Madam, – Noel Whelan's characterisation (Opinion, September 18th) of my question to the Taoiseach about his Morning Irelandinterview is outrageously offensive. It's also wrong.
Mr Whelan describes TV3 (represented, in this case, by me) as utilising a “cynical device” originating with Lyndon Baines Johnson, former US President. The columnist described how the former US president told an aide to publicise a gross – and false – allegation about an opponent and, when challenged by the aide, said “Of course it’s not true, but let’s make the bastard deny it.” The situation last Tuesday morning could not have been more different.
The Taoiseach did a seriously below-par interview. While the interview was still on air, reaction started through texts, twitters and phone calls to radio programmes. One wire service put out a story alerting international audiences to the issue. Against a growing background of articulated concern about the Taoiseach’s use of alcohol and in light of my own preliminary research which revealed he had been socialising, the previous night, to a point five hours before a key national interview, my question was utterly different to the LBJ device. I put facts to Brian Cowen and invited his response. I did not put lies to him and invite him to deny them.
Before he articulated such a damaging and false statement about the political editor of a national broadcaster, Noel Whelan could have checked the facts with me. He didn’t do that. Instead, he chose to rely on the impressions and opinions of a political reporter on another station.
Mr Whelan rightly pointed out in his column that Irish politics now operates in a transformed media environment. As a powerful and influential writer, he might also have pointed to the unchanging imperative for all good journalists: to seek the truth on matters of national significance without fear or favour. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – It’s a sad day when a Taoiseach is potentially being hounded of out office simply for having had a late night and sounding wrecked on the radio as a result of his shenanigans. As a nation, we have suddenly come over all self-righteous and puritanical. Brian Cowen was never noted for his polished media performances and is impeded by an unfortunate lack of diction, even after a full night of virtuous sleep. But he’s the best man for the nightmare job of Taoiseach at present, having proven to be a remarkably cohesive force within his own, demoralised party. Let him learn from this master class in humiliation, and get on with his work. Give the man a break. He has shown himself to be endearingly human. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The country’s situation is serious but not hopeless. Brian Cowen’s situation is hopeless but not serious. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Brian Cowen must have choked on his OJ at the sight of your Front page photograph (September 16th) of Eamon Gilmore and Pat Rabbitte sipping tea at their party tea-in. What little angels. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Can there now be any doubt as to who is the best party leader? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Fianna Fáil supporters of Brian Cowen tell us that we should now move on, because he has made a “fulsome” apology.
According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary, “fulsome” means “cloying, excessive, disgusting by excess (of flattery, servility, exaggerated affection)”.
Can this be what they really mean? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – My fears for Ireland’s future were heightened when Batt O’Keeffe (a former minister for education!), referred to the Taoiseach’s apology for his less than impressive performance on Morning Ireland as “fulsome”.
Then to make matters worse, the Green Party leader, John Gormley, said he too accepted the Taoiseach’s “fulsome” apology.
A fulsome government indeed. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – The Lakes of Pontchartraincontains the lines "I cursed all foreign money, no credit could I gain". Sure singing the likes of that would make anyone hoarse and congested. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – One has to wonder at the asinine hypocrisy of a twittering rabblement baying for Brian Cowen’s blood because he stayed up late having a few drinks. The man made a mistake and apologised.
Meanwhile our country is plastered with advertising for an orchestrated international drink-in in honour of the founder of an Irish brewery and not one word said in objection. It is very clear in my mind which event is the biggest insult to our intelligence. – Yours, etc,