Mary Robinson’s Medal for Bush Bashing?
Another item for the Obama Outrage Overload file:
Among the 16 winners picked by President Obama this year for the high honor of receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom is a very strange choice indeed: A former president of Ireland and former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson.
You can read plenty about Robinson’s record in an article written in 2002 by the American Enterprise Institute’s Michael Rubin, “Mary Robinson, War Criminal?” There’s plenty of appalling detail, but the nature of the problem is exemplified by Mary Robinson’s role as secretary-general of the UN’s infamous 2001 Durban conference. That gathering was supposed to focus on fighting racism, but instead ended up as such as jamboree of anti-semitism that then-Secretary of State Colin Powell ordered the U.S. delegation to walk out.
So why on earth would Obama tap Mary Robinson for the Medal of Freedom? There’s an interesting article on the American Thinker, in which Ed Lasky speculates that the suggestion might have come from one of Obama’s foreign policy gurus, Samantha Power. I have no idea whether that’s correct, or where Obama got the idea from. But Lasky in his article mentions that Power wrote a book about Robinson’s successor as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Sergio Vieira de Mello, and in researching the book, might have come across Robinson.
That made me curious enough to flip open Power’s 2008 book, “Chasing the Flame,” (a work of strange infatuations in its own right) and check the index. It’s not clear from the book whether Power knows Robinson (though they have both moved for years in circles that intersect). But Power certainly does mention her. On page 349, Robinson is described as having been “outspoken in her criticisms of the Bush administration’s human rights abuses in the wake of 9/11.” Robinson is further described as having criticized the U.S. — the UN’s biggest single donor — for not giving a bigger percentage of its GNP for foreign aid.
Writes Power, “Unsurprisingly, the United States refused to support her bid for a second four-year term as high commissioner. Still she was unrepentant.” Power quotes Robinson’s retort to the U.S.: “Holding back criticism for whatever political reasons,” said Robinson, “takes away the legitimacy of the agenda and the cause.”
Well, fast forward to 2009, and we now find Washington making amends to Mary Robinson for snubbing her Durban-style ”agenda” and her America-trashing “cause.” Obama will confer the Medal of Freedom upon her in an official ceremony on August 12th . Who’s next? Hugo Chavez?
Thank you so much for linking to me, Claudia. I am a biog fan of yours and often pass around your columns. For example, I often have cited your column last year on Iranians occupying key spots of influence and leverage in the UN infrastructure.
Samantha Power enjoys a close friendship with Barack Obama that precedes his Presidency. Those are the people Obama values. He ignores the usual hierarchies involved in running the government (see the reign of the Czars, for example).
ED
She will be awarded the medal precisely because she is totally undeserving. What a disgrace!
You should be ashamed to admit you hadn’t heard of Mary Robinson. She’s one of the most famous and respected women in the world. But she only attracts your notice when she dares to do something heretical like talk to Palestinians. Sad.
Only Prez for six months and He get to name all twelve recipients? Were is the fairness? Bush should get to name at least six for his time as Prez. Oh, sorry, I forgot, Barry is the one who “Won.”
As for Robinson, another socialist to add to his glorious list of friends. Stupifying in its grotesqueness! Now Barry is tainting this award just as the Nobel Peace Prize has been used to reward terrorists and other wackos.
Oh, I had heard of her sure enough, Shef. But why are you telling someone else to feel ashamed? After all, you apparently admire her.
The similarities between President Obama, Samantha Power, Mary Robinson (Ex President of Ireland), and her successor Mary McAleese (current President of Ireland) are remarkable:
1. Each is or has been a professor, with little or no scholarly publications. The two Marys held the Reid Professorship at Trinity College, Dublin (check out the current holder of this chair, Ivana Bacik).
2. Each is a master or mistress of the mind-numbing woolly abstraction. Mary Robinson’s fervent desire is that everybody ” … gain the ability to listen to the narratives of our diversity” (I may have that backwards).
3 All four are Irish — President Obama’s name is really O’Bama.
Rhetorical question time, kiddies…
Should the medal go to those that honor the Constitution in an exemplary fashion, and reflect the values and principles contained therein? Should it go to a dynamic individual who successfully promotes “freedom American style” in places where people suffer?
Our country was founded by conservatives. They wrote the founding documents that radical Obama and the left-wing Congress have been ignoring and hating on. Conservatives who stand for liberty are seen as the enemy by Obama and his Administration. This is their mindset: Us vs Them. No Holds Barred. Gung Ho. Anything Goes.
Mary Robinson fits into the twisted version of America that Obama represents, so she is a logical choice for him with her Bush-bashing and other detestable practices. Blame America First is the new slogan for success in Washington, and this medal choice is a deliberate slap in the face to all patriots, similar to when Obama snidely held up a tea bag while dissing regular Americans who were publicly addressing their government with legitimate grievances.
This is not an example of good governance in action. A strong president can convince differing people to meet together in common purpose that is beneficial to all. I’m sick of being slapped by a wimp, and I’m doing something about it.
Wattup Shef…do you see nonexistent admissions often? Read articles much? Sad. It’s not about talking to Arabs.
G’way…
B.G.Gruff
Excuse the stupid question, but why does an Irish national get the highest civilian honor bestowed by America? Are there no outstanding civilians to be found among some 300 million U.S. citizens?
she’s not for freedom. she shouldn’t get the medal.
Is it any coincidence that Robinson is also one of The Elders (see http://www.theelders.org/)who are on their way to the Middle East to investigate the Israeli “problem”!?!
Sheesh! This is as bad as the Nobel Prize for Al Gore.
Robinson was second choice. They preferred Che but couldn’t locate him.
After 9/11/01 a few American ex-pats living in Dublin lifted some curious headlines and quotations from the Irish newspapers, then laid them out in often-humorous arrangements. Here is a sample of issues which then concerned Saint Mary.
- The Irish Times, September 22, 2001: “[Robinson] had just come from New York where she was ‘shocked at the extent of the strong feeling of hatred and aggression towards those who look Arab or Asian’.”
- September 29, 2001, The Irish Times: “the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson, has highlighted the legal rather than military methods by which suspected terrorists could be brought to justice.”
- The Irish Times, January 18, 2002: “Mrs Robinson had earlier repeated her call for the US to bring captured al-Qaeda fighters being detained at the Guantanamo base in Cuba before a court or tribunal. Mrs Robinson called on Ireland and other countries to raise infringements of human rights at the UN Security Council.”
- The Irish Independent, March 20, 2002: “Robinson vows to continue ‘irritating’ US”
http://www.geocities.com/irelandvus911/ROBBLMN2.htm
FasciSSocialist Psychosis suffering Socialist Internationalisto Mary Robinson’s unmitigated elitist bastardry goes back way further than her hesperophobic America and Bush hatred, predates Durban’s disply of her rabid antisemitism and froth-and-foam-flecked fanatical hesperophobia.
An only slightly deeper than surface-skimming look at her track record, which includes the effective total destruction of Ireland’s Catholic tradition, reveals an Obambi-like manifestation of Evil.
Ireland will soon be an effectively twelfth-century third world Islamic state, for which its ruling mullahs may one day raise a pint to this evil woman.
Brian Richard Allen
Lost Angeles – Califobambicated 90028
And the Far Abroad
I’m not sure but this may be the most repulsive diplomatic gesture that Red Hussein has made so far.
Birds of a feather flock together. Racist, check. Anti-semite, check. The good Rev. Wright must be very proud of his pal Berry.
What a shower of Fascists.
You obviously don’t know anything about Mary Robinson or what she stands for. Unlike all -of you who pounce on one moment in her life and capitaslise on that- Mary Robinson has no other agenda than a fair society and protection of the weak under powerful suppression, be it medical, political or any other socio economic injustices that exist. So she criticised Israel. when they were pounding the life and hope out of Palestinians- incidentally living in de facto concentration camps .. for how long is it now? She is not anti Semitic , she is anti injustice.
Admittedly in this day and age it would appear that this aspiration is naive, all one has to do is read the previous subscribers submissions, which have poured forward such vitriole on this woman that I would hate to think what any one of these individuals would be capable of, if they were ever in a position of power.
Mary Robinson is a great woman, she is humble, intelligent, strong willed and is not afraid to express her concerns when she has the opportunity to do so.
Who do you think should have been awarded this medal instead of her… George Bush ?
“FasciSSocialist Psychosis suffering Socialist Internationalisto Mary Robinson”….. “the effective total destruction of Ireland’s Catholic tradition, reveals an Obambi-like manifestation of Evil.”
Brian Richard Allen…. what are you on about?
Have you read the recent Ryan report in ireland regarding institutional abuse in Catholic institutions?
Mary Robinson need not destroy – if she ever did- the Catholic Institutions in Ireland, they did that very well on their own.
as for the Psychosis you mention, look to yourself no bettter case study.
Bigots all of you !
Just sent ablog supporting Mary Robinson…… obviously only one sised comments welcome !
Aside from all the fascist vitriole that has been aimed at Mary Robinson in the above comments. BRIAN RICHARD ALLEN are you Irish? Have you read the recent Ryan Report on Institutional Abuse in Ireland under the Catholic Church’s jurisdiction? .. obviously not.
The Diocese of Dublin’s report is currently postponed….it’s considered to be even more shocking!
How is Mary Robinson to blame for “the effective total destruction of Ireland’s Catholic tradition”, even if she were, the Catholic Church in Ireland did that very well on their own. You aren’t fit to comment on Irish domestic problems, let alone comment on a fantastic upright, moral and brilliant person like Mary Robinson and her international achievements.
She is moral, strong and has no agenda, save justice for all individuals in this world, how bad is that ? … although naive admittedly given the horrible bigotted comments already submitted, no wonder Hitler reigned, with narrow minded , twisted individuals like you around.
“Ireland will soon be an effectively twelfth-century third world Islamic state, for which its ruling mullahs may one day raise a pint to this evil woman.2… God god man , do you hear yourself?!
What a bunch of dopes! The medal has been given to a numbe ron non-Americans. Mary Robinson has had a distinguished career. As an Irish American myself I am proud that she is receiving this award.
interesting to note that my favouriable comments towards mary robinson haven’t been shown, biased website?
Mary Robinson has a long record of promoting peace and human rights. She is not an anti-semite but chaired a conference perceived to be anti-semite. Not the same thing.
Bush on the other hand gave out Medals of Freedom to several who either waged or enabled the War in Iraq. These people have blood on their hands, notMary Robinson.
Rubins article is an example of how extremely dumb Americans – educated to be idiots – can be fooled by their corporate and pro-war media(although there is a clear anti-Irish racist ting to Rublins virulent comments). It is abusrd nonsenss.
The presidencey of Europe is a mere chairmanship of the meetings of the fireign ministers, or heads of the executive.
The presidency of ireland is a ceremonical role.
She was therefore never “President of Europe”.
Onlu idiots, or Americans would belive she was. Clearly however when he neo-con media tells is sheep to believe something ( Maru Robishson ran Eruope, There are WMD in Iraq) the sheep are too stupid to even use google to check up on facts.