He may be swanning around Richard Branson’s island on another holiday at the moment, but Barack Obama probably doesn’t even know, or possibly even care, that he’s been awarded the freedom of Dublin last night.
Mayor Cllr Brendan Carr said the honour was to recognise Mr Obama’s “moderating and progressive” influence on the world stage, but not everyone is seeing it that way what with Obama’s disastrous Syrian foreign policy.
Of the 55 votes, 30 voted to give former US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama with the award, 23 voted against it, and four councillors abstained with a walk out soon following.
The former President was here with his wife Michelle 6 years ago.
People Before Profit councillors walked out of the meeting held last night and released the following statement
“People Before Profit believes that the awarding of such an honour to a President who presided over growing inequality at home, mass incarceration and deportations and ongoing wars in the Middle East is an insult to the people of Dublin City.
“Throughout his eight years in office President Obama served as the loyal representative of US imperialism and capitalism, making life for millions of Americans and many millions more abroad a living hell.”
What do you think? Was the award justified or was it as bad as when Obama was donated the Novel Peace Prize?