SINN Fein has put it up to the White House on the issue of U.S. fundraising by party president Gerry Adams this St. Patrick’s Day by scheduling a Thursday morning event in Washington on March 16.

The invited speaker is Adams and there is no confusion at all that the event is being billed as a fundraiser.This of course raises the ante with the White House, which refused Adams afundraising visa last year because of what they said was insufficient progress by Sinn Fein in moving full time to politics.

At the time, the denial of the visa was seen as a major setback for Sinn Fein and one that was avidly seized on by the Reverend Ian Paisley and others to show that Sinn Fein could still not be trusted.

The current White House response is unknown on the Adams fundraising visa application, but it seems likely that if he is not granted the visa Adams may stay home as he did for the Sinn Fein New York dinner late last year, rather than accept that he cannot fundraise here.

The annual gathering in Washington of Irish party leaders would certainly be less important if Adams does not show up, but the decision on whether to allow him the fundraising visa is still too close to call.

A few weeks back Adams took a potshot at the Bush administration, saying there were some within it who were anti-Nationalist in outlook. It was an extraordinary attack given that the party has always tried to follow an even-handed agenda in America.

Adams was believed to be referring to members of the National Security Council who apparently pushed for the fundraising ban until it was granted.

It is also known that there is widespread Sinn Fein dissatisfaction over the role of Special Envoy Mitchell Reiss who played a role in the fundraising ban.

Reiss’ position on fundraising this time around is not known, though some insiders say he is now in favor of Adams getting the fundraising visa.

It would be a huge propaganda coup for the Democratic Unionist Party and Paisley, of course, if Adams were not to appear in D.C. on St. Patrick’s Day. But it is typical of the Sinn Fein leader that he is tackling the issue of fundraising head on and forcing a decision from the White House.

Adams is also expected to attend the American Ireland Fund’s D.C. dinner on the 16th. Last year Senator John McCain had harsh words for Sinn Fein and their lack of progress in becoming part of the mainstream. Interesting to see what the honorees say this year.

GOP ToHonor Irish Awardees

THE Irish American Republicans (IAR) organization will host its annual awards ceremonies this Thursday night at the Women’s National Republican Club in Manhattan.

Honorees will include Adrian Flannelly, the host and CEO of Irish Radio, who played a major role in ensuring that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was elected in 2001 and led the Irish for Bloomberg campaign in 2005.

Flannelly, whose radio show has now been on the air for 35 years, has become the go-to man for any Republican seeking statewide office. It is believed that former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld among others is interested in seeking his counsel for the upcoming governor’s race in New York.

Back when Bloomberg announced his run for mayor, very few gave him any chance as a Republican in an overwhelmingly Democratic city. Flannelly, however, was quickly on board and his gamble paid off, as he became Bloomberg’s trusted confidante on all matters Irish.

Also being honored is Senator Martin Golden, the son of Irish immigrants who represents a large part of Brooklyn in the State Senate. Golden has become known for his advocacy of the elderly. He serves as head of the New York Senate Committee on Aging.

Anne O’Sullivan, special assistant to New York Governor George Pataki who is also his director of special events, is the other honoree.

IAR’s Key Role for Bush

IAR has a very interesting history. They were very much to the forefront in the famous 2000 Florida recount when George W. Bush and Al Gore were in a photo finish.

Head of the IAR, Long Island lawyer Grant Lally, was appointed floor manager in Florida of the recount and the entire group essentially ran the Republican strategy in a game with the presidency of the United States up for grabs — the highest stakes in history.

Also prominent in that fight was Congressman John Sweeney from upstate New York, who earned the nickname “Congressman Kickass” from Bush because of his outspoken advocacy.

Sweeney was once being talked up as a Republican replacement for Governor Pataki, but that has not occurred.

Pete King to The Rescue

MORE and more Congressman Peter King has become a designated heavy for the Republican Party when the Bush administration gets attacked.

Last week King came out swinging against former Vice President Al Gore who had proclaimed that U.S. restrictions on visas from Saudi Arabia were a huge mistake.

It was hard to argue with King’s comments as 15 of the 19 September 11 hijackers were Saudis, and extreme caution in reviewing visa applications from there is simply good practice.

All in all another example of where King has become a trusted confidante of this White House. The Long Island congressman heads up the Homeland Security sub committee in the House, a powerful job indeed.