Let me say something upfront about Senator David Norris, an Independent Candidate for the Presidency of Ireland (the Election is just three weeks away).

I do not like David Norris. I never have liked him. And I never will. David Norris is a member of a minority group. Actually two minority groups. He is a Gay Man and a Protestant living in (the Republic of) Ireland…no big deal in 2011 for the vast majority of people. But of course there was a time when his sexual orientation had to be secret. David Norris deserves a lot of credit for being one of the most prominent homosexuals to bring the plight and distress of Irelands Gay, Lesbian and Transgendered communities to public attention. And public acceptance. Thank God.

There are only a few people who I genuinely dont like. I have never based my (many) likes and (fewer) dislikes on gender, race, creed, nationality or sexual orientation. While I have to say I am not impressed by Norris’ own obsession with his sexuality.

For twenty-one years, Ireland has had two women Presidents. Mary Robinson became President in 1990. The outgoing President, Mary McAleese became President in 1997. Two outstanding women. Ireland has no problem ……rightly…….with a woman President. And nobody seriously would have a problem with an openly gay President. I would actually welcome that as a sign of national acceptance.

But I cant like or support David Norris.

He has been described as a “National Treasure”. Certainly a charming man. A “showman”. An intellectual, a scholar who reveres the works of James Joyce. The Great Test of Intellectualism in Ireland is to think……or at least…..state…..that James Joyce is the greatest writer ever. Most of us have a copy of “Ulysses” lying around. But lets be honest….most people who have bought a copy of “Ulyses” never actually read it. I know that I havent. But Ive read the Wikipedia summary so I feel justified in claiming I am an intellectual.

David Norris is one of the handful of people in Ireland who actually think James Joyce is a genius.

 The statue in Dublin honouring James Joyce is known as “The Prick With The Stick” but every 16th June (Bloomsday), Joyce is honoured in the city he despised. Pompous, pretentious people (some who might have read “Ulyses”) promenade around the City in the footsteps of Leopold Bloom, subjecting innocent passers by and befuddled tourists with quotations from “Ulysses”. To further facilitate the idiocy of it all many dress in Edwardian clothes. Not surprisingly David Norris leads this promenade.

Notwithstanding the contribution that David Norris to Human Rights….especially those of the Gay Community…there is something about him that I just dont like. When a genuine intellectual becomes a showman……its entirely legitimate to show case his talents. But too often the Showman plays to the gallery and is effectively a Buffoon. In that sense, Ive never quite taken to David Norris……Showman or  Buffoon, National Treasure or Intellectual Snob.

Yet earlier this year David Norris was perceived as a likely candidate to be Irelands first gay President. I say again….I dont have a problem with a gay President. Nobody should. But I have a problem with a President of Ireland who could make us a laughing stock.

Earlier this summer, the Norris campaign was de-railed by a scandal. I think thats unfortunate. Norris decided not to run. And although he reversed his decision and is on the ballot paper (with much less support) he is fatally wounded. To his closest supporters, he is the victim of a homophobic witch hunt. Undoubtedly Homophobia has played a part but it would be wrong to let this overshadow the very real question marks over the lack of judgement shown by David Norris.

Norris had a partner Ezra Nawi, an Israeli Civil Rights activist who returned to Israel and had a relationship with a 15 year old Palestinian boy. The key things here are “age differential” and “power”……not sexual orientation. Under Israeli law Norris’ ex-partner was charged and convicted of statutory rape…in 1992. This came to light….(and frankly the circumstances of it coming to light might involve Israeli Intelligence discrediting two advocates of Palestinian rights)……because of letters written by Norris to the Israeli courts pleading clemency for his former partner.

It is understandable and humane for a person to plead clemency for a former lover.But it is probably unwise for a politician to write a letter pleading clemency for a man (gay or straight) who has been convicted of statutory rape. Even more unwise to write it on Oireachtas (Parliamentary notepaper) and risible and pompous to declare himself to be “a man of some substance in Ireland”. And Elitist to compare (unfavourably) modern Societys intolerance of Man-Boy relationships to Pederasty (the acceptance of Man-Boy relationships)  in Ancient Greece.

Having stood down from the Presidential Race, because of the controversy, Norris re-entered but with much lower levels of support. His campaign has not recovered. It does not deserve to recover.