A round-up of today's election stories in brief
Rap on the knuckles if Labour's choice wrong
CAPTURING YOUNG voters’ attention has long proven difficult for candidates, but Labour Senator Alan Kelly believes he may have cracked the age-old problem with a rap song outlining his appeal to the nation’s youth.
Kelly, who is running in the South European constituency, has recruited the services of GMC, aka Garry McCarthy, for the song Don't Make the Wrong Choice. It claims Kelly, who is not known to be related to rapper R Kelly, is "the main man" with a "fresh attitude" and "a mind like MacGyver", the 1980s TV icon. "His opinion isn't outdated like lino in kitchens," GMC says.
“GMC has done an amazing job getting to the heart of a real issue in a way that is entertaining to young people who would not always have an interest in political matters,” Kelly said.
The song was posted on YouTube on Monday and had been viewed more than 300 times yesterday, with YouTube user the Irish Labour Party describing it as “absolutely brilliant stuff”.
The response of Ireland’s youth won’t become clear until June 5th.
FG breaks down the borders
Fine Gael will go to any end to promote its byelection candidates George Lee and Paschal Donohoe, including slipping them into its European party political broadcast (PPB). Under broadcasting rules, Fine Gael enjoys four four-minute PPBs and one two-minute piece extolling the charms of their Euro candidates.
Before the campaign began, RTÉ told the parties it would carry PPBs for the Euro race, but not for the byelections in Dublin Central and Dublin South. However, Fine Gael included two brief shots of the byelection hopefuls alongside party leader Enda Kenny. It was first broadcast on May 19th without complaint from RTÉ, but it later queried Lee and Donohoe's presence. RTÉ requested that FG edit the PPB, but the latter politely declined, and RTÉ did not press the issue because the rules were not as clear as it had thought.
QUOTES
It is vital that we elect MEPs to Brussels that have both the desire and competence to be there. We are no longer in boomy Bertieland -FG MEP Colm Burke says his rivals must take their candidacy seriously
There are people out there who are not willing to vote for any politician this time because they all feel it is time our politicians showed a bit of humility -Libertas European election candidate Caroline Simons tells RTÉ radio of voters' sentiment in Dublin
There was an awful amount of Paddy-whackery going around it at the time and it was a huge embarrassment -Eoin Ryan on certain anti-Lisbon Treaty activists in the European Parliament following last year's no vote
Candidate warns of fundraising 'wife'
A WESTMEATH Fianna Fáil hopeful has appealed to a woman to stop canvassing on his behalf.
Vinny McCormack, an unmarried Ballymore man, has asked the public to contact gardaí if they spot the woman who is claiming to be his wife.
The rogue woman has called to doors seeking votes for her “man” and is apparently also attempting to raise campaign funds.
“Please stop immediately because you are interfering in the democratic process,” Mr McCormack appealed on Midlands Radio yesterday.
Submissions on the election campaigns welcomed at campaignwatch@irishtimes.com
