Politics

Limbaugh: ‘Paddy’ Obama’s Ireland trip a ploy for the Irish-American vote

Jeff Poor Media Reporter
Font Size:

With the president on a four-day trip to the United Kingdom and given the tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo. over the weekend, some are asking why President Barack Obama was making a stop in Moneygall, Ireland to celebrate his “Irish roots?”

On his Tuesday program, conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh said Obama has an uncanny ability to celebrate his roots no matter where in the world he is – whether it be Ireland, Africa, the Middle East or Selma, Ala.

“I saw, by the way we ought to start calling him ‘Paddy’ Obama – p-a-d-d-y, ‘Paddy’ Obama, the Obama of Moneygall,” Limbaugh said. “But even the U.K. Telegraph today has a fabulous story about how ridiculous it is Obama is trying to pass himself off as an Irish guy. And when he goes to Africa, he tries to pass himself off as a Kenyan. And if he goes to the Middle East he tries to pass himself off as Barack ‘al-Obama.’ And if he goes down to Selma he tries to pass himself off as a guy from down the street — totally disingenuous guy. And it’s a great funny piece with some great funny lines.”

Limbaugh offered a theory as to why Obama made a stop in Ireland: to get votes.

“Did you hear Obama tell the audience in Ireland he felt like he had come home?” Limbaugh said. “You know a lot of people say, ‘What is he doing in Ireland? What is he really doing there?’ Folks, do you not know – [Bo] Snerdly, you certainly know what he was doing in Ireland. It’s a campaign stop. It is a campaign stop for the Irish vote. The Irish vote in this country, particularly in New York City, is plentiful. And he’s got problems. His reelect numbers are down. This is nothing more than a campaign stop for the Irish vote.”

According to Limbaugh, showing he has Irish roots will get Obama the support of Irish Americans, and that was the primary purpose of the stop.

“Why make a big deal out of having some great-great-great-grandfather he probably never heard of until this week that’s from Ireland?” Limbaugh said. “Why make a big deal out of having Irish roots? What does it matter to statecraft? What does it matter to the job? It’s a pure campaign stop. The Irish vote in America is sizable. It’s pretty large, you’d be surprised and he’s angling for it pure and simple.”

Limbaugh also noted that Ireland’s troubled fiscal situation bears some similarities to that of the United States.

“So he goes over there and he says to the Irish people he feels like he had come home,” Limbaugh said. “Well, let’s examine. Ireland has a real unemployment rate of about 20 percent. Ireland’s deficit is about 15 percent of its GDP. It is teetering on the brink of financial ruin. So it’s no wonder Obama thinks he’s home. He’s visiting a place with similar economic challenges as here in the United States.”

Watch: