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SDLP secure Obama meeting
Thursday, 18 March 2010
The South Lawn Fountain is dyed green in honor of St. Patrick's Day at the White House March 17, 2010 in Washington DC
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The SDLP last night secured an eleventh hour meeting with the US President after it appeared the party leader would not get ‘face time’ with Barack Obama.
After complaints by SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie, it emerged last night that she would meet the President alongside the delegation from the Republic.
Ms Ritchie had argued that all four parties in the Stormont Executive should have been represented at the White House.
Speaking ahead of the Northern Ireland Breakfast in Washington, she said that if there is a four-party coalition, there should be “physical and political manifestations” of it in action.
“The best place to show that is here in the United States, with a four-party meeting with the President,” she said.
Peter Robinson retorted: “We meet the President by his invitation. We know that we do not demand meetings with the leader of free world.”
Mr McGuinness said: “We don’t decide who goes into the White House. That is in the gift of the President.”
UUP leader Sir Reg Empey said he understood what Ms Ritchie was saying, but added: “It’s entirely a matter for those who issue the invitations who they invite. What advice they received is another matter. I’m not getting into that. I’m concentrating on building economic contacts.”
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Margaret Ritchie made a complete fool of herself in DC and did nothing more than prove she is not fit for leadership on a global stage.
I was fortunate to have attended the NIB Breakfast in DC and Ms Ritchie soured what was otherwise a wonderful event with her childish petulance.
It is terribly sad that John Hume's legacy is now in the hands of this wholly unqualified individual.
Ms Ritchie did not secure a meeting with President Obama, she was in a line up at a reception with many others. Ms Ritchie let herself and her party badly down on this trip...let's hope she learns from her embarrassing mistakes.
Posted by Fiona | 20.03.10, 19:41 GMT
I think Ritchie did well in the leadership campaign - but her complaints in Washington looked rather childish!
Posted by Alex | 20.03.10, 12:55 GMT
Not knowing much about Ms.Ritchie and not particularly wanting to, I cringe when she talks to the cameras. From her general demeanour and her talking down to people I would guess that she has been either a school teacher or a social worker of some sort. You know the sort, patronising to a fault.
Probably ideally suited to politics.
Apologies in advance to teachers and social workers who are not like that.
Posted by HC | 19.03.10, 16:58 GMT
ger - the SDLP have over 100, 000 voters, that is quite a big handful of supporters
Posted by Emma | 19.03.10, 14:23 GMT
HC
"Very sad actually for someone not to see when they are not wanted".
A bit in common with Unionists and Britain perhaps. What do you think ?
Posted by Observer 2 | 19.03.10, 10:32 GMT
My God! How embarassing for the handful of SDLP supports left in Ireland!!
Desperate for a bit of attention Miss ritchie threw a wee tantrum and got a bag of sweets and allowed to sit with the big boys for two minutes.
Cringeworthy
Posted by ger | 19.03.10, 09:01 GMT
THis is the height of arrogance from a very ignorant woman. I am so happy I can agree with Peter Robinson on something. If her wishywashy party did more years ago, or even ran some candidates in the south, the whole lot of you might have been in the delegation from the Republic.
Posted by Diarmuid | 18.03.10, 16:50 GMT
Fair play to Margaret. If you don't ask you don't get. There are other political parties in NI other than DUP/SF. Robinson and McGuinness just waited until everyone else did the heavy lifting and swanned in to take the credit.
Posted by Liam | 18.03.10, 16:45 GMT
HC - I think you are quite 'parochial' to suggest that the SDLP leader 'is not entitled to sit at the top table.'
Margaret Ritchie has clearly shown that she is no push over, she and her party are more than caple of standing up for the nationalist republican community.
Posted by Cathal | 18.03.10, 14:33 GMT
I always knew that Ms.Ritchie was so full of her own importance. She is the leader of a very small parochial type party and, as such, is not entitled to sit at the top table.
Mr.Obama has more important things to attend to than listen to the whinings of a self obsessed nobody.
Grow up, or better still, retire Margaret.
Very sad actually for someone not to see when they are not wanted.
Posted by HC | 18.03.10, 12:10 GMT
Margaret is just right!
Posted by Claire | 18.03.10, 10:53 GMT