Latest news with #smear campaign
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
‘It knocked my self-belief': Adi Roche reflects on ‘shockingly dirty' presidential campaign
Former presidential candidate Adi Roche has said those running for the Áras 'need to be strong', citing her experience in a 'shockingly dirty campaign' which she said continues to haunt her. Ms Roche, who is founder and chief executive of Chernobyl Children International , ran as a Labour Party candidate in the 1997 presidential election. However, her bid was derailed by a 'politically motivated' smear campaign, she later said. Speaking to The Irish Times on Wednesday at a commemoration event of the Hiroshima bombing , Ms Roche said she is still 'haunted' by some of what happened during that time. 'It often penetrates my dreams because it knocked my confidence and my self-belief,' said the 70-year-old. READ MORE Ms Roche said prospective candidates 'need to think very carefully' before going forward. 'I had always felt, naively, that it was above and beyond the political arena, that it was a statesman's role of diplomacy, and what I learned was that it actually was the most political position of all. 'When the gloves were off, it was a shockingly dirty campaign, so I would say to anyone considering going forward, to really check with yourself how resilient you are and can be,' she said. Describing it as a 'smear campaign,' it emerged during the campaign that Ms Roche's brother, Dónal de Róiste , was dismissed from the Defence Forces in 1969. He was never officially told the reason for his forced retirement, nor did he receive a court martial, though it was suggested to him that his dismissal was because of his alleged association with republican militants. A review of his case completed in 2022 found that Mr de Róiste's departure was made 'on foot of a fundamentally flawed and unfair process and was not in accordance with the law'. He subsequently received an apology from then minister for defence Simon Coveney. [ Ex-Army lieutenant Dónal de Róiste: 'I can walk with my head high' Opens in new window ] While Fianna Fáil-backed candidate Mary McAleese went on to win the election, Ms Roche finished fourth out of five candidates. She subsequently disappeared back into her humanitarian work, she said, which helped at the time. However, it was the State apology to her brother that 'meant the world to us'. 'It restored my brother's good name and that of our family, and how dreadfully it had been used against me in my campaign,' she said. She ruled out another potential run for Áras an Uachtaráin, saying she is 'too busy' in her humanitarian work, 'between the war in Ukraine, Chernobyl and also Gaza ... there's too much going on.' Ms Roche said the next president will have a hard act to follow. 'Michael D Higgins is such a champion for the rights of our nation, for the rights of our people, and against injustice. He always has his finger on the pulse of every issue,' she said, and hopes the next president will be one of a 'similar moral compass'. Fianna Fáil and the presidency Meanwhile, asked if Fianna Fáil has approached or had meetings with any potential candidates, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the party 'will make its decision closer the end of the month and we will take soundings over the month'. He said the party had not approached businessman and former dancer Michael Flatley. Labour backs Connolly, and Flatley jumps the shark Listen | 50:26 Speaking at a Daniel O'Connell commemoration event in Caherdaniel, Co Kerry, Mr Martin said: 'I believe the presidency doesn't necessarily belong to any one party. I believe it belongs to the people of Ireland and it's important that the person who is elected who can bring honour, and distinction to that office ... Fianna Fáil certainly will be making a contribution to that debate.' Asked about his thoughts on MMA fighter Conor McGregor's petition to change the Constitution so people can run without needing the support of four local authorities or 20 Oireachtas members, Mr Martin said, 'we will continue to adhere to the Constitution'. 'I'm not sure he [McGregor] has asked anybody – what happened in previous presidential elections. People went to county councils, some got nominations from the requisite number of county councils, so the Constitution creates a pathway there for people to secure a nomination through that route.'
Yahoo
25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pedro Pascal videos are going viral again — and it sure does feel like a smear campaign
Transphobes have just been introduced to the concept of platonic touch, and they are spiraling. Pedro Pascal is going viral on social media, but instead of it being for his sexy arms or admitting he's 'into submission,' this time it's because right-wing trolls are attempting a smear campaign. It all started when posts started cropping up on social media earlier this week that accused Pascal of 'groping' his costars during press tours and red carpet events. Overnight, the discourse on X went from Pascal being everyone's favorite daddy to him being criticized for using his social anxiety as an excuse to be too touchy-feely and overly familiar with his female co-stars. And, of course, when you trace the bizarre trend back to its origin, there is an anti-trans 'activist' at its heart. Anti-trans bully Posie Parker, otherwise known as Kellie-Jay Keen Minshull, captioned a clip of Pascal holding Fantasist Four co-star Vanessa Kirby's arm and placing a hand on her hip, 'He never gets the anxiety gropes around men, does he?!' This is likely a targeted attack because Pascal has a trans sister he is supportive of, is a vocal trans ally who regularly stands up to anti-trans celebrities like J.K. Rowling, and has been seen wearing a 'Protect the Dolls' T-shirt in public. Since her post on July 23, countless accounts on X have parroted this false narrative about Pascal using anxiety as an excuse to mistreat the women he works with. Parker has clearly never seen the way Pascal interacts with male co-stars. From snuggling with Oscar Isaac to his bromance with Paul Mescal, Pascal is just as affectionate with men as he is with women. His co-stars are just as lovey-dovey with Pascal, too. Kirby can be seen caressing his neck while on the Fantastic Four press tour; there are photos of Issac holding Pascal like he's a baby and another where he is kissing Pascal on the cheek. People on social media have also tried to claim that the women look like they are cringing away from Pascal when he touches them, but that doesn't jive with the actual video footage or what countless co-stars have said about him in interviews. Even Kirby has defended Pascal touching her on the red carpet, "He does have anxiety, and he's been open about it... but the way he holds your hand or anchors you? That's him being protective, not anxious." And despite what right-wing trolls on social media want you to believe, physical touch isn't sexual harassment when there is consent. There may still be a bizarre number of negative posts on X, but people have started defending Pascal and calling out the weirdos who don't seem to understand that you can touch a woman without it being sexual. "They're trying to make it illegal for women to have a gay best friend' "pedro pascal is physically affectionate with the women around him without sexualising it and most men just can't comprehend that because THEY sexualise every interaction they have with any woman" "Women are okay with you touching them with permission. This is not that difficult to understand if you aren't a terminally online radical" Transphobes can keep trying, but it seems like Pascal's reputation within the industry and his devoted fan base will keep this smear campaign from working. This article originally appeared on Pride: Pedro Pascal videos are going viral again — and it sure does feel like a smear campaign RELATED Pedro Pascal, JK Rowling & Martina Navratilova trade insults, the feud explained Watch Pedro Pascal's ADORABLE meltdown after spotting Paul Mescal's latest tattoo 20 times Paul Mescal and Pedro Pascal had the cutest bromance ever
