Clinton Supports McAllister

MALACHY McAllister is a Northern Ireland native who is in limbo in the U.S. at present. He fled Northern Ireland after being involved with the INLA, and for years has fought his deportation battle in the U.S. with the help of the Irish American community.

He attended the Irish American fundraiser for Senator Hillary Clinton last week and spoke publicly for several minutes about his case to President Bill Clinton.

Clinton listened sympathetically and stated that his view was that McAllister, similar to many other combatants on every side in Northern Ireland, should have his case resolved in his favor now that the war was over.

He specifically noted that America should not lag behind Ireland and Britain, which have resolved many such cases in favor of the former paramilitaries. Clinton asked for specifics on this case to be sent to him and Senator Clinton in order to pursue it.

The Belfast Telegraph, however, reported the encounter in a manner that has had many shaking their heads. They reported that Clinton refused to help and was hostile to the McAllister request. Nothing could have been further from the truth as the 100 or so in attendance at the fundraiser can bear witness to.

It was after all, Clinton who ensured that many former paramilitaries were allowed to stay here during the peace process. McAllister, unfortunately, was not among them as his case had not come up at that time.

The Belfast Telegraph, it seems, is outraged that the war is over, that peace has broken out and that people like McAllister now have a shot at a decent life in the U.S. Their reporting was scandalous on this occasion.

Kennedy Set for North

SENATOR Edward Kennedy is expected to be among a large VIP group of Irish Americans who will make their way to Northern Ireland for the historic occasion of Tuesday, May 8, when the power sharing government is instituted at Stormont.

Kennedy is certainly entitled to be present. No one did more than him to convince President Clinton to get involved in the Irish peace process and to take a risk and give Gerry Adams a visa to come to America.

Kennedy has owned the Irish issue in Congress for decades, and his solid support for the SDLP/Sinn Fein strategy in the early phase of the peace process was an incredibly important development.

Others expected from America include businessman Bill Flynn, former chairman of Mutual of America who played a huge role in the American involvement in the peace process.

Kennedy and Flynn represent the best that America had to offer at a time when many in Ireland and Britain were very against any American involvement in the peace process. Their presence in Belfast on Tuesday is a timely reminder of their role.

Blair's Farewell

THE restoration of government to Northern Ireland next week will likely be Tony Blair's last great public deed as prime minister. As he made clear on Tuesday of this week, he intends announcing just a few days after May 8 that he is stepping down.

His replacement seems certain to be Gordon Brown, chancellor of the Exchequer for 10 years under Blair and his oft times rival for the leadership.

It is fitting that putting the final building block of the peace process is Blair's last act as prime minister. It can now be said that with the possible exception of William Gladstone there has never been a British leader who has worked as hard or as positively to bring a resolution to the Irish issue.

Remembering back when Blair took power 10 years ago is a sobering thought. Back then it was widely believed that he was all flash and no substance when it came to an issue like Northern Ireland and that he would refuse to deal with it once in power.

Pretty much the same thing was said about President Clinton when he first took office too. Needless to say the critics were proven spectacularly wrong in both cases.

Crowley's Commitment

CONGRESSMAN Joe Crowley is fast becoming one of the most important voices for immigration reform in Congress.

This week Crowley hosted another forum in Queens also attended by Congressman Luis Gutierrez, the Illinois representative who is behind the STRIVE reform bill which is expected to be debated in the House in the near future.

Almost alone among Irish American congressmen, Crowley has begun to distinguish himself on this issue. In that respect he presents a perfect counterpoint to Congressman Peter King, who has been an outspoken opponent of comprehensive immigration reform.

Crowley's advocacy also helps him in his congressional district, which is the most diverse of any in Congress and includes scores of nationalities as it stretches from Queens to the Bronx.

Crowley narrowly lost a race for the number four position in the Democratic leadership, but given his heightened profile these days, and his close friendship with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, Crowley may be moving up the ladder again shortly.