A Tea Partier Decided To Pick A Fight With A Foreign President. It Didn't Go So Well.

[Galraedia]

Michael D. Higgins (who was elected president of Ireland last year) is fed up with over-the-top Tea Party rhetoric, and he isn't afraid to show it. Listen to him call out radio host Michael Graham on everything from health care to foreign policy. Trust me, you don't want to miss this one.

[xtraxritical]

1. Tparty "wanker whipping up fear", I love it, keep it coming President Higgins!

Vote Democratic!

[Segami]

2. That was enlightening and refreshing! Thank you xtraxritical.

[Demoiselle]

3. I think I'm in love. Wonderful!

[Mac1949]

4. Outstanding! That's the way to do it. nt.

[BlueStreak]

5. Seriously, other than Bernie Sanders and Alan Grayson, where is the passion in our own politicians?

Passion isn't something that belongs to the lunatics. Our politicians can be passionate and cogent at the same time, as this gentleman is.

OK, I'll cut Obama some slack. Being a black man, he is always at risk of the "uppity n*****" charge, so he has to be absolutely dignified.

And Biden comes with some of this passion. But this level of passion is so damn rare on the left that this allows the media to paint Biden as the crazy uncle people snicker about.

We need to support Biden. Every Democrat should study this video in depth. This is how it is done.

And you know what, if people start coming with this level of passion, they will get LOADS of free airtime on all the networks (except Faux, of course) because passion is good for ratings.

[Joe Bacon]

13. Good question!

Whenever anyone rises to challenge the corporate state, they are effectively neutered and eliminated. Kucinich and Keith Olbermann are the latest examples of that.

[BlueStreak]

20. There are so few that they are easily split from the herd

When Alan Grayson is the only one out there, it is very easy for him to be targeted. We need to have 100 Democrats making themselves targets. Democrats make it way to easy on the Republicans.

[bvar22]

36. There have been other passionate Liberals who fought for Human Rights

...and "floors" (levels beneath which we will not let them sink) for The Poor and disenfranchised,
but the current trend is not good.

*Paul Wellstone... KIA

*Cynthia McKinney..... attacked from the Center, isolated, marginalized, cut off from Party support, expelled

*Eliot Spitzer...... Honey Trapped, discredited, isolated, expelled

*Anthony Wiener..... attacked from the Centermarginalized, discredited, isolated, expelled

*Russ Feingold.... attacked from The Center, marginalized, isolated from party support, exiled

*Alan Grayson .... attacked from The Center, marginalized, isolated from party support, exiled

*Dennis Kucinich ... attacked from The Center, discredited, marginalized, isolated, redistricted, exiled

*Shirley Sherrod... Blackballed by the Party Leadership over an exaggerated allegation (BY BRIETBART!), expelled

*Van Jones... Blackballed by Party Leadership and expelled over a contrived and over-hyped Republican allegation

*John Edwards.... expelled and demonized for weakness in his personal life that regularly goes unpunished for others

*Howard Dean.... discredited, marginalized, banished for cheering too enthusiastically!

*Dan Rather... set up and bitch slapped by the Conservative Media over a minor offense, and left hanging

*Maxine Waters... currently under attack

*The Progressive Caucus.... no seats in the cabinet, almost none appointed to positions of any power in the Executive Branch, the White House doesn't take their calls.

*ACORN.... quickly thrown under the bus by Party Leadership over a hyped and contrived allegation.
The Party leadership literally could not run away fast enough!

*Organized LABOR... while holding up a facade of supporting Unions, the Party leadership continues to advance Anti-UNION policy (unregulated International Trade with Slave Labor countries) and support for Anti-LABOR candidates in Democratic Primaries.
(SEE: Arkansas Democratic Primary, among others).

The list is longer, but too depressing to post.

DURec for that amazing video.


You will know them by their WORKS,
not by their excuses.
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[tex-wyo-dem]

19. Not only passionate, but compassionate...

And susinct and powerful. Beautifully and clearly communicated.

The point he made that really got me was that there should be a floor that no one can fall through, even the poorest of the poor....beautiful!

[cr8tvlde]

21. Rachel Maddow. She is bright light of intelligence, fearlessness, and a sense of humor

[BlueStreak]

27. Yes. but the CANDIDATES need to show some passion

Americans are basically stupid. They vote based on who seems like a nice guy to have a beer with or who has the most swagger. They hate wimps, and Dems are generally perceived as wimps.

[salinen]

30. 535 members

and only one represents me. Bernie. Hope Alan wins. That'd make two.

[RC]

6. And you noticed, he wouldn't be talked over either.

Not until he had said his piece.

[freshwest]

7. I wish he had his own show on American radio or television daily!

[GraniteDem]

8. Michael Graham

is an extreme right-wing "Wanker" on talk-radio in the the Greater Boston area where we live, who shouts down all of his guests that he disagrees with. Sooooo glad he got a bit of his own medicine in good old Irish style!

[avebury]

9. K&R nt

[pa28]

10. 'Wankers whipping up fear'.

Listen until the very end. That's the money shot.

In this country the media has to maintain "balance" so nobody can just come right out and tell the truth about teabaggers like Higgins did.

Their cause is really just a collection of their own insecurities, fears and predjudices skillfully repeated back to them in order to make them useful.

Ignorant wankers. They are just ridiculous.

[George II]

11. HIGGINS FOR VP

[arikara]

12. Love it!

K&R

[AlbertCat]

14. He will not suffer fools

I love it.

He won't even let Teabagger nonsense get a toe in.... because it's absurd to the point of not wasting time on any of it.


Unlike here in the US where ridiculous notions like death panels and secret Muslim presidents born somewhere other than what their birth certificate indicates get talked about more than the 3 seconds needed to just dismiss them.... in the name of some kind of "fairness". (talk about suffering fools!)

[hifiguy]

15. That was one of the most brutally epic smackdowns I have ever seen

or heard. My hat is off to you, President Higgins.

[lumberjack_jeff]

16. Righteous rant! n/t

[Mnpaul]

17. He used their tactic against them

Just keep talking and don't let the other side respond.

[Flatpicker]

18. It's an awesome piece

and shows passion in his beliefs.

But, you could tell that the host was just going to give it no mind once Pres Higgins was off the show.

That's the problem with the Right wing Media. They really don't believe anything they are spouting. It's all for show.
So, they have no emotion in it at all.

[99th_Monkey]

22. That was so ... so ... over the top awesome. thanks. ~nt

[pam4water]

23. Beautiful... I think I hear the Tea Party sing "Just you wait Michael Higgins... Just you wait..."

I wish someone in the US government would tell the truth like this.

K&R Yeah for Irishman telling like it is!

[Brewinblue]

31. I think I like this one even better.

His closing remark when the interview lamely attempted to tie the Irish troubles indirectly to Obama: "FUCK OFF!" Now that was priceless.

[rateyes]

37. roflmfao

[Douglas Carpenter]

24. oh yes, Michael Higgins sure gave him an ear full

[Rob H.]

25. Holy shit, that was amazing!

I love how he wouldn't allow Graham to butt in and cut him off--wish we had more like him on this side of the pond.

[Guy Montag]

26. He did a masterful job gutting the tea party rhetoric like a fish

Great video, thanks.

[wxgeek7]

28. Posted before

I believe this was posted on here before, but it's great to hear the truly honorable Mr Higgins again!

[Neoma]

29. That's just awesome.

Plain and simple.

[MADem]

32. Keep drink Guiness and keep ranting away!

That was a brilliant smack down--he didn't kiss the Blarney Stone, the Blarney Stone had a hot make-out session with him!

[PDJane]

33. There's nothing quite like an infuriated Irishman

For a righteous rant

[plethoro]

34. Whoa, that was exceptional! nft

ddd

[trailmonkee]

35. It's a sad thing that we have to import our balls from Ireland....

[WhoIsNumberNone]

38. +1

[trailmonkee]

40. and all we can produce locally are nuts (sorry, couldn't help myself)

[GEOpix]

39. Pay attention to the rest of the world

They are ridiculing us for our gun violence and far right extremism - and they are fucking correct!!!

[tk2kewl]

41. BIG Freakin' K&R!

[Qutzupalotl]

42. Oh, that is righteous. K&R

[rockingirl]

43. very proud

to be of half irish and half scottish heredity
i speak like this to others who deserve it
don't you?

[mzmolly]

44. That was

marvelous!

[ailsagirl]

45. WOW!!!

What more can I say?



http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/rave-this-if-you-think-conservatism-is-un-american/question-2774333/?page=2&link=ibaf&q=&imgurl=

[eridani]

46. Now send him a message thanking him for this!

http://www.leftaction.com/action/thank-irish-president-tea-party-smackdown
Send a message to Irish President Michael Higgins, and thank him for saying what we were all thinking about the Tea Party – and saying it so eloquently.

The audio clip has gone hyper-viral (hat tip to Upworthy), but if you've not heard it, a Tea Party supporting radio host decided to pick a fight with President Higgins. Higgins fought right back, and proceeded to unleash one of the best smackdowns in radio history.

[HopeHoops]

47. GIVE HIM HELL!

"wanker whipping up fear" - - perfect description of a teabagger.