Why do politicians parade their wives and families? Alasdair McDonnell was at it yesterday, listing his children, their ages, their musical tastes. Peter Robinson once was happy to have displayed pictures of himself being kissed by his smiling wife. Ed Miliband did a park walk with his wife and two youngsters. David Cameron’s wife is so famous, she gets a satirical column – ‘Mrs Cameron’s Diary’ – all to herself in The Guardian. And yesterday, The Belfast Telegraph had a big splash about how Health Minister Jim Wells’s wife was seriously ill in hospital.
And then yesterday evening, Jim attended an electoral meeting and explained how children were at risk in the instability of a gay marriage. Not just his opinion, mind you, but a view that was backed up by ‘the facts’. The meeting erupted with cries of ‘Shame!’ and ‘Shut your gob Wellsy!” (No, tell a lie, I made that second one up. But that was the general tenor of the responses.) It was played on the Nolan Show this morning on BBC Radio Ulster/Raidio Uladh. Neither Jim nor any DUP representative appeared on the show (You’re familiar with the term ‘gone to ground’, Virginia? Good.). Then Jim explained in a released statement that he had his ill wife on his mind and that’s why the stuff about the unstable gays came out.
Well I mean it’s understandable. It reminds me of the man who had the term ‘Freudian slip’ explained to him by a friend: “It’s when you mean to say one thing and another thing slips out”. So the man met his friend a few days later. Smiling and nodding he said “You know what you said about Freudian slips and what they are? Well do you know, only yesterday I made one myself! I was having breakfast with my wife and what I meant to say was ‘Pass the marmalade, darling’ and instead I said ‘You fucking bitch, you’ve ruined my life!’
Where was I?… Oh yes – Jim and how the thing about gay instability slipped out because his mind was on his wife, who was seriously ill. Right. Understandable. One loses one’s train of thought when one is speaking about one thing and worrying about another. But Jim didn’t say “I wonder how my wife is now?” In fact in the Belfast Telegraph the previous day, he spoke of his ‘joy and relief’ at the progress his wife was making. But instead of saying “I’m very concerned for my wife” or even “I’m feeling joyful and relieved about my wife”, what does Jim come out with? Children are at risk in the instability of a gay marriage and he’s got facts to back that up. Only now he’s retracted and said he didn’t mean it. Because he was so preoccupied by his wife in hospital, despite feeling joyful and relieved about her condition, the gay thing popped out.
It’s good to know that Jim’s wife is making good progress and that our health system is in the hands of such a thoughtful man. Pass the HP Sauce please, darling.
Hopefully nothing else bad happens in Mr Wells’ life while he’s health minister.
While distressed over a personal matter he may be capable of anything.
Walking into hospital wards & demanding that all gays vacate their beds because research shows that while gay people are in hospital beds decent god fearing people are denied a bed.
Threatening gays with a bedside visit from Iris Robinson if they don’t vacate their bed?
Where will this end?
What he said was wrong and nobody can stand over his comments.
However if we get rid of ministers who have said and done wrong things in the context of Stormont we would have a field day.
As they say those without sin……
“As they say those without sin…….”
Time to forgive and forget when it comes to Sinn Fein, eh Neill? Lets move on and all that.
Oh don’t worry Ryan I forgive you for your double standards alright
That’s ‘all right’, neill. Try to keep standards up, would you?
I am sure in future you will correct all your contributors spelling that is probably why your career highlight was working for the Polytechnic of Ulster….
Oh Neill – don’t take it personally. Don’t forget I’m an incurable pedant, more to be pitied than resented. I really didn’t mean to hurt your feelings…Anyway, I’ll have you know the Ulster (sic) University was lucky enough to have my services for quite a few years. In fact they’re lucky enough to be availing of them this very year… Surely you’re not saying a university with such a noble title could be…second-rate?
And the SDLP would prefer to assist these people into power? It’s one thing to be against same -sex marriage, but the bit about children being more at risk. Personally, I support same -sex marriage.
You just can’t make this stuff up. One of my children is gay. I could not be more proud of him. A great young man who has had to deal with a lot hateful people.These hate mongers and bible quoters are the modern day pharisees( my bible quote). They are preoccupied with telling everyone how to live, they need to take care of their own backyard first. I remember being told at an early age :Love your neighbor as thyself” Last time I checked, Jesus stood up for the poor, disenfranchised
, the outcasts. Or has this history been re written also
Progressing backward
The Minister for Health’s statement confirms our worst fears about the well-being of the body politic in the sick counties. The Minister quotes ‘fact’ without a source. His supporters quote ‘research’ without a source. The leader of the DUP is content to wait for, ‘a better day.’
The north of Ireland is getting headlines throughout the world, ‘today’, for all the wrong reasons. This from the sacred wing of a political party that subscribes to an ethos that ‘Ulster’ needs to be saved from sodomy. The secular wing is content to leave things to nice individuals who can cure homosexuality.
One can appreciate the reluctance of the BBC not to include some political representatives from this part of the island to take part in election broadcasts. What will Tory voters make of the Minister’s irrational remarks? The Minister for Health has provided the younger generation with yet another reason to abstain from his brand of politics.
The Minister needs to give serious thought to his current views in relation to the complex issues in contemporary child care. His stated view is evidence of a complete lack of empathy for parents and children who have or who may be endeavouring to cope with separation/divorce/custody proceedings.
Absorbing parallels between Jim Wells’ delayed revelation as what he was really on about, Esteemed Blogmeister, and another not altogether dissimilar happening south of the Black Pig’s Dyke with the emphasis on south, in the last week.
So absorbing indeed that one is tempted to believe that Wells didn’t, erm, have far t’go to learn a thing or two on how best to manipulate the media and by extension, the masses unwashed. Even if his learning process did leave a spin or two to be desired.
One is referring to Condoleezza McAleezza Media Manipulation Services Unlimited.and the interview which one of the the former Uachtarain na hEireann named Mary gave to the Free Southern Stateen media at the top of the week.
An interview which left Perkie’s perplexed inner trend-spotter scratching his scrambled egg-shaped head. on two counts. The first being the ‘Martin and I’ label which the long distance interviewee regally prefaced her every remark.
Eh?
Many listeners assumed this wow ! moment on the wireless indicated that the interviewee’s close proximity to Mrs. Saxe-Coburg-Gotha had gone beyond the merely influential and had indeed morphed into the very realm of osmosis itself.
Not so. This is not to deny that the former Prez has been manifesting decidedly monarchical tendencies of the Anglo-Saxon variety of late. No, one is NOT referring to the exclusive supremacy of the Protestant religion which is part and parcel of that Gothic establishment.
One must look nearer home to find the origins of these royal manifestations. To Valentia Island off the coast of Kerry, home of Mick O’Connell the King of the Kingdom and the greatest Gaelic Footballer of them all and sundry. Yerra, that’s real royalty.
Incidentally, Mick’s son, Michael married Mary’s daughter Emma in Aras an Uachtarain some years ago, at which much (gulp) rice was thrown, according to Perkie’s persistent inner peruser of the social and personal (sap) columns.
So, that’s the first conundrum solved. Now to the second dilemma arising out of the top of the week interview. The constant and puzzling harping on about ‘gay children’ particularly as the interview neared the finishing line.
What could this harping on about an air on a g-string be all about, one wondered. Btw, /das ,did one forget to mention that the context of the interview with Notre Dame from Notre Dame was the upcoming referendum regarding the Same Difference Marriage?
And the referendum that the ‘Yes/Sea’ side, of which Mary/Maire is a vocal exponent, explicitly state that children are NOT a component part of.
We did not have to hold our collective breaths for too long to discover the cause of the harping. For, at the bottom of the week, step forward Mary’s only son,Justin, just out of the closet. The same bedroom item of furniture, indeed, has acquired such dimensions in the Free Southern State of late that it has kick-started a whole new building boom in the house extension end of things.
This second interview, under the auspices of the Condoleezza McAleezza Media Manipulation Services was -well, whaddya know ! – published in the august pages of the Irish Dependent. An organ which is not entirely unfamiliar with the phenom of politicos and their families.
Ever wonder how the comparatively recent adoption of the portmanteau Indo term ‘Sinn Fein/ IRA’ by Fianna Fail / Solders of Destiny came about? Wonder no more, leitheoir dilis/ loyal reader.
The editor of said organ, Fionnan Sheehan, aka Mr Sheen is, erm, the spouse of Leinster House FF TD, Averil Power aka, Mrs Sheen. She of the polished and dear old industrial strength Dubalin accent.
Of course, that heaven-made marriage may well be just a mundane coincidence in the corridors of p.
One understands that Jim Wells, MP both takes and takes to the Irish Dependent, the staunch defender of the DUP. Perhaps he got this peculiar notion that ‘child abuse’ is not exclusively a peccadillo of the RC’s and Republicans.,alone, themselves.
For it was in that same organ their resident in-house comedian, Dec ‘The Neck’ Lynch came up with the line some short years ago that (gulp) the teaching of compulsory leprechaun in the FSS schools was a particularly sinister er form of child abuse’.
All’s Wells on the West British front.
These “slip ups” aren’t rare when it comes to the DUP. Who could forget Sammy Wilson saying “I don’t care if [gays] are ratepayers. As far as I am concerned they are perverts”, or “Taigs don’t pay rates” or “They [Sinn Féin voters in the Oldpark area of Belfast] are sub-human animals” and his comments on the UDA’s plan of ethnic cleansing of Catholics which he said was a “very valuable return to reality”.
The DUP was founded by a bigoted, anti-Catholic, fundamentalist preacher. Are we really surprised when their members come out with these kinds of statements?
I would also love to know the title of the “research” Jim Wells claims to prove that children are more likely to be abused when adopted by a same sex couple.
Which of us will be stupid/gullible enough to believe that claptrap of an explanation?
I for one would have been surprised if he had said gay parents were every bit as good or bad as straight parents. He is one of the evangelical Caleb Foundation members of the DUP after all.
But what I find most uncomfortable is the fact that any ‘man’ would hide behind his wife’s illness.
I don’t know what her illness is or her prognosis, but if by any chance her condition (God forbid) would deteriorate again could we expect and meekly accept any more outrageous statements from this guy?
Don’t blame me, its my sick wife’s fault! Disgraceful.
Still laughing at the marmalade “Freudian slip” Jude! Brillant!
In relation to Jim Wells – whatever justification and excuse, this comment was no mistake – in line with DUP thought on the LGBT community. The DUP has a long history of action against homosexuality dating back to the early days of the Troubles in Northern Ireland, when Ian Paisley led the DUP on a campaign to “save Ulster from sodomy”, claiming homosexual acts were “a crime against God and man and its practice is a terrible step to the total demoralisation of any country”, which was intended to prevent the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Northern Ireland. In 1982 the DUP stated that “homosexuality should remain a serious criminal offence in Northern Ireland.”
The evidence stacks up against Wells with other party members spouting similar views. Edwin Poots’ gay blood ban, Paul Givan’s conscience clause proposal, Iris Robinson’s comment that homosexuality is more “vile” than child abuse, Tom Buchanan calling homosexuality as an “abomination” to name but a few! Wells has to go, he must step down or be stood down! This would not be accepted in any other government! Blaming his wife’s poor health is pathetic – if he wasn’t fit to attend the function, he shouldn’t have been there! And Robinson on defending poor Jim asking “to cut him some slack.” what!
Thank you for enjoying the marmalade joke – I do think it’s a corker myself. As to the DUP and their stance: I’m cynical enough to believe they strike these attitudes mainly (but not exclusively) because they believe there are enough God-fearing good folk (as they say) out there who’ll nod and make a mental note to vote for someone with such high moral standards. I really do – if it wasn’t to their electoral advantage, they wouldn’t say these things. Saaaaad.
Totally concur with you Jude! Encouraging to see the main British political parties, those whom the DUP feel may owe them something in the event of a hung parliament, coming out and criticising the DUP! The only people doing damage to their own image and credibility is the DUP themselves – what must the regular voter in Britain think? the same people the DUP feel they’ve a sense of belonging too, whom they have common culture and identity! The regularly of these type of comments either orientated towards homosexuality or Islam is frightening – I can’t but thinking of the song “let’s do the time warp AGAIN” in these instances!!!!!
Grma, TH…
Big Jim should have a new slogan “keeping intolerance alive on the NHS”!
Oh yes Jude, I forgot to say your piece was really enjoyable and witty! I hope you got your HP sauce and not a clout!
GRMA POINTS
Enjoyed this piece Jude. Almost as much as I enjoyed one spectator in the Hustings crowd shouting ‘Balderdash!’ at Wells. Wonder what gem the next Minister for Health will be remembered for. The bar has been set high…
Grma, Carly
Wells position no longer tenable Mc Guinness who said SF don’t do irony?
We have religious sectarian lunatics on one side of the house and barely reformed terrorists and child abuse deniers on the other side what have the people of Northern Ireland done to deserve this?
‘Barely reformed terrorist’ – is that some form of naturist? Wouldn’t it make storing a weapon difficult?
Are you sure Neill that there is not someone you haven’t missed with those sweeping generalisations?
Aye the Green party their leader something about him is very shifty….
Terrorists, you mean like people who start up organisations like, oh I don`t know, Ulster Resistance, and import weapons to use against Catholic taxi drivers? Or do you mean the terrorists of the RUC and UDR? As for abusers, I take it you are referring to Kincora?
Boom Boom we are heading into Kenneth Williams territory here!
History will not judge Unionism kindly.
Really do you believe history will judge the Republican movement well I would doubt it very much.
Watching BBC Newsline’s coverage of the Wells story, I wasn’t in the least surprised to see Robinson [in Derry, we’ll have to get the place fumigated], claiming barefaced that Wells made an unforced apology, [knowing that the video of his remarks had shot down Wells claim he was misrepresented and ‘saddened that others would do this]. I was even less surprised that the Newsline editor covered up Wells midnight denial, by simply stating a statement was issued by Wells at that time. Then shoed his 8.30 a.m. correction and ‘apology using his wife’s ill heath to excuse his bitter rant at hustings. I wasn’t surprised at either case as the BBC and UTV regularly bat for unionist parties when they’re shoot themselves in the foot. Par for the course.
Imagine being a black, gay, Catholic immigrant………
Big Jim is still the same apple cheeked boy who ran around with police station wreckers in the free state all those years ago. He`ll never change.
“Why do politicians parade their wives and families?”
Get real already! Because they’re heterosexist and gender normative. Cameron even gave his wife’s hairdresser a fucking honour and she was never even a part of the frigging despicable government!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!