WILL AN OBAMA VICTORY BE GOOD FOR IRELAND?

It seems now that the Democratic American presidential candidate, Barack Obama, has Irish roots. We are wonderful nation altogether when reaching for the genealogy books as soon a figure rises to prominence in American politics. It is as though we as a nation have a point to prove about the Irish making America great. The most tenuous connection is enough for the gravestone-searching merchants to embark on a venture of research into the roots of an individual.
In this case, they have determined that Barack’s great, great, great grandfather was born in Ireland, with speculation centred on the Clara area of County Offaly. (We wonder is that Brian Cowen trying to establish links with the likely future president of the United States in order to get some help to extract the nation from the economic meltdown it is in.)
We do know that his mother is Kenyan (Barack that is, not Brian) and it is well known in the midlands that Offaly men in the distant past had a great yen for the black women. Where they ever found black women in the bogs of Offaly is a question for another day, but is alleged that the observation that “once you go black, you never go back” was coined by a well-endowed Offaly resident who was fond of the Big Mamas.
All of this conjecture adds weight to the theory that Barack Obama may indeed have roots in the centre of Ireland, but will this count for anything if, as likely, he becomes President of the United States in November of this year.

There is no doubt that Obama has charisma in spades. (Shit! Is that a racist remark?
Sorry!). His campaign to win the Democratic nomination was an exhilarating display of powerful, moving speeches that enthralled the voters and indeed, greater America. We were witnessing the first black candidate making a serious attempt to gain entry to the Oval Office. For some, it was like the re-incarnation of Martin Luther King: the only other black man that would have the qualities a Presidential race. His untimely assassination by the dark forces of racism ensured it would never happen. In any case, it is doubtful that it would have ever occurred anyway – those were difficult and different times when the race issue was at its most brutal stage and even the Democrats would have baulked at the prospect.
Today it is more to with policies than colour, or so we like to think. Deep down race is still an issue in America. It demands circumspect discussion among the chattering classes in order to remain politically correct, but behind closed doors in the corridors of power, you can be sure that the prospect of a black President is upsetting many conservatives in both Democrat and Republican parties.
It does not help either that the Republican candidate is somewhat of a maverick in his own party. John McCain is a war hero and self made man – qualities that Americans love in their leaders. Were it not for Obama, he would be a shoe-in for the Presidency. However, his age and his more liberal assertions on various subjects have the Republican Party right- wingers losing sleep at night. McCain is loose cannon in their opinion, and were Obama not black, they would possibly do the unthinkable and vote for a Democrat just to keep McCain out.
As it is, they have little choice but to vote for him.
And, this is where Ireland comes into the picture. The Democratic Party has made it abundantly clear that when in power they will introduce a raft of measures to increase the tax take from US multinational companies operating abroad. They are suggesting a 30% repatriation tax from all foreign domiciled companies. If this measure were implemented, it would have a disastrous effect on the economy of Ireland.
Most multinational are here because of the low tax rates. Not alone that, they also use a facility known as transfer pricing to inflate the profits of Irish companies and decrease those from other higher tax jurisdictions, including the US itself. They tolerate the high wage environment of Ireland for that reason alone. If that were to change, the Intels and IBMs of this world would up sticks overnight and the already sinking ship that is Ireland would crash to the bottom of the ocean.
Traditionally, the Irish favoured Democratic presidents. This goes back to the Kennedy influence and their roots in Ireland. The Clintons helped in negotiations to bring about peace in the North extending the affiliation of the Irish to the Democrats.
This time however it is different. The US economy is as bad as ours is. That topic and the war in Iraq are the priorities for any incoming president.
Ireland will come way down the list in the scheme of things. The black vote will elect Obama and he will not be as dependant on the American Irish for their support as previous Democratic candidates were.
His only link to Ireland will be those horny Offaly men of the past who had a penchant for the black babes!
Not much to go on, is it?
Do something Brian!