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Irish-American Republicans Press Releases and News Articles
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IrishGOP Endorses John McCain and Tom Foley
July 4th, 2010
THE IRISH AMERICAN REPUBLICANS PROUDLY ENDORSE SEN. JOHN McCAIN for SENATE (AZ) and AMB. THOMAS FOLEY for GOVERNOR (CT)
"On this glorious Independence Day, the Irish American Republicans, a 130 year old pillar of the Republican Party, proudly endorse two distinguished Irish Americans, Sen. John McCain and Amb. Tom Foley, in their quest for statewide office." noted IAR National Co-Chair Jeffrey Cleary.
"Sen John McCain is a great and longtime friend of Irish America and the IrishGOP. He has been a great friend to Ireland and a leader in the Irish Peace Process." noted IAR Co-Chair Grant Lally. "He has fought against government waste, for integrity and transparency in government, and put his life on the line, serving the people of the United States. He is a national hero, and we proudly endorse Sen McCain for election to the US Senate. We call upon all Republicans, and people of good will to support Sen McCain in this year's election"
"Thomas Foley served with distinction as US Ambassador to Ireland for President George W. Bush, and played a critical part in the Peace Process, ensuring full US support for the St Andrews accords, the devolution of policing to the power-sharing government of Northern Ireland, and the re-convening of the elected Northern Ireland Assembly. He is a great Irish American. " noted Lally. "The Irish American Republicans proudly endorse Thomas Foley for Governor of Connecticut."
Please contact Jeffrey Cleary for more information at 518-209-1916.
Contact McCain for US Senate at http://www.johnmccain.com/Contact or Phoenix Office -
1702 E. Highland Avenue, #101, Phoenix, AZ 85016, Tel: 602-604-2010.
Contact Foley for Governor at http://www.tomfoley2010.com or Stamford Office - 20 Summer St, Stamford, Connecticut tel (203) 335-2010. Mailing address - PO Box 1196 • Stamford, CT 06904 - info@tomfoley2010.com
Irish GOP Endorses "Marc O'Rubio"
February 17th, 2010
PENSACOLA NEWS JOURNAL
Irish-American Republicans endorse 'Marc O'Rubio'
The Irish-American Republicans, a 130-year-old coalition of Irish-Americans in the Republican Party, today announced their endorsement of Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate.
"Marco Rubio is a principled and effective leader who will help limit government, lower taxes, defend America and preserve our freedoms,” the group's Regional Chairman Jim Bomford said in a news release. “Marco Rubio has a proven record of public service and is a real patriot who will not only oppose big government disasters like the stimulus and ObamaCare, but also offer thoughtful, policy-based alternatives.
“Although we endorsed Charlie Crist for governor in 2006, we have been disappointed by his support for wasteful stimulus spending, cap-and-trade, tax increases and his opposition to scrapping ObamaCare," he added. "We trusted him to govern as a Jeb Bush Republican, but have been roundly disappointed by his stewardship of Florida.”
National Chairman Grant Lally added: “The Irish-American Republicans are proud to endorse Marco Rubio for Senate. During this period of economic uncertainty, the Senate needs a leader like Marco Rubio who will courageously challenge Washington’s big-spending ways and ensure the next generation of Americans inherits a strong and prosperous nation.”
In accepting this endorsement, Rubio said, “For over a century, the Irish-American Republicans have been an important part of the Republican Party’s heritage. I am honored to have their support in my campaign and wish all Irish-Americans in Florida and across the country a Happy St. Patrick’s Day.”
The Irish American Republicans are a national organization, originally organized in 1868 and chartered in 1880, dedicated to promoting the principles of the Republican Party, building Republican support among the 45-million-strong Irish-American community, strengthening relations between Ireland and the United States, and supporting the cause of justice and peace in Northern Ireland. The Irish-American Republicans' Advisory Chairs include former Gov. George Pataki and U.S. Senator John McCain (AZ), while its Board is comprised of Irish American leaders from the business, political, media and legal communities.
Irish GOP Endorses Scott Brown for US Senate
January 1st, 2010
The Irish American Republicans, a 130-year old coalition of Irish Americans in the Republican Party, have enthusiastically endorsed State Senator Scott Brown, to be elected as the next US Senator from Massachusetts, in the special election scheduled for January 19th.
"Scott Brown is a respected Irish American legislator, whose family roots go back to County Sligo in Ireland. He is a principled and successful leader, who will help to preserve our freedoms, defend our country, lower our taxes, and represent the best tradition of Massachusetts as an independent and informed voice in the United States Senate," stated Thomas Mason of Lakeville, former General Counsel of the Massachusetts Republican Party, and Chair of the Irish American Republicans of Massachusetts.
"It is important that Massachusetts elect Scott Brown to the United States Senate. Scott Brown has an excellent record of public service and is a real patriot," added Mason, "Scott Brown will vigorously oppose the looming fiscal and health care disaster of 'Obamacare.' Scott's opponent, Martha Coakley, has a sloppy record as a politician who has favored criminals instead of the victims. Her tenure as Massachusetts Attorney General has been sadly embarrassing."
"The Irish American Republicans are proud to endorse Scott Brown, for the US Senate," stated IAR National Chairman Grant Lally. "In these dangerous times, we need a responsible leader like Senator Scott Brown. He knows the dangers in this world, is a serious public servant, and is strongly committed to fiscal responsibility in government. Unlike his clueless opponent, Scott Brown will bring distinction to Massachusetts in the US Senate."
"We are urging all our members to volunteer in Massachusetts, make calls to voters, and contribute to Scott Brown's campaign," concluded Lally, "The stakes for America are too high to sit back. Scott Brown is a great Irish American and a true patriot, and we need him in the US Senate.”
The Irish American Republicans were founded in 1880, and are a group of Irish Americans and those interested in Ireland-US relations and the Irish Peace Process, dedicated to supporting principled and responsible leaders for elected office.
For the Scott Brown for US Senate campaign:
http://www.brownforussenate.com/
info@brownforussenate.com or 781-444-0200
For the Irish American Republicans contact:
Thomas Mason, Massachusetts IAR Chair:
508-631-1581 attytmason@comcast.net
Grant Lally, National IAR Co-Chair:
917-686-8440 GML89@aol.com
Irish American Republicans Endorse Michael Steele for GOP Chair
January 6th, 2009
Press Release
For Release Immediate
January 6, 2009
Contact: Jeff Cleary 518-209-1916 Naiar1916@aol.com
THE IRISH AMERICAN REPUBLICANS ENDORSE MIKE STEELE FOR RNC CHAIR
The Irish American Republicans have endorsed former Maryland Lt. Governor, Michael Steele, to become the next Chairman of the Republican National Committee.
"We proudly endorse Mike Steele for RNC Chair," stated IAR national co-chair Grant Lally, adding that "Mike Steele has the unique combination of election experience, party leadership, media savvy, and a sound grounding in conservative principles, to bring the GOP back from the defeats of the past two election cycles, and on the road to victory".
"Mike Steele understands how to run and win elections. He is a leader and leadershipis needed now more than ever" added IAR President Kevin Hanratty.
Steele served as Republican Party Chairman of Maryland, during the 1990's, re-building a party that had been decimated. He was educated at the Johns Hopkins University, and at the Georgetown University Law Center. Steele currently serves as President of GOPAC, a Republican grass-roots organization, as a media consultant to FOX News; and is a partner in the law firm of LeBoef Lamb.
"Mike Steele has always been incredibly supportive of the Irish American Republicans in Maryland," added Maryland IAR Vice Chair Daniel Zubairi. "Mike is incredibly attentive to the importance of grass-roots politics, and understands the importance of strong party coalitions, like the Irish American Republicans, in reaching real people. He is a great leader and will make a wonderful RNC Chair."
The Irish American Republicans (www.IrishGOP.com) are a national federation of Americans and those interested in Irish culture, who are dedicated to electing candidates who support the principles of the Republican Party; want peace and justice in Ireland; and have a real desire to win. First founded in 1880, to support the election of the Garfield-Arthur GOP ticket, the Irish American Republicans have played a key role in the last three presidential elections. Sean Hannity has called the IAR, "The GOP's Delta Force."
Republican Thuggery?
December 6th, 2000
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NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE - December 6, 2000
Republican Thuggery ? By Brian McCarthy, a New York City-based attorney |
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I was whisked straight to the Versailles restaurant in Little Havana, Miami by Grant Lally and Jeff Cleary, two of New York's most dedicated Republicans, to enjoy a few Mojitos — a Cuban cocktail of rum, mint leaves, and a stalk of sugar cane — and learn what I was about to face.
I spent Monday, November 20 observing the hand re-counting of the Miami-Dade County ballots on the 18th floor of the Stephen P. Clark Government Building. Most striking were the 25 "over votes" (two or more votes punched for president) I observed in the 600 or so hand-counted ballots in one precinct. Two of the 25 "over vote" ballots had six holes — yes, six — cleanly punched for presidential candidates! How can the intent of an anonymous, enigmatic voter ever be divined? The next day I was a floor manager, while Grant Lally represented our party before the canvassing board. Things quickly heated up when Ivy Korman, the unabashedly partisan Democrat floor leader for the canvassing board, began to tell counters to speed the process, that it was not necessary to show the observers the ballots and generally became abusive to Republican floor managers and observers. Lally requested that the canvassing board remove Korman, by then dubbed "Poison Ivy," from the counting process for her disruptive behavior. The tension escalated when the board's chairman, Democrat judge Lawrence King, threatened Lally with removal. In the end, neither Korman nor Lally was removed, but the battle lines were drawn. At 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22 I was positioned just outside the barrier as a sideline manager, while the media watched and waited from a corner of the room for the counting to begin. The canvassing board members took their seats and announced that, given the Florida supreme court's order extending the deadline to complete the hand recount until only Sunday, just the 10,750 so-called "under votes" of the remaining 655,000 ballots would be hand counted. Republican party attorneys reminded the board of its ruling one week earlier that a selective hand count of only the 10,000 "under votes" would improperly disenfranchise all other voters, but to no avail. Matters worsened when the board decided to perform this selective hand count on the 19th floor away from the press, public, and designated observers. Not only did this decision violate Florida's Sunshine laws (Fla. Statute 102.166 (6): "Any manual recount shall be open to the public."), it was a fundamentally unfair change in the process. Thirty or so of the observers took the elevator to the 19th floor, followed by several members of the media, to ask for an explanation for why we were being locked out of the ballot counting. Of our group, almost half were women, several were attorneys, one a vascular surgeon and some were congressional staff members. Single shouts turned into unified chants: "Let us see the ballots!" "Let the media in!" "Let us in!" "Stop the fraud!" "No justice, no peace!" (Where's Al Sharpton when you need him?) Some sat on the floor, others stood as we all protested, oblivious to the rolling cameras. Municipal employees watched us through the glass partition, many smiling, as we demanded to see the ballots. Our group and the media crowded into the T-shaped lobby of the 19th floor with little space to move about. Yet, as Democrat attorneys and election officials walked in and out of the two doors at opposite ends, they were allowed unimpeded access to the elevators. There was no rioting, punching, kicking, or thuggery, as alleged by the New York Times, Joseph Lieberman, David Bonior, and Paul Begala. According to Jerold Nadler's keen olfactory senses, a "whiff of fascism" was in the air. Al Gore has since called it "organized intimidation." Speaking of fascism, six Democrat House Representatives have written a letter to Janet Reno's Justice Department requesting an investigation into our expression of free speech under the Racketeering, Influence and Corrupt Organization Act (RICO). There were no complaints to the police, arrests made, or injuries reported. Vocal? Yes. Violent? No. For about 45 minutes we yelled, laughed, clapped and reveled in our defense of due process and liberty. With hoarse voices, we met outside the building to continue our protest and were joined by many local Bush-Cheney supporters with homemade signs in hand. Then came the news that the board had reversed itself and decided to discontinue the hand counts in Miami-Dade. Our protest turned into a celebration of justice prevailing in one of the battles in this weeks-long political war started by Al Gore and Joseph Lieberman. This is the new Republican party. |
fter staying up all night watching the careening election returns, I returned to my law practice on November 8 in New York City representing mainly union members in labor, employment, and civil-rights matters. As the post-election days mounted and the Democrats' ground troops set up camp in Florida, my sense of helplessness here in New York City grew. My calling came through an e-mail seeking attorneys to help the Republican effort in the Florida Re-Recount. I arrived in Miami on Sunday, November 19. 