Tubs’s tonsils failed him on Friday night. As if torturing Gerry Adams about his brother's upcoming sex abuse case wasn't bad enough, he couldn’t wait to move into the IRA domain. Countless times he questioned Gerry about his brother, until he cornered himself. It seemed Gerry was in for a grilling. He wasn't the criminal, yet Ryan chose to trial him by media. Feelings aside, he just came across as trying to gain one over on Gerry, hassling and harrying his every twitch.
Then it came, Ryan's face lit up as he asked the million dollar question-how do you sleep with blood on your hands? , or something along those lines. Then Gerry gave a response that shook the nation and brought the big man back to earth. Ryan looked as if he soiled himself (in nice terms). Gerry’s response was that the time for violence was over and he pointed out the fact that Ryan's grandfather was at one time in the IRA. Maybe Ryan shouldn't have gone on the ‘Who do you think you are?’ show after all. The joys of being a public figure I guess.
Tubs stuttered for words and all he could muster was that 1/3 of the audience had a granddad in the IRA. Pathetic. Yet, he got all the plaudits from the crowd. I think Ryan’s statement got lost in translation, because he lost the battle. It was all his own doing though, he just couldn't wait. He launched in without fuel, and he certainly couldn't stand the heat.
I am a fan of Ryan's but he seems to be very controversial and disregard the rapport that is needed to gain the trust of his interviewees. On the same show he quizzed a member of the Nationwide team about the death of his wife with the first question. As a journalist I know we are required to go the hard yards and ask the difficult questions, but this struck me as half-hearted and depressing.
http://www.rte.ie/player/#v=1066427
To be honest Gerry’s comments weren’t that controversial. Yet, it seems that the media have nothing else to discuss. Then again, anything that takes away from the ‘R’ word is a welcome advocate, just look at Jedward. The Belfast Telegraph lead with the headline: Chat show Tubridy riled over Gerry Adams IRA remarks.
Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/chat-show-tubridy-riled-over-gerry-adams-ira-remarks-14682606.html#ixzz0fiTsMUKy
Gerry played a clever game, but that’s what politicians do, they deflect attention somewhere else. I’m not supporting Adams here, but I think he played his cards and controlled the interview. He was right when he said the time for change and peace had come. I’m just sorry they hadn’t seen it that way from day 1 and it took the atrocities of the Troubles to bring this resolve.
My grandfather was in the IRA too tubs, so you are not alone. Back then it was probably like joining the boy scouts, for the thrill of it. If you’re going to get offended every time someone puts the spotlight on you, you really shouldn’t be there (Give me your job). As for my Nan, she prefers Kenny. Better late than never.
D.K
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I am a fan of Tubs too DK, but sometimes I do sit on my couch and I cringe for him, the questions he asks and the positions he puts himself in... DC
ReplyDeleteI would extremely disagree with you here DK. Ryan Tubridy may not be the best interviewer but he did a fine job on Friday night. He was right to repeatedly question Gerry Adams about his brother, he was hedging. Adams is a seasoned pro at avoiding questions and turning them around. He tried to evade the questions but Ryan made it clear to the audience and the viewers that Adams was dodging.
ReplyDeleteAs for Adams hitting back at Tubridy about his Grandfather, that is what I thought was pathetic. Tubridy is right, most of the country do have ancestors that fought in the old IRA which is an entirely different IRA to the one that existed with the last few decades.
The audience agreed with Tubridy and applauded him. DK, I think you are very much mistaken here.
DA
Adams wasn't really able to talk about his brother’s case because he would be prejudicing a fair trial and his brother’s presumption of innocence-so why keep pestering him? It's not that I didn't like the issues raised, it was Tubridy’s method of seeking out what he thought we wanted to hear. He didn’t grab the bull by the horns and control the interview. When his agenda failed, he was left out in the open and Adams exploited that.
ReplyDeleteAs for the audience, I think most audiences applaud interviewers over interviewee’s anyway. They rarely go against Tubs. Even if the minority agreed with Adams would they applaud him? It’s all about roles and norms too.
D.K