Teddy Says Goodbye to Hume

The great and the good turned out on Capitol Hill last week to say farewell to former SDLP leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume. Hume was on the final leg of an American farewell tour. The SDLP founder will step down from his Westminster seat this year. 

Senator Edward Kennedy hosted the bash in the Dirksen Senate Building and over 200 luminaries attended.

Among them were Senator Hillary Clinton, Senator John Kerry, Senator Pat Leahy, Senator Jack Reed and, of course, Kennedy himself. It was a measure of how highly Hume is still regarded on Capitol Hill. 

Congressman Richie Neal, perhaps the best briefed Democrat on Irish issues, was also there, as were several other House representatives.

Kerry just popped his head in before leaving again, but staffers make it clear, as does Capitol Hill buzz, that he is very committed to running again for president.

Indeed, Kerry may not be the only Massachusetts contender next time around. Word is that Governor Mitt Romney is definitely considering a tilt at the Republican nomination, which would be interesting. Romney also has strong Utah connections so the North Eastern curse could not fully apply to him.

Hume’s party colleagues, Mark Durkan, now head of the SDLP, and Dr. Alistair McDonald, deputy leader, were also at the party, as was Irish Ambassador to the U.S. Noel Fahey.

Hume kept his comments short but paid fulsome tribute to Kennedy and related how back in 1971, just as The Troubles were at their height, he received a call from Kennedy in Washington. 

At first Hume thought it was a practical joker, but as soon as Kennedy convinced him the call was genuine it started a relationship that stood the test of time.

Senator Clinton let it be known that she was considering another visit to Ireland this year. She noted she was on her way to Iraq to monitor the aftermath of the elections.

Kennedy looks better than he has in some time. The Massachusetts senator has dropped about 40 pounds thanks to the Atkins diet. 

Clearly he is in fighting shape for the second Bush term and his own re-election run next year. It would be a foolish candidate who would run against him at this stage.

McCain a Controversial Pick

The American Ireland Fund guest of honor at their Washington gala on March 16 is not meeting with unanimous approval.

Senator John McCain of Arizona is being honored on his own, which has made a number of Democrats who serve on the American Ireland Fund board unhappy. A proposal to honor a Democratic figure as well was turned down by the AIF.

Historically it has usually been the case that one member of each party is honored unless it is a special situation, such as when the honoree is a president or a lifelong supporter. 

McCain has a very checkered history on Irish issues. He was widely seen as very close to the British government during much of the Northern Troubles. In more recent times he has been seen as more even handed.

However, the American Ireland Fund selected him in part because he is very much seen as a contender for 2008 and another White House bid. Irish American groups have struggled to come up with close links to Republican presidents, so his choice is not entirely surprising.

Sinn Fein Fundraising Under Pressure 

Still in Washington, there is talk that Sinn Fein may find their U.S. fundraising privileges under pressure because of the spillage from the Northern Bank raid and the money laundering scandals.

The party will not be at the White House on St. Patrick’s Day and some opponents are pushing hard for a fundraising ban as well. 

It is a reverse process to what originally happened when Sinn Fein first gained access to the U.S., then were given fundraising ability and finally were able to enter the White House.

The party is undoubtedly in trouble in Washington as well as everywhere else, but there is no overwhelming rush to condemn them. Congressman Richie Neal says he wants all the facts to come out before making judgments, though recent opponents of Sinn Fein, such as senior House aide John Mackey, who turned against Sinn Fein over the Colombia 3, is adamant that the party faces censure if proof of their latest activities becomes irrefutable.

Sweeney Challenged 

The news that AFL-CIO leader John Sweeney will face a strong leadership challenge shortly is creating much buzz in labor circles.

Sweeney, the Bronx-born Irish American who has always been very reachable on Irish causes, has to stand for election later this year. Opponents within the AFL-CIO say he is too old and lacks the drive that the union movement needs to adjust to such tough times.

Sweeney is a doughty fighter however, as his first run for the top office clearly shows, and he will be hard to beat. Certainly he would be a major loss to Irish America if he were to be defeated.