Five things about the Blonde thing

Five things worth pondering re that Blonde Interview.

1. It was done by an Irish Independent journalist with the obvious intention of presenting Arlene Foster in soft-focus – that is, something to smudge the hard-edged image that came with the Crocodile Thing. The published article had a picture of Arlene and journalist Niamh Horan, sitting together on the grass in the sunshine. This interview was meant to help Arlene.
2. Sammy Wilson doesn’t understand why nationalists/republicans are so annoyed. “It was complimentary!” Sammy said on telly yesterday evening, looking a bit puzzled. Why would any woman not be pleased to have herself seen as a blonde with make-up in place? Maybe it goes back to the good old days in the early Assembly, when mooing sounds would be heard from some MLAs when one of the Women’s Coalition stood up to speak. Enough of that kind of thing can affect how you think. Which is maybe why Sammy just doesn’t get it.
3. So what do DUP people really think of Michelle O’Neill? It’s hard to say – who knows what thoughts lurk in those dark caverns? In his brief telly interview last night, Sammy ended with an ominous “There are a lot worse things could have been said about Michelle O’Neill!” And during my BBC green room chat with my good friend Nelson McCausland a few weeks back, I got the impression, rightly or wrongly, that he saw her as a front for Gerry Adams at the negotiating table. “She just sits there!” my old chum confided. So should we maybe take that as a “Null Points!” on Michelle from Sammy and Nelson? Right, lads.
4. This may not have done Niamh Horan’s journalistic career much good. True, all publicity is good publicity, and people who didn’t know Niamh Horan from a hole in the ground now know her as the person who said “Ah go on – it’s not sexist if it’s true!” EH?? Do my ears deceive me? So if I’m asked my view on Nicola Sturgeon and reply “She wears red lipstick and has really nice eyes!” I’m not being sexist? Sexism is buying into stereotypical thinking, especially about women, and if anything it’s worse when it comes from a woman. Niamh Horan may be something of a household name, however briefly, but the sad truth would appear to be that Niamh doesn’t get it either.
5. This latest interview cluster-ruck may not have done Arlene’s leadership prospects much good. As Oscar Wilde meant to say: to put your foot in it in one interview is unfortunate; to put your foot in it in two looks like carelessness. The DUP mass consciousness will now be having night sweats at the thought that things often happen in threes. Expect a case of severe laryngitis  to take up residence in the Foster throat and stay there until around 8 June.