Are Irish Parties Not Embarrassed to Pay Less Respect to Women’s Autonomy than Donald Trump?
“I am pro-life. With the exception of a doctor’s determination that the mother’s life would end if the pregnancy continued. I believe that no matter what mistakes we make as a society, we cannot condone ending another life.”
“As a country with respect for life, I believe we would be better served by asking our women who have had abortions what could have been different to help them not to have made that extremely difficult decision. We need to explore more compassionate hopeful solutions for our women in crisis. We can be a world leader on this front.”
One of the above statements is by Sarah Palin, former American vice presidential candidate. The other is by Irish senator Fidelma Healy-Eames. I would have a hard time recognising which quotation came from a conservative American politician, and which from a then-member of Ireland’s ruling political party. These similarities tend to be ignored by Irish analyses of certain American candidates.
Politicians like Donald Trump and Sarah Palin are often mocked (with good reason) as extremist or out of touch by those observing internationally. But despite ridiculous or racist viewpoints (a wall across the American southern border?), it should concern Irish readers that these contenders are stronger advocates of abortion rights than most Irish politicians.[pullquote]It should concern Irish readers that contenders like Donald Trump are stronger advocates of abortion rights than most Irish politicians.[/pullquote]
When it comes to views on abortion, no current American presidential candidate from the Republican Party is specifically extreme by Irish standards. In fact, Donald Trump would seem almost liberal in his views compared to Irish political parties.
Ireland has always contained an interesting and complex mix of social policy, managing to encompass both a school system dominated by the Catholic Church and movements like #hometovote. In the area of women’s rights, and particularly reproductive justice though, Irish politics loses its intricacy and reminds me quite strongly of the most conservative arm of the American Republican party. It’s a jarring note from a state which has transformed itself towards modernity over the last few decades.
Both the United States and Ireland are facing elections in which these conservative views on abortion will be endlessly discussed and debated by voters. In Ireland, campaign groups like the Abortion Rights Campaign and Terminations for Medical Reasons have sparked debates on repealing the Eighth Amendment to the Irish Constitution (which prohibits abortion in all circumstances, except narrow exceptions when women’s lives are at risk.) Yet the major Irish political parties seem to resist any progress – both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael have refused to commit to holding a referendum to allow the electorate to repeal the Eighth Amendment. This would mean that abortion in Ireland would remain almost non-existent for the foreseeable future.[pullquote]In the area of women’s rights, and particularly reproductive justice, Irish politics loses its intricacy and reminds me quite strongly of the most conservative arm of the American Republican party.[/pullquote]
Anyone who has ever seen a member of Youth Defence appear on Tonight with Vincent Browne will note how incredibly familiar the rhetoric around abortion seems in the recent American Republican primary debates. There is a slight difference, however – major Irish political parties seem unwilling to mention any abortion views for fear of alienating voters, preferring to leave the advocacy to lobby groups with familiar talking points.
Certain American Republicans are eager to prove their conservative credentials by advocating for Irish-style abortion laws. The most notable (probably due to being portrayed by Tina Fey) is Sarah Palin, who has publicly spoken of her opposition to abortion in almost every circumstance. Yet this extreme view is not held by all Republicans – notably Jeb Bush and Chris Christie, who support specific instances in which abortion should be available to women. It’s odd to think that in Ireland, Jeb Bush and Chris Christie would be viewed as incredibly progressive on this issue, perhaps closest to the Labour Party.
As for Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders, (as humorous as it is to imagine Hillary Clinton and Clare Daly as allies on any bill) they’d be voting with People Before Profit/the Anti-Austerity Alliance. I haven’t seen any information or numbers regarding Irish preferences on the American election, but when speaking to my Irish friends and family, it seems they would prefer to see a Democrat – or a moderate Republican like Bush or Christie – in the White House.[pullquote]It seems to give weight to the idea that Irish people don’t mind abortion – as long as it’s not in Ireland.[/pullquote]
It’s a bit baffling that while many conservative Irish people would be reluctant to vote for leftist Irish candidates who they see as having “extreme abortion views,” this is no deterrent to supporting Clinton or Sanders. It seems to give weight to the idea that Irish people don’t mind abortion – as long as it’s not in Ireland.
Perhaps the most interesting international reaction to an American presidential candidate has been that to Donald Trump. Widely mocked by the world media and international politicians, it’s striking how little of a mirror he holds to those outside America. Trump’s views on abortion remain murky. While they have changed since the days when he outspokenly considered himself to be pro-choice, he has remained (one suspects deliberately) unclear about whether he would campaign to reduce the legality of abortion, preferring to focus on his opposition to any kind of federal funding to legal terminations. It’s an irrelevant gesture, as the American Hyde Amendment already restricts funding in all but a few situations, but allows Trump to deliver pro-life soundbites without hopelessly destroying his support from more libertarian-leaning Republicans.
While Trump’s views may continue to change before the general election, he is currently far more accepting of a woman’s right to choose than either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail. It is concerning that a man who is so dismissive of women that he would accuse a female reporter of asking thoughtful questions solely because she was menstruating would appear less judgemental of women’s rights than any previous Taoiseach.[pullquote]It is concerning that a man who is so dismissive of women that he would accuse a female reporter of asking thoughtful questions solely because she was menstruating would appear less judgmental of women’s rights than any previous Taoiseach.[/pullquote]
Donald Trump can often seem ridiculous, a comedian’s take on a conservative politician. His buffoonish manner can easily distract from the content of his speeches; his unquestionable sexism and his need to consistently devalue women. It is therefore worth considering how Ireland seeks to treat it’s women. Are Irish parties not embarrassed to be less respectful of women’s autonomy than Donald Trump? As the general election approaches, we should look at what Irish voters admire about American candidates – and whether they’d like to, at least, be better for women than Donald Trump and Sarah Palin.
