direction. All Ages, sizes, Colors, backgrounds and we knew something had happened. Something GOOD for America – AT LAST!! Then we tuned into GLENN BECK and found out that we were NOT ALONE, in fact 75% of AMERICANS felt just like we did.
This Irishman has received all of his information from the crooked liberal MSM and without GLENN, we may not have known we were all here and THEY may have gotten away with it.
IRISH MAN: The TEA PARTY is not any organization at all. It’s and IDEA about LIVING FREE and it seems that 75 % of Americans love that idea. THE MSM and the CROOKED LIBERAL PROGRESSIVES (another transformation of SOCIALISTS/COMMUNISTS) thought they could stifle us, shut us down. NOPE. GOOD TRY. NO CIGAR! I still can’t believe Billy Clinton is carrying wate
Report Post »You kidding me
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 9:29amGod love your ignorance ,your whiskey comment is both tired and insulting ,If you care to do your research you would find out this man does not in fact drink.As a Republican ,you are aware of your former president George Bush having a drink problem right?,people in glass houses and all that.I am always fascinated to chance upon a woman who votes Republican ,what with the GOP’s war on women(If only for anthropological reasons).Any way I can only hope to leave you more educated than I found you.
Report Post »Sara123
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 10:38amCommunists will be communists, no matter what nation they infest. They HATE the power of people to argue with them and oppose them. That‘s why they always ’progress” to the policy of oppression and genocide.
Report Post »DLV
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 12:28pmYou kidding me- If you actually believe the GOP has a war on women or black people you’ve been brainwashed. You need to stick to the facts! Republicans opposing abortion isn’t anti-woman, it’s anti-murder. Republicans opposing universal contraceptives aren’t anti-woman, they are anti-big government. Actually listen for once and break out of the lies please. This is what is wrong with our country, if you want to find an answer don’t listen to party platform do your homework.
Report Post »dwilco77
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:04pm@ You Kidding me
And where did you get your info on George Bush – The Huffington Post? And talk about Glass houses – this little Leprechan has no room to speak. And as far as war on women- have you seen the women that are Conservative? We Love them. They are beautiful. Just place pictures of the Conservative women next to the top Democratic Women, and the contrast is quite noticible. Also Liberals seem to be more interested in boys and men, and seem to ignore their women for the most part. As far as education, the education level among Conservatives is quite a bit higher than that among liberals. We just do not walk around holding our noses in the air acting like elites that are better than others around us. We give a significant amount of charity which pales that given by Liberals. Just check out out Joe Biden’s history of giving. He is only interested in giving out everybody elses money. You will find that Conservatives are much more compassionate that the average liberal.
Report Post »Lamarr01
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 5:27pmMr. Higgens had most of his facts wrong but the audience didn’t know that. The audience believed what he was saying and he was able to whip them into a frenzy. Every successful politician tells the audience what they want to hear.
Report Post »patriot30-378
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:36pmAngry little leprechaun isn’t he. Can you be socialist and a leprechaun? I mean, a pot of gold seems very capitalistic to me.
Report Post »blanco5
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:45pmYour comment made me laugh out loud!
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:57pmI don’t believe their is any gold in his pot…….just a lot of pot.
Report Post »Mapache
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:35pmI think that if he likes Obama so much, he is certainly welcome to have him….after all,
Report Post »1. O’Bama has an Irish sounding name
2. Likes to drink beer
3. Cannot manage finances
4. Does not like the English
thegreatcarnac
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:58pmlol…very good….
Report Post »Anadara
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:33pmNow, that made me laugh. Perhaps O’bama is already an irish citizen. …well he could be.
Report Post »ginger100
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:34pmShort sighted, short term memory, no knowledge of history, bought and paid for by the European banks. When he speaks, there is a flushing sound, Ireland is in the water closet.
Report Post »littleQueenie
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:33pmWhat a difference a few years makes.
Report Post »Mr. Higgins, the “decent American people” are NOT proud of the person they made a horrible mistake of electing.
I guess Higgins believes O’bama is Irish as well. You know, one those black Irish.
floridareader
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:32pmIt‘s easy to criticize what you don’t know. Those ignorant have no idea that hospitals in the United States never ever deny attention to anyone that ask for it. Even if at the end the bill is paid by charity organizations or all of us the taxpayers.
Report Post »ricckky
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:31pmWhat the he—–l do you expect—he is a socialist!!!—-Always biased reporting—-BTW—who gives a rats a– what any. I mean any European country thinks!!!!—They are all broke and socialists!!!!!
Report Post »Samwise636
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:31pmThis reminds me of so many of my relatives who are of Irish heritage. They somehow believe it is their duty to vote Democrat. Why? Well, because that’s how their daddy voted, and his daddy before hi If you’re Irish, you vote Democrat. Simple as that. If Satan is running for office, go ahead and vote for him, as long as he has (D) in front of his name.
The Irish are nothing if not stubborn.
Report Post »Vic Tory
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:58pmAs good as your comment is, it’s even better when I read it with an Irish Brogue.
Report Post »Try it. You’ll LOL.
You kidding me
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 12:10pmI bet you vote republican ,as did your father,you people put two bird brain bush’s in the white house.Heavens to betsy.
Report Post »SenorStrange
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:30pmWOW..he lived in the US in the 60′s…He MUST know what best for us.
Report Post »OneTermPresident
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:27pmThis just proves we’re not the only country with a numskull socialist at the helm
Report Post »jackact
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:18pm‘Old Europe’ clueless as usual.
Report Post »Why we saved their asses in (2) world wars I’ll never understand?
Shut up and enjoy your failed socialism.
Losers.
KingFootballer99
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:46pmWe didn‘t save anybody’s asses in either of the 2 world wars. World War I was won by the allies mostly because of the British Navel Blockade of the Centralized Powers, and because the Germans made bad tactical decisions and severely overextended their forces. World War II was won by the allies because of the British efforts in the middle east, north africa, and the RAF’s bombings that destroyed 90% of German cities. Also 50 % of all German soldiers were killed by the massive wave of Russian soldiers that came from the east towards the end of the war. America certaintly influenced the outcome of the war in favor of the Allies but to say we saved their asses is just plain ignorant.
Report Post »jake-spoon
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:36pmYou’re right footballer,the U.S. had very little to do with victory in euorpe in ww2. All those dead and wounded americans must have been injured in industrial accidents or barroom brawls,maybe some got drunk and fell down. Britain may never have been invaded by the nazis,but then again Britain would never have invaded festung euorpa if not for our small amount of help. Now hold your pinky up when at tea.
Report Post »krd
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:57pmIf “socialism” failed, how come all the Scandinavian countries are wealthier than the US?
Check the list out……http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita
The numbers don’t lie. The fear mongering wankers do.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:26pmKRD – You just show what a ****** you are since those countries that are wealthier than the US either have a huge oil and/or banking industry (which you Marxists hate).
Report Post »krd
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 6:08pmSweden or Denmark do not have a drop of oil. They just have people who believe in hard work, and have grit and determination.
Report Post »KingFootballer99
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 7:06pmJAKE-SPOON- Britain invaded Europe long before the U.S. joined the War and all the American soldiers who died and were wounded during the war have my eternal gratitiude.
Report Post »jake-spoon
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 7:55pmFootballer,thanks for your kind words about American servicemen,but if I remember correctly,and I do, The British,whom I love(Top Gear is my favorite,really) got ran out of the continent faster than they ran in. So let’s just be friends and cousins,and get along in sweet accord.
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 9:39pmFootballer……..no offence but you really need to study both WW’s in detail…
Report Post »lemkete
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 1:07pm@KRD Per capita GDP that is double the US means nothing if per capita cost of living is triple the US.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 4:15pmKRD – Denmark does offshore drilling off of the North Sea. And drilling for oil takes a lot of hard work and determination.
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:16pmAnother politician misusing an idea for political gain. Zzzzzz.
Silversmith
Report Post »avgconservative
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:15pmLove the accent… but wow… “Mickey, you incredibly ignorant slut.” (apologies to Dan Akroyd)
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:13pmSTFU Peter Griffin!
Report Post »JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:06pmStick it in your Blarney Stone and smoke it
Report Post »LookingforJustice
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:17pmAnd please know President Higgins that those of us here in the USA that had planned on spending our greenbacks in your country JUST DECIDED ON VISITING ANOTHER COUNTRY!
Report Post »lowriderliz
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:22pmI love it!
Report Post »ldaopines
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:03pmAs if the Tea Party wouldn’t favor “basic healthcare” for all people. We’d just like to have the opportunity to “read the bill” which ends up drastically changing the healthcare process for most Americans and tucks in lots of secret “stuff” like student loans. We’d like a say in how our own healthcare system will work, rather than a stolen Minnesota election and back-room deals cramming down our throats. So stay out of our business.
Report Post »krd
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 9:15pmFind out what their greatest fear is, and whip it up, until they’re in a frenzy. That’s what the fear mongering wankers do.
Report Post »Git-R-Done
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 4:16pmKRD – And you socialists don’t use fear mongering tactics such as if these welfare programs are cut that millions are going to starve to death or be out on the streets?
Report Post »Harvey
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:01pmThis idiot is just another socialist that thinks people that are to lazy to work deserve to eat,of course they want to feed them what the people that do work earn.If this fool likes Obama and his so called health care he can take him to Ireland and have it there,we dont want it or him in the United States.
Report Post »socialism.rocks
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:04pmyou fricken capitalists cant create enough jobs for just the people entering the market highschool graduates you teaparty idiots are totally mentally stoooopid
you talk about telling them to go to work how about you quit your job and give it to someone who needs it
Report Post »JustMeInAZ
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:12pmHey socialism, if it weren’t for the weenie in the white house there would be a lot more jobs to be had for those leaving high school as well as college AND those who lost their jobs because of that stinking commie.
Report Post »pissantno.10
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 5:35pmya cuse your teach told you about that. an cuse you still working on getting out of the 5th grade. and its tough being in the 5th grade at 30 years old
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 9:48pmSocialism could you please form a coherant argument at least once on this board ? If you represent Joe Lefty average in the intelligence department you won’t need to worry about getting jobs since no one would hire such ignorant lame brains in the first place. If your so called writing ability is taken onto account you may not be qualified to run a french fry cooker at McD’s….so please for the sake of the rest of us that have to try and decipher your crappy thoughts try a little harder to make some sense.
Report Post »Puddle Duck
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 9:59pmSR , upon further reflection my good friend’s work buddy ( a carpernter) whose life motto really is “avoid hangovers, stay drunk” makes more sense than you do (and that’s no easy feat considering how incoherant that perma drunk can get).
Report Post »texastommy
Posted on August 24, 2012 at 8:43amPuddle Duck is my hero.
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:59pm“Don’t bother me with facts !!! I have an agenda !!! “
Report Post »The_Jerk
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:59pm“… the idea of there being a social floor below which people wouldn’t fall… .”
Problem is, our welfare system is not a floor. It’s a way of life. In many instances the welfare taker receives more in benefits than we can afford for ourselves and our families.
Report Post »StandingOnMyHead
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:57pmClearly this is a man that does not know much about America and would benefit greatly by not trying to pretend he does.
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:57pmAnd let me tell you another thing about the tea party, they rape leprachauns, and they want to pee on the blarney stone. All the tea party people, war mongering and molesting…….where’s my whiskey……don‘t tell me I’ve had enough or I’ll sock you one, you wanker. And another thing……WHISKEY, bloody hell man, you’re worse than my no good wife, and I beat her too. Where was I, oh ya, as I said, the bloody tea party and leprachauns, the poor little fellas, getting molested, like I did……..where’s the damn whiskey……..O Danny boy………
Report Post »Stelex
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:40pmThanks for makin my day
Report Post »blanco5
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:47pmHa!
Report Post »JustMeInAZ
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 3:14pmHa Ha!!
Report Post »Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:56pmBTW, Ireland, thanks for all the ‘help’ during World War II. You people are as worthless (and gutless) as the Swedes.
Report Post »Altair
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:27pmIt’s little known that they were Nazi sympathizers.
Report Post »Airborne Infidel
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 1:44pmFirstly, I DO.NOT AGREE WITH ANYTHING THIS HIGGINS JACKASS HAS TO SAY! Now that that is clear…..
Report Post »The most Medal of Honor recipients in U.S. history are? The Irish
Over 400, 000 Irishmen signed up for the British army in BOTH world wars. They were NOT nazi sympathizers you moron!
Lastly, if you think we are useless as the Swedes, I would be happy to meet you and show you just how usefull this Irishman is.
P.S. I am also a former U.S. Army Ranger with 2 tours in Afghanistan under my belt. I shall await your reply arsehole!!!
Stu D. Baker-Hawk
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 2:46pmArsehole? LEARN TO SPELL, MICK! Oh, and THIS contributor (i.e., Yours Truly) served 21 active-duty years in the US Air Force, survived the Khobar Towers bombing on 25 June 1996, was a member of one of the first units to deploy to Saudi Arabia when Kuwait was invaded in 1990, had two remote tours to Korea, countless rotations into the AOR, etc., etc., etc., and I don’t have one drop of Irish blood in my veins, imagine that! So, Mick, blow it out of your ‘arse’! (No wonder the Brits hate your guts!)
Report Post »Darmok and Jalad at Tanagra
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 4:49pmCan we all agre that the problem is the Swiss? Come, no one likes the swiss, nope don’t like them, and anyone with a knife with that many utinsils, but useless in a knife fight, come on, they got something to hide.
Report Post »SREGN
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:53pmNo wonder Ireland’s economy went from Boom to Bust. What an idiot.
Report Post »RJJinGadsden
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:51pmSounds like he also smoked a lot of dope with Willie Nelson too.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:59pmlol, mike is a trape little angrey boy who has more problems over there & trying 2 get the ppl 2 look over here.
Report Post »bikerdogred1
Posted on August 23, 2012 at 12:50pmIreland,isn’t in any shape to tell anyone in the world about money matters.
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