McAleese warmth burns out Dana

ONCE Dana has a bit more time on her hands after she loses out on her crusade to protect democracy and win a presidential nomination, she could set about writing the tale of her rollercoaster seven-year career in politics.

The book could ironically be entitled How To Win Friends And Influence People.

Since her emergence on the national stage, Dana Rosemary Scallon has managed to erode a great deal of the spirit of goodwill that catapulted her into the public psyche.

The argument that her religious, right-wing agenda has no place in modern society doesn’t really wash as it is up to the voters to decide that.

The resounding results from the past two major elections contested by Dana, the General Election in 2002 and this year’s European elections, indicate there is not sufficient support among the electorate for her views.

Over the past seven years, Dana has effectively alienated many of the people she is turning to for assistance.

The confusion caused by the stance she took in the 2002 abortion referendum caused enormous damage to her support base. Despite the referendum being backed by the official pro-life lobby, Dana wanted a tighter regime but didn’t have the clout to bring about such an eventuality.

By running in the European and general elections, Dana has taken support away from Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, so it’s a bit rich of her to now be asking them to help her out.

To stand for the presidency, Ms Scallon requires the support of 20 members of the Oireachtas or four local authorities. There is no hope of her getting 20 TDs and senators to back her cause and exactly why councillors from FF or FG would support her, when her views so often appear to be anathema to those parties’ positions, is a bit of a mystery.

In stark contrast, Mary McAleese has hauled in a net of support far wider than those who backed her seven years ago.

Calculated or not, Mrs McAleese has quite subtly run what could be described as a Seanad campaign as she cultivated a political constituency of advocates over the past seven years.

Just as senators must look after county councillors between elections to ensure they get back in next time, so too has Mary McAleese courted influential figures in politics.

Building Bridges was the theme of the President’s term of office, but on reflection it wasn’t just between the communities north and south of the border. The President has built bridges with the political establishment as TDs and senators have been systematically invited to functions at Áras an Uachtaráin.

The invitation list at dinners in the Áras has frequently also included opinion-shapers in society.

Few who have experienced the hospitality of the Áras come away unconverted or are not part of the fanbase afterwards.

When she goes to an area for an event, local representatives will often be informed of her presence and invited to come along. The gesture was appreciated because all too often in the past, Presidents didn’t bother to extend the hand of friendship.

The President’s husband has also been an integral part of this approach and his golfing outings have also included the same types of people.

Now let’s not suggest that there’s anything wrong with any of this as meeting and greeting is an integral part of the President’s job and it’s a positive development that she has won over the sceptics that existed at the time of her election.

The President has also been a fine ambassador for the country abroad and the warmth of her personality cannot but leave an impact.

What all this means, though, is that when Enda Kenny decided late last year that his party wouldn’t oppose the President if she wanted to stay on for another term, he read the mood of his party well on a number of levels. The vast majority of the Fine Gael party can be listed among her loyal supporters.

Similarly, a number of Oireachtas members didn’t want to be seen to go against the President by nominating a challenger, irrespective of their background. If there is no election, it could be argued that Mrs McAleese charmed her way back into office not just by winning an election, but, even more impressively, by ensuring there was none.

Whether it was a deliberate strategy all along is open to interpretation, and a bit of stretch to substantiate, but it’s certainly been effective.