keep it coming email peoplekorps@gmail.com
Spindoctor calls Libertas poll failure Simons ‘psychotic bitch’
ATTACK: But anti-Lisbon candidate gives no response to Facebook slur ">
By Kevin Doyle, POLITICAL REPORTER
Thursday June 18 2009
By Kevin Doyle, POLITICAL REPORTER
Thursday June 18 2009
LIBERTAS’S main election spindoctor has described the party's failed Dublin candidate as “a psychotic bitch”.
Press officer John McGuirk has taken a parting shot at the demoralised party, saying that Caroline Simons was the “worst candidate ever”.
Mr McGuirk was party leader Declan Ganley's communications officer during the election campaign in which Libertas flopped, winning just one seat across all of the EU.
The astonishing attack was posted on his personal Facebook page and close sources have confirmed to the Herald that he made the post himself.
Ms Simons finished second last in the race to become an MEP for the Dublin region, polling just over 3pc of the vote.
She clashed with Mr McGuirk in the final days of the campaigning, alleging that a controversial press release was issued without her consent.
The release described an international Jewish organisation, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre, as “beneath contempt”.
DISPUTE
And as a result of the dispute, Ms Simons sent a legal letter to Mr McGuirk accusing the spokesman of defaming her.
The contents of the Ms Simon's legal letter appeared in a newspaper this week and it is understood that this prompted Mr McGuirk's online outburst.
He wrote: “John McGuirk is glad to be finally free to tell the world that Caroline Simons is a psychotic bitch who was the worst candidate ever.”
In response to a friend's comment, he then added: “On the record, obviously, since it's on my page.”
When alerted to the Facebook comment, Ms Simons declined to comment. Sounding shocked, she said: “Thank you very much for telling me.” However, she refused to give any further reaction.
The Herald also contacted Mr McGuirk but he, too, did not want to comment.
A source told the Herald that the relationship between the pair soured considerably during the election campaign.
Ms Simons, a solicitor and mother of five, polled 13,514 first-preference votes in the Dublin constituency and was eliminated on the first count.
She has alleged that a number of press releases were issued in her name without her knowledge during the campaign. Significantly, on June 3 the Libertas press office was forced to issue a statement qualifying that an earlier release attributed to the candidate had actually been sent out in error and had not been approved.
kdoyle@herald.ie
Instead of the freedom of working Libertasu candidates would like to introduce a "blue card" which will allow EU citizens to work in their country not for two years, but without access to unemployment benefits and other social assistance.
Candidates from other party immediately criticized Libertas, noting that in the event of the introduction of such rules (Libertas's Blue Card scheme), tens of thousands of Irish living and working in other EU countries would have to return home.
I'm not twisting anything. Simmons said the proposal would apply "across the board", including to Irish people in Britain:
Caroline Simmons: "We have proposed...a Blue Card system for all EU citizens...".
Matt Cooper: "Would this apply to Irish people...who go to England?"
Caroline Simmons: "Yes..."
Question: "Would someone coming from Newry to work in Dundalk have to apply [for a Blue Card]?"
Caroline Simmons: "...Well if you're going to apply it, you've got to apply it across the board...".
So Simmons has said that it would apply to all EU citizens, including Irish people going to live and work in Britain, and including people from Northern Ireland coming to live and work in the Republic.
That'll really play well in the North West especially!
Well done Caroline!
You can listen to the interview yourself here:
http://www.todayfm.com/Shows/Weekdays/Matt-Cooper/listen.aspx
It's the second segment 5pm (The Last Word 5pm hour Friday: 15/5/2009), about 7 or 8 minutes in after the news and sport.
She explains that a proposal for a Blue Card system across the EU in
Ganley's book would mean that workers would only be able to live and
work in another EU state for two years before their entitlement to
work runs out: after that it would depend on the labour market in
their host country.
http://www.politics.ie/elections/69082-libertas-branded-fascist-party-mep-de-rossa-2.html#post1661847
Carbon tax 'will not be ringfenced'
GENEVIEVE CARBERYA PLANNED carbon tax set out in the programme for government will not be introduced as intended, Green Party candidate for Dublin Senator Deirdre de Búrca has said.
Rather than being ringfenced for such problems as fuel poverty, it would simply supplement the exchequer, Ms de Búrca told a public debate of Dublin European candidates last night.
The EU’s role in the forthcoming UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen was the main issue discussed at the environmental debate.
Sinn Féin MEP Mary Lou McDonald said the economic challenges should not be used as an excuse to row back on environmental commitments.
Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell said the EU should have one voice to lead on the issue and the only way to do this was by passing the Lisbon Treaty.
Labour MEP Proinsias de Rossa said the EU should get a binding global deal that did not impoverish the already poor in the EU and rest of the world.
Former Green MEP and Independent candidate Patricia McKenna said the target for a reduction in carbon emissions was far too soft.
As economies contracted, their emissions would naturally fall by 30 per cent so targets needed to be revised, she said.
When asked about an EU-wide carbon tax, Libertas candidate Caroline Simons said it was a good idea as the polluter would pay. Mr De Rossa later quipped that he was pleased to see that she supported the idea of EU involvement in tax. But she responded that such a scheme would depend on agreement by individual states.
Launching a strong attack on Labour's outgoing Dublin MEP, Proinsias De Rossa, Ms Simons said he is "a man who has been 15 years in the European Parliament and who next year will be 70 years of age".
Asked to explain why she had highlighted Mr De Rossa's age, she denied she was discriminating against older people, adding: "I want to make it clear that Libertas is a new party with energy, vitality and ideas."
She was saved by uber spin doctor for the far right planet haters Declan Ganley who blustered forth about the ultra Catholic blind candidate the party was running in Spain.
Libertas No way
from people korps
to Anita Kelly
, John McGuirk
, carolinesimons@eircom.net
date 28 April 2009 14:48
subject Any comment on Naoise Nunn ?
mailed-by gmail.com
hide details 28 Apr (8 days ago)
Reply
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Anita Kelly
Date: 2009/4/28
Subject: Re: Any comment on Naoise Nunn ?
To: people korps
Cc: John McGuirk, carolinesimons@eircom.net
Ignore this eejit
| show details 01:14 (0 minutes ago) |
|
- 17:43, 22 April 2009 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→Visit of President Klaus) (top)
- 17:41, 22 April 2009 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→Visit of President Klaus, Libertas and Eurosceptics)
- 17:33, 22 April 2009 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→Controversy over EU Registration of Libertas)
- 17:31, 22 April 2009 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→The Libertas Party and 2009 European Elections)
- 17:09, 22 April 2009 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→The Libertas Party and 2009 European Elections)
- 16:39, 22 April 2009 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→The Libertas Party and 2009 European Elections)
- 16:35, 22 April 2009 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→Libertas)
- 16:18, 22 April 2009 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→Libertas)
- 08:44, 10 July 2008 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→Intimidation of Opponents)
- 08:43, 10 July 2008 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→Business and political career)
- 16:29, 16 June 2008 (hist) (diff) Declan Ganley (→Business career)
- 12:57, 12 October 2007 (hist) (diff) David McWilliams
- 12:41, 12 October 2007 (hist) (diff) Leviathan: Political Cabaret
- 12:08, 12 October 2007 (hist) (diff) Leviathan (disambiguation)
Airwire (91.189.71.198)Ireland Tuam, Galway, Ireland, 180 returning visits
Current revision as of 17:43, 22 April 2009 (edit) (undo)
91.189.71.198 (talk)
(→Visit of President Klaus)
91.189.71.198 - Geo Information IP Address 91.189.71.198 Host ptr-71-198.knr.ip.airwire.ie Location IE, Ireland
City Tuam, 10 - Organization Airwire ISP Airwire AS Number AS42227 Airwire Latitude 53°51'67" North Longitude 8°85'00" West Distance 2644.32 km (1643.10 miles)
==Visit of President Klaus, Libertas and Eurosceptics==
which became
==Visit of President Klaus==
". The terms "[[European political party]]" and "[[European political foundation]]" (more formally, a "[[political party at European level]]"[http://europa.eu/scadplus/leg/en/lvb/l33315.htm EUROPA: Summaries of legislation: The regulations governing political parties and rules regarding their funding at European level][http://ec.europa.eu/prelex/detail_dossier_real.cfm?CL=en&DosId=195908 The European Commission > PreLex > COM (2007) 364 : 2007/0130/COD] and "[[political foundation at European level]]"[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2007:343:0005:01:EN:HTML Regulation (EC) No 1524/2007 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2007].[http://euobserver.com/9/24148 EU in drive to make Brussels more political] euobserver.com 2007-05-29) have a specific meaning in an EU context and such parties and foundations are funded and regulated by the [[European Union]]. Qualification for EU funding requires the party to have achieved an electoral threshold in at least 25% (seven or more of the current 27) of the EU member states. Both companies are allowed to pay interest at a rate not exceeding 5 per cent on loans received from directors or other members of the companies. They are also empowered to "promote freedom of contact" and contribute funds to any body that resists interference in businesses by "any strike movement or organisation".a longstanding Danish Eurosceptic, and Poland’s [[Dariusz Sobkow]].> According to the ''Irish Times'', “Sobkow is about to join Libertas full time and is central to Ganley's plans to project the Eurosceptic message of Libertas into Polish affairs.” Philippe de Villiers is, according to the ''Irish Times'', the most Islamophobic French politician and has equated Islam with terrorism. At the meeting , Klaus stated his support for Ganley's Libertas party and a parallel between anti-European activists and the Soviet-era anti-communist dissidents.[http://www.ceskenoviny.cz/news/index_view.php?id=344075 Irish minister criticises Czech president's meeting with Ganley]>
Airwire (the same Ip that edited wikipedia)
Tuam, Galway, Ireland, 180 returning visits
Listen to Pat Kenny with Anti Abortion Libertas candidate Simons and Deidre De Burca of Ireland's Green Party starts at 20 min in here
Libertas loonies? No, check Wikipedia
Evening HeraldBy Kevin Doyle
Friday April 24 2009
LIBERTAS is embroiled in a political row after its Dublin candidate used internet site Wikipedia as a source on live radio.
Caroline Simons repeatedly used the site to back up controversial claims about a Green Party representative in the European Parliament.
In a debate with Green candidate Deirdre de Burca, the solicitor denied that Libertas was in bed with the "looney far right" and said: "I think it's hilarious to hear Deirdre talk about that when one of the most prominent Green people in the European Parliament is her own favourite Daniel Cohn-Bendit."
She went on to allege that Mr Cohn-Bendit was "a student rioter and all the rest" who talked "about very inappropriate behaviour with children when he was working in a kindergarten".
However, when Ms de Burca took issue with the statement, she was told by the Libertas candidate: "You can check Wikipedia and check his autobiography."
Pressured by radio host Pat Kenny, Simons repeated: "You can check Wikipedia."
But as Ms Simons attempted to defend her claims, the presenter said: "No Caroline, I'm sorry, let me explain, Wikipedia is something that can be amended by anybody, so I can never allow that to be used as a definitive source."
Speaking like a school teacher, Pat continued: "Often it's a useful starting point if you want to find out about people, but I would not use that as my Bible."
Eventually, Ms Simons replied: "Well, absolutely, absolutely."
Afterwards, Senator de Burca told the Herald that the Libertas candidate showed "a lack of political experience".
Ms Simons launched her first electoral campaign just this week and is hoping to win an MEP seat for the controversial party in Dublin.
She is a solicitor based in Ballsbridge and worked with Libertas during its campaign against the Lisbon Treaty.
But she faces her first personal political controversy as Ms de Burca is outraged by the comments about Mr Cohn-Bendit.
kdoyle@herald.ie
CHANGE OF VENUE – CAROLINE SIMONS CAMPAIGN LAUNCH.
Statement by Libertas:
“SIPTU have informed Libertas that Caroline Simons is not welcome to launch her campaign in Liberty Hall this evening, despite the fact that the venue had been booked for some weeks. As a consequence, the event will now take place in Wynne’s Hotel, Abbey St. Lower, at 6.30pm, followed by a reception.
This extraordinary and last-minute u-turn by the authorities at Liberty Hall raises very interesting questions. Caroline Simons spent a large portion of her career working with the trade union movement to secure equality for women. She has been an articulate and hard working defender of worker’s rights. She adopted the same position on the Lisbon Treaty as an overwhelming majority of Trade Union members.
SIPTU’s decision this evening should leave working people in no doubt that SIPTU, rather than representing the interests of its members, is primarily concerned with doing the bidding of its political masters”
from John McGuirk
to people korps
date 20 April 2009 21:32
subject Fashion advice
mailed-by libertas.eu
hide details 21:32 (2 hours ago)
Reply
The jacket is navy actually, Tim, and the shoes are tan, black would have been a worse clash.
Anyhoo, was glad to see you - looking good sir.
You might print a correction, given your pride in your journalistic standards.
The quotation was taken from an interview carried in French newspaper Le Monde but the next paragraph made clear that he believed that such an approach would be “unworthy” and only confirm European citizens “in the idea that the construction of Europe is organised behind their backs by lawyers and diplomats”.
Following the referendum campaign, Mr Giscard, who was a controversial figure during the work of the EU convention and strongly in favour of greater EU federalism, denounced Libertas founder Declan Ganley, claiming that he had deliberately misquoted him in a “dishonest” way. here
Declan Ganley, wrote that Mr Giscard had "boasted that 'public opinion will be led to adopt, without knowing it, the proposals we dare not present to them directly'."Mr Giscard's next, unquoted paragraph, however, makes clear that he regarded such an approach as "unworthy" and likely to "confirm European citizens in the idea that the construction of Europe is organised behind their backs by lawyers and diplomats". here
The really funny thing here is that these leaflets will not be confined to Ireland. They'll be all over Europe. In fact, a little bird tells me, that they've already winged their merry way to parts foreign and have started to be handed out.see
Declan Ganley is the victim of a shameful smear campaign
Saturday February 14 2009
'Dick Roche is still looking. He has found nothing'
Declan Ganley was the most successful Irish politician of 2008. He won the Lisbon Treaty referendum, throwing the Government and opposition into chaotic confusion. He did this democratically. This irritated the losers, particularly Dick Roche. As Minister for Europe, Roche was significantly at fault for the defeat. He was well-versed in EU Lisbon Treaty intricacies, so this was inexcusable.
The campaign points made by Ganley throughout 2008 have been consistently ignored; instead, personal attacks have been launched. Among actions taken was an unbalanced, ill-researched and, in my view, malicious 'Prime Time' programme. The 'Irish Times' has published exclusively negative stories. There have been 'Village' magazine attacks, the latest of these provoking legal action by Ganley, now partly resolved.
Dick Roche was a significant contributor in 'Village' magazine, quoted as saying: "Declan Ganley is a liar, a self-employed mythologiser, a snake oil salesman".
Two smears have been applied, the first the US Funding Smear, the second an Irish Funding Smear. These have been conflated by the European Parliament's smear, where MEPs have used flimsy allegations and employed dubious procedures. Evidence in favour of Ganley has been ignored, as have his fundamental rights.
Democracy is undermined when public institutions are used in the ways adopted by Irish ministers and European parliamentarians.
RTE's 'Prime Time' programme, on November 27, 2008, was supposedly a profile of Ganley. The Sunday Independent said the programme was "an artful hatchet job, a televised internet conspiracy theory that hoovered up a fair chunk of the licence fee. RTE set out to throw mud, not to shed light, an approach that is the antithesis of public service broadcasting".
This was evident when Miriam O'Callaghan described Ganley as an enigma, asking whether his "incredible life story actually stacked up". She said there were more questions than answers, then delivered further questions,and answered none of them -- 'If [Libertas] isn't a front for spooks, is it a tool for the neo-cons?'; 'Was Ganley linked to Russian organised criminals in his early business dealings?' No answers came.
'Was public money used for this mud-slinging against Mr. Ganley?'; 'Who was behind this?'; 'What are the implications for the future?'
Lucinda Creighton alleged that Ulick McEvaddy and Ganley, whom McEvaddy supports, sought to derail political union in the EU out of self-interest connected with business dealings and their US paymasters, supposedly opposed to EU integration. No evidence has come out supporting this.
Lucinda Creighton criticised McEvaddy's description of the Lisbon Treaty as "unintelligible drivel".
She said: "There is no way this Libertas money is coming from donations." Further smears came from Fine Gael MEP Gay Mitchell. He asked rhetorically: "Are they getting it from the CIA, the UK Independence Party or their friends in the US military?" He offered no evidence. Stories on Libertas's compliance with electoral laws ran in Irish newspapers last September. Ganley replied on RTE radio that he had made a loan of €200,000 to Libertas. He stated that the money had not come from US government sources.
Environment Minister JohnGormley made a statement that Libertas acted lawfully under funding rules. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny called for changes in electoral law. The papers reported the content of Mr Ganley's radio interview the day before. There were further questions about Libertas funding legality.
Smearing shifted to the European Parliament, where Daniel Cohn-Bendit revealed " ... a link between those who funded the 'No' campaign in Ireland and the Washington Pentagon and the CIA". He took this from Irish newspapers.
Cohn-Bendit claimed Ganley had concluded military procurement contracts with the Pentagon worth about $200m.
He said: "We must continue to keep close tabs on these things, and the facts must be put on the table. We cannot allow Europe to be damaged by people who demand transparency but are not prepared to play by the same rules themselves." This was greeted with applause.
Cohn-Bendit said Dick Roche had "made it his personal responsibility to investigate these matters. I warmly encourage his systematic pursuit of the truth". Dick Roche is still looking. He has found nothing.
The allegation that Libertas accepted CIA funding is a criminal allegation and the parliament's use of press reports for a criminal allegation is disproportionate. Mr Ganley's rights have vanished.
The truth is, Ganley won. The others lost. The Government made a mess of the campaign.
While Cowen and Roche fumbled their way towards defeat, Ganley focused on what was wrong with the European Union. He mounted an unwavering campaign. He led the 'No' vote groups in a detached way, making no alliances, dismissing ideas that were central to other 'No' voters.
The Cowen-led government then made an extraordinary mistake, indicating they would seek to reverse the decision. Brian Cowen advised Gordon Brown to ratify the Lisbon Treaty. This approach, relayed to Europe, was supported by Martin.
'No' vote activity might have declined, with the Government achieving their objectives in a subtle way. Instead we had angry confrontation. Motivation for trying again should have come from Europe, with a reluctant Dublin Government sticking with the democratic choice. Hearts and minds would have changed. Instead, the Dublin Government led the charge, insulting 'No' voters, siding with defeated.
This astonished Europe. The French presidency responded warmly, Nicolas Sarkozy visiting Dublin to seek the second referendum. This move had further negative effects. Sarkozy's new form of EU democracy was what Declan Ganley's Libertas opposed.
There was a campaign against Ganley's political credibility. The allegations to destroy him have not been established. From the start they served a political purpose, to divert responsibility for the Irish 'No' vote into stories about political funding.
What Ganley has said on Europe's democracy is never reported. The December Summit dealt with peripheral matters, ignoring his criticisms. This lack of fairness and balance is reprehensible. We should be ashamed of ourselves.